Quest for Success

The Department of Business and Information Administration (BIA) recently hosted industry partners and community organisations during an exciting networking event at the Cape Town Hotel School.

The event presented an opportunity for engagement as well as for valuable contributions by industry and community organisations.

Guests were welcomed by the programme director for the day and senior lecturer in the Department, Mandie Richards, who introduced the keynote speaker, Prof Paul Green, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences.

The keynote address was titled: Connecting for the Future, on a Quest for Success within the South African context.

Green told the partners that their input was extremely important, adding that their valued contributions, including to the content of the curriculum “remains continuously relevant to us”.

“The social impact of this partnership will have far-reaching benefits, not only for our graduates but also for communities as well as the economy.”

Green said the BIA Department engages in various innovative practices, which respond to the needs of society and enhances the students’ analytical skills.

He said that in this ever-changing world it was essential to stay ahead and prepare students for success.

“As a faculty we are also aware that to remain relevant and to be in touch with industry, we need to continuously review our curriculum. “

He thanked the partners and the organisers for the engagement.

Charlton Brandt an alumnus who now works as Business Specialist: Data Management and Analysis at Old Mutual Limited, delivered a talk on the value of a vision.

The day also included an overview of the department as well its work integrated learning, community engagement and service-learning components. This was followed by a panel discussion, titled Reflections for Success, which touched on several topics including job readiness and the future of work.

The discussion was facilitated by Alesimo Mwanga, Executive Director, PAWA Africa, and chair of the BIA Advisory Committee and the panellists were: Yolande Jacobs, Human Resources Executive Director, World Wildlife Fund; Carla Stewart, Marketing Manager; Leliebloem House: Youth and Child Care Centre; Zikhona Madubela, Founder, In2ChangeLearning; Beverley Dankers, Deputy Dean, Student Development and Support, Cornerstone Institute and Celiwe Mabaleka, Registrar, Western Cape Government, College of Emergency Care.

Head of Department, Prof Visvanathan Naicker, thanked the speakers and panellists for their valuable contribution to the event and everyone who attended for making the symposium a success.

‘I’m confident that the takeaways from the symposium will further deepen our thinking and stimulate the department’s work in future.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: Frederickskennediji@cput.ac.za