‘As leaders we are trustees of the future generations’, says SAA CEO Vuyani Jarana at USB Top Achiever’s Awards
"We have been given stewardship of the organisations, whether it is government, business or civil society, to see the effective functioning of these institutions and systems for future generations to benefit,” says Vuyani Jarana, CEO of South African Airways (SAA).
He was the keynote speaker at a special award ceremony hosted by the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB), where the top performing students were awarded for their successes during their academic career. Jarana is an MBA alumnus and Alumnus of the Year 2017 of USB.
He added that with such trusteeship comes a responsibility of the highest level of accountability and ethics, “so that future generations find these institutions in a better shape than when we found it ourselves in order to build a better continent at large”.
To view photos of the event, click here
“Business schools therefore play a crucial role in preparing leaders with insights and knowledge to navigate the complex issues and to be better trustees at the work in hand.”
“Africa requires significant investment in a number of areas in order to improve the human development index, infrastructure, and education if Africa is to improve itself from the current economic challenges. Business schools therefore play a crucial role in preparing leaders with insights and knowledge to navigate the complex issues and to be better trustees at the work in hand. Educational institutions need to find models that address the opportunities that are deeply embedded in a very complex structure of African economies,” he adds.
Jarana says there has been a lot of progress made by African governments to align the African continent. “However, more policy instruments such as the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) that the Africa Union (AU) is putting together, must be driven pragmatically by businesses taking advantage of the opportunities coming out of these policy decisions.
“We expect the academic community to provide a leading role in understanding how we could move from policy to execution.”
He also says that the Fourth Industrial Revolution presents opportunities for Africa to focus on development, in terms of comparison with the path already taken by the developed world. “Key areas of opportunities lie in improving education through access to resources, bridging the gap between the rich and poor, urban and rural, and access to capital and ensuring greater financial inclusion across segments of society.”
“Unless the continent embraces the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it will be left behind. Its development will continue to lag behind the developed world and remain a spectator in global trade with a direct effect on youth employment, human development as well as overall economic activities,” he says.
***
The USB Top Achievers Awards celebrates the top performing postgraduate students of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB). The USB Director’s Award, for a student in any programme who excels in both studies and leadership, was awarded to Poonam Harry-Nana, a Full-time MBA graduate.
USB Director Prof Piet Naudé says not only did she graduate cum laude, but she arranged all the social activities and ensured that the class had a good balance between academic work and outside activities. “Poonam has a passion for communities and she will continue to leave her mark through various levels of social engagement,” he says.
Here’s the full list of recipients:
Top Student: Postgraduate Diploma in Futures Studies – Jan Roesch
Sponsor: PSG: Zelda Rauch
Top Student: Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning – Dilshaad Samsodien
Sponsor: Hisense: Hale Liu
Top Student in the FPI Professional Competency Examination 2018 – Jaya Leibowitz
Top Student: Postgraduate Diploma in Development Finance –Shivangi Bhagwan
Sponsor: Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria: facilitated by Mr Isa Omagu
Top Student: Postgraduate Diploma in Leadership Development – Kashifa Bardien and Annelie Tredoux
Sponsor: PPS: Danielle Muller and PSG: Zelda Rauch
Top Student: Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management – Jessica Vervalle
Sponsor: PSG: Zelda Rauch
Top Student: Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and Administration – Michelle Beukes
Sponsor: PSG: Zelda Rauch
Top Student: MPhil in Futures Studies – Deidre Samson
Sponsor: PSG: Anton Rauch
Top Student: MPhil in Management Coaching –Barbara Fölscher-Kingwill
Sponsor: PSG: Anton Rauch
Top Student: MPhil in Development Finance – Simba Mudimbu
Sponsor: Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria
Top Students: MBA
Andries Strydom (2018 Full-Time)
Eben Odendaal (2017 Blended)
Julie Choe (2017 Modular E1)
Gerrit De Villiers (2017 Modular Afrikaans)
Dr Jaco Franken (2017 Modular E2)
Sponsor: PPS, Danielle Muller
TOP MBA overall – Dr Jaco Franken
Sponsor: PPS, Danielle Muller
Best Research Assignment in any Master’s Degree: Qualitative – Kamilah Collison
Sponsor: Brimstone Investment Corporation
Topic of MBA Research Assignment: Greenwashing and the role of Consumer Environmental Concern on Green Purchase Intention
Best Research Assignment in any Master’s Degree: Quantitative – Sindiso Valerie Ndlovu
Sponsor: Brimstone Investment Corporation
Topic of MPhil Development Finance Research Assignment: Relationship between the oil price and exchange rate volatility in Nigeria – application of VAR-DCC-GARCH mode
PhD Business Management and Administration – Dr Colin Habberton
Sponsor: The Morne Mostert Award for a Futures Studies or Futures-related PhD in Business Management and Administration
Topic of PhD thesis: Connecting capital: The factors influencing the decision-making process of institutional investors towards responsible investing
PhD Graduates of 2018/19
December 2018
Dr Afolabi Adejumo
Dr Richard Akota
Dr Timothy Aluko
Dr Master Mushonga
Dr Ralph Nordjo
Dr Joseph Nyeadi
Dr Emmanuel Oduro-Afriyie
April 2019
Dr Nthabiseng Moleko
Dr Candice Booysen
Dr Colin Habberton
TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS OF THE EVENT, CLICK HERE
Subscribe
Want to stay in touch with the Stellenbosch Business School community? Sign up and receive newsletters from our desk to your inbox.
SIGN UP