Durban University of Technology’s (DUT’s) newly established Business School, under the ambit of the Faculty of Management Sciences is ready to advance contemporary leadership in Southern Africa and beyond. Its curriculum is focused on applied business which will enable leaders to solve real life problems that contribute to socio-economic transformation. 

Applications for the School’s flagship programme, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) are now open and will close, on Wednesday, 30 June 2021. The MBA will commence in July 2021. This is the last chance for those interested to apply. Apply now by e-mailing  mba@dut.ac.za or log onto  www.dbs.dut.ac.za or call  031-373 5768 /5710 /3008. 

DUT’s Business School Project Leader, Professor Veena Rawjee said the School is currently operational and is temporarily based at the ML Sultan Campus. She said it offers a variety of academic programmes, executive education courses and short learning programmes.   

The following programmes are offered:  

• The New Masters of Business Administration (MBA) programme. 
• Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA) programmes. 
• Advanced Diploma in Business Administration. 
• Higher Certificates programmes. 
• A variety of executive education and short learning programmes.  
• The School also plans to design tailor-made, in-house programmes and collaborate with corporate, public and non-profit organisations to develop and capacitate employees in various areas. 

Prof Rawjee further explained that the School’s academic programmes are accredited by the Council for Higher Education (CHE), registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and approved by the Department of Higher Education (DHET).  In addition, she said the School is a member of the South African Business School Association (SABSA) and the Association of African Schools (AABS).  

“The School will be offering the MBA programme and a variety of quality academic programmes.  These programmes will be delivered by highly qualified and experienced academics from all over the South Africa. The Executive Education division of the Business School will offer specialised executive education courses and short course for individuals who are keen on professional development.  In addition, this division will also focus on customised learning solutions which meet the needs of the private and public sector,” said Prof Rawjee. 

She advised those who require a customised course to be developed to contact Dr Sean Jugmohan via email on: seanj@dut.ac.za. 

Speaking about her involvement at the School, Prof Rawjee said she was tasked as the Project Leader by DUT’s Executive Dean: Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof Fulufhelo Netswera. She explained that she was tasked to set up the Business School and ensure that by 2021, it was ready to deliver its academic programmes, including its flagship programme the MBA.  Furthermore, Prof Rawjee said she was also tasked to integrate the old Business Studies Unit into the Business School.  

“The responses have been good, we are currently underway with registration for Post Graduate Diplomas, Advance Diplomas and various Higher Certificates.  These programmes will commence in the first semester, which is set to resume next week Monday, 15 March 2021. We also intend offering various short learning programmes during the year such as Project Management, Disaster Management. Applications for the MBA opened on 15 February and thus far, we have received many enquiries around the programme and application requirements,” she said. 

According to Prof Rawjee, what sets the School apart from others is that DUT is an established university which has an existing footprint in KwaZulu-Natal, with approximately 33 000 students, making it the first choice for higher education in the province. She proudly said in 2020 the university was ranked amongst the Top 500 universities globally and top 5 amongst South African universities, this makes the Business School well positioned within the larger university.   

“The Business School will align with the DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy which is to see its people become entrepreneurial and innovative. The programmes will be delivered by well-credentialed experienced facilitators together with active practitioners in various specialised fields. Our future plans are to locate the School in its own building.  Plans for this are underway.  Our teaching and learning will follow a blended, online, multimodal format, in keeping with DUT’s teaching and learning strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Prof Rawjee. 

Lastly, Prof Rawjee said the DUT Business School, has an advisory board that brings together members of society to represent among others, corporate, academia and government, both nationally and internationally. The board members are well-credentialed leaders in their respective professions and representatives of various sectors. They are at the cutting edge of their profession – deeply aware of what employers’ expectations are of a business school graduate and attributes in both hard and soft skills and applied research.  

The DUT Business School board members are as follows: 

• Mr Eric Aplegren: Head of Department: International and Governance Relations: eThekwini Municipality. 
• Mr Pieter Brouwer: Senior Manager – Materials Management at Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM). 
• Mr Ian Delport: Head: Corporate and Legal Services Defy Appliances (PTY) LTD. 
• Prof Thomas Dobbelstein: Researcher at Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University: Ravensburg, Germany. 
• Prof Himanshu Rai: Director: Indian Institute of Management-Indore, India. 
• Mr Douglass Ramaphosa:  Chairman: IRCA (Pty) Ltd. 
• Ms Jacquie Bhana: Human Resources Director: Tongaat-Hulett Sugar SA. 
• Mr Heinrich Strydom: CEO of Natal Cricket Union. 
• Prof Grafton Whyte: Governing Board: African Association of Business Schools & Dean: Namibia Business School. 

Those interested in joining the DUT Business School are urged to send an email to: mba@dut.ac.za or log onto  www.dut.ac.za for more information. One can also call 031-373 5768 /5710 /3008.   

Pictured: DUT Business School logo.

DUT Business School Project Leader, Professor Veena Rawjee and DUT’s Executive Dean: Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof Fulufhelo Netswera.

Simangele Zuma