In May this year, 110 delegates from the private and public sectors successfully completed the Management Development Programme (MDP) and Senior Management Programme (SMP) offered through CE at UP.
The Executive programmes are recognised as being among the best in South Africa and are presented in affiliation with the Gordon Institute of Business Science (programmes are presented by lecturers of the Gordon Institute of Business Science). The programmes have been designed for managers and senior managers who do not have the time to complete an MBA.
The programmes are presented over four months, and delegates attend lectures during one week a month.
According to Ephraim Masubelele, Accounts Manager from SABC, “This course is perfect. The University of Pretoria is recognised as one of the best in the country and the lecturers know what they are doing! The programme in Senior Management Development helps you to practically implement what you have learnt.”
“I could really see my career developing and taking shape as I continued my studies. I started off as a Sales Executive at the SABC and as my studies progressed so did my career. I moved on to being the Sales Manager and I have since been promoted to Accounts Manager. I am now studying towards my MBA with the Gordon Institute of Technology.” He added.
Ephraim has set his sights high by completing both the Management Development Programme as well as the Senior Management Programme and has decided to pursue his MBA with the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
Tebogo Rasephei from Samancor was another of the successful delegates. He noted, “The Management Development Programme is quite extensive and I use the subject matter on a day to day basis. It helps me to manage my team better.”
From the 68 delegates enrolled for SMP, three passed with distinction and 14 delegates from the 149 who registered for MDP passed with distinction.
According to Deon Herbst, CEO of CE at UP, “In the current climate, we now have an even bigger combined responsibility to train and empower people to make a difference. The executive programmes are really of the highest calibre and are very demanding. It pushes the students beyond their perceived capabilities and will enable them to align their studies with their managerial tasks.”
The programmes’ aims are briefly outlined below.
Management Development Programme:
The aim of the programme is to develop the skills of managers functioning at a middle management level to enable them to perform their management responsibilities in an effective and efficient manner within a changing and competitive business environment. Through this programme managers acquire the management competencies needed to deal with contemporary South African management challenges. The programme focuses on functional and cross-functional business processes.
Senior Management Programme:
The programme aims to develop advanced management skills, as well as analytical and creative decision-making competencies for senior functional and general managers who function at strategic management level. The programme focuses on strategic thinking and leadership.
The programmes are intensive and to pass delegates have to achieve at least 65% in their examinations and assessments.