North West University School Of Business And Governance

The Potchefstroom Business School
As a leading independent business school, Potchefstroom Business School (PBS) is part of North-West University, formerly the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, which was founded in 1869. In 2004 the PU for CHE merged with other tertiary institutions to become North-West University. NWU enrols more than 32 000 students annually and has formal relationships with several universities worldwide.
Potchefstroom Business School forms part of the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences at NWU, where management training at postgraduate level started in 1965. Until 1970, lectures were presented by members of various departments in the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences. The Postgraduate School of Management (PSM) was established as a full department of the faculty in 1979 and in 1995 the name was changed to the Graduate School of Management (GSM).
When globalisation and a changing education environment demanded a new approach to business learning, the GSM accepted the challenge. Programmes were developed and adapted to satisfy the needs of the future manager. Distance learning delivery platforms were developed to enhance the accessibility of programmes. In 1998 the name of the school was changed to Potchefstroom Business School (PBS). Focusing on practical business solutions to real-world business problems, PBS has extended its expertise to include the business community.
In 2002 the Higher Education Quality Council did a survey amongst all providers of the MBA in South Africa. It was recommended and adopted that the PBS should no longer present a distance learning mode of delivery and the MBA has since been offered on a part time contact basis at two campuses – the Potchefstroom Campus and the Vaal Triangle Campus.
The motivation (purpose of existence) of the PBS evolved from serving a limited geographic market of primarily, the North West, as well as the Gauteng provinces, to offering a quality MBA programme. In the process, the PBS endeavours to change the existing mind-sets of, and to develop and deliver managers and leaders of exceptional executive capability. In this way, the business school strives to create economic value via the upliftment of the present and potential South African business and entrepreneurial community.
The above purpose is reflected in the following Vision:
“To be an innovative and quality-driven business school that, strongly anchored within a regional context, also plays a dynamic role in Africa and internationally.”
The Mission statement of the PBS is as follows”:
“The Potchefstroom Business School is committed to high quality teaching, research and the operationalisation of expertise measured against international standards within a context of a client- and service-oriented approach. The mission is vested in the following eight pillars:”
The following eight elements are key pillars of this mission, which leads to the formulation of specific goals and applicable targets that the PBS wishes to achieve, namely:
. The optimal utilisation of academic and support staff to achieve the goal of the PBS
. To develop, teach and empower, by means of innovative teaching and quality learning, well-rounded graduates, who are able to think laterally and critically and who are able to serve the country and its people, the continent and the world
. Develop and maintain relevant, focused research of a high standard that is aligned with national priorities and that offers innovative solutions to the challenges that face the academic community, the country, the continent and the world.
. Expand the commercialisation, implementation and marketing of expertise to benefit all role-players
.Expand the community involvement of the PBS in order to make a fundamental difference with all role-players.
. The proactive expansion and maintenance of international collaboration agreements with regard to teaching-learning, research and the marketing of expertise.
. Development of the PBS’ image and the strengthening of the PBS trademark.
. Be a responsible, well-managed, financially-viable business school with a strong client focus to support and improve the quality of our core business.
In pursuance of the above goals a significant number of short term objectives are continuously developed, implemented and dynamically re-planned, with appropriate corrective actions. These objectives are measurable, target date oriented, with assigned responsibilities and detail the required resources for their successful execution.
A major portion of the time spent during the three strategy meetings annually, as well as the monthly staff meetings, is devoted to the presentation, discussion and analysis of the full portfolio of objectives.
At the Potchefstroom Business School we strive to change the way our students think about business. We want our students to become manager-leaders in their own right. All our programmes strive to promote practical business solutions in the workplace and we encourage our students to “practice what we preach”. Situated in Potchefstroom as part of the North West University, the PBS aims to make a difference in the local economy and community through implementation of skills and other social projects.
Our Post-Graduate Diploma is entering its third year and is growing in stature. During 2013/2014, we will look at revamping the format so that this qualification could be deemed acceptable as entry qualification for the MBA.
We are fortunate that large corporate businesses are increasingly making use of our executive training programmes. New clients include the likes of Astral Foods and Transnet, for whom we will present company-specific training programmes at certain levels in their respective organisations.
Our research output also reached new heights during 2012 and we expect this performance to be repeated during 2013. The PBS has also made its mark as far as community development is concerned, and we already have plans to give back to society what we were so blessed to receive.
The Potchefstroom Business School is a dynamic institution that will help get the edge in an ever changing business environment. From the above, it is clear that the PBS has a clear vision and mission that are based on a set of core pillars that optimally support, energise and motivate its activities.