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South African / Australian MBA?

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Nestor


Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:44 PM
Anybody out there know anything about good mba prog. in these places?
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Mendez66

Joined: 01 Sep 2005
Posts: 26
South African / Australian MBA?
Thu Mar 09, 2006 09:22 PM
Not sure, Nestor. Cape Town in SA and Australian School of Management are the only programs to show up in Financial Times' top 100. Is there any particular reason -- beside the exotic allure -- that you are thinking of these places?
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Nestor


Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Sat Mar 11, 2006 04:05 PM
well, i do realise that an mba is more than a vacation. so, no the "exotic allure" is not everything. i had other reasons for looking in the southern hemisphere for mba programs. but thanks for your input. i will keep looking and let you know if i find anything else out in my search. cheers. N.
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Mendez66

Joined: 01 Sep 2005
Posts: 26
South African / Australian MBA?
Thu Mar 16, 2006 09:11 PM
sorry. did not mean to suggest that you were on the lookout only for a vacation. certainly no harm in looking for a pleasant place to do your mba. :) speaking of southern hemisphere, have you looked into INSEAD Singapore?
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diego

Joined: 16 Mar 2006
Posts: 1
South African / Australian MBA?
Fri Mar 17, 2006 04:27 PM
that good australian mba u rereferd to is www.find-mba.com/university/562 ?

[Edited 10 Apr 2006 by diego]
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Nestor


Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Mon Apr 10, 2006 09:42 PM
I know INSEAD Singapore is everyone's favorite non-European / North American program. At least I have that feeling. But any other promising schools down there -- aside from the ones mentioned. What about some of the others that showed up on the FT top hundred?
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Mindmaker

Joined: 07 Oct 2006
Posts: 21
South African / Australian MBA?
Sun Oct 08, 2006 06:26 PM
Guys, if you really are looking to learn. AND, are not concerned about the postgraduation mentorship, i.e, schools with powerful people in both government and private sector. What I call the "club" of the gang that is squeezin the middle class into the poor class, while they take all the marbles for themselves, then any school really will do. Why you can even construct an MBA school for yourself at home. Learn and study and publish papers in (1) Communications, (2) Management and Leadership (3) Behavioral Management (4) Organization Structure and Change Management (5) Baisc In International Business Law
- There if you do an honset research work, read at least 3 books by renown athors on each of the course abouve, dupplement it with internet and library research, etc. at least do 3 semester hours of honest work per discipline and publish a research paper with your local newspaper on each topic. That is already 15 Hrs, you are 1/3 towards you MBA
Then Next Choese a Mix of 10 other topics with a 50/50 share of quantitative and qualitative, Statistical and decision management analysis. The Do a research paper in your ield of interest. And before you know it, you might not have that piece of paper that says "MBA Havard University, Cornell, Wharton, Capetown, Cambridge or London School Of Economics" - and yes opening the corporate door with a corne office might be dificult, but once you get in.. Boy, they will wonder why they ever pissed away $30K to $100K on their education,
Educationm should be free in these days of technology. Just put your mind to it. What degree did Isaac Newton of Achimedes have again? or is it Dr. Albert Einstein. In a way we are being ripped off, if you think about it.
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henkheath

Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:57 PM
I am studying through the University of the North West, the old Potchefstroom University, in South Africa and I must say the quality of the tuition is excellent. During a recent Financial Mail Survey, UNW came out as 3rd in South Africa, with ratings equal to better than some of the comparitive courses hosted by Harvard and Oxford.
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jona


Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 59
South African / Australian MBA?
Wed Apr 18, 2007 03:13 PM
I never considered South Africa to do my MBA, but why not?
The question of course is how the MBA would be perceived internationally, in my case at least, because I would not want to stay in South Africa after finishing the program.

Can you tell me a bit more about the MBA you do? I would be afraid that it has a more local appeal, what is your opinion, to what extend is it international? What are the job chances in international companies and what are the connections with business, how is the composition of classes, what accreditations does it have?
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henkheath

Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Wed Apr 18, 2007 04:30 PM
The following Universities are the top in South Africa, and are all fully accredited MBA programs (Internationally), No questions asked;

University of North West (UNW)
University of Stellenbosch (US)
University of Pretoria (Gordon Institute of Business)
University of South Africa (Unisa)

Although we have a few localized content, you will find that the content will actually benefit you. Eg. we have a very Hectic Labour Law, accompanied by all the lockouts and strikes, mass action, the whole works. You get exposure to every eventuality. Further We are rated in the top 25 MBA programs in the world, and top 3 where the soft skills such as change management and organizational behaviour is concerned.

In my second year, I was flown from SA to Switzerland, all expenses paid, for an interview with a large Earthmoving company....need I say more of the standard of the program?
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jona


Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 59
South African / Australian MBA?
Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:49 PM
Hello,
May I ask you what exactly you are referring to when you say that UNW is rated in the top 25 MBA programs in the world?
In the FT, Economist, and BW rankings I only found the following (even taking into consideration the top 100 programs worldwide):
- University of Cape Town
- University of Pretoria: Gibs
- Wits Business School
- University of Stellenbosch Business School

Did I miss something?
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henkheath

Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Tue Apr 24, 2007 08:55 PM
Aha , i see that you have done some of the homework. Have you read the +/- 12 page article explaining the programs as per their strenths as well as the years of assessments. South African Schools went through the accreditation process to the end of 2005, PUK came out tops, beating GIBS and the like in the soft skills and Labour Law.
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jona


Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 59
South African / Australian MBA?
Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:46 AM
Hello henkheath,
May I ask you which article you are referring to? And sorry to be uninformed, but what does PUK stand for?
Jona
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henkheath

Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:57 AM
Am I Winding you up yet?
The South African magazine FT, Financial Times did an extensive survey ranging from affordabiity, timeframes, to acceptance rates, Study material, text books used, CV of the proffessors

I will get you date of the publication, but I think it was May 2006
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jona


Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 59
South African / Australian MBA?
Thu Apr 26, 2007 03:00 PM
I was just a bit surprised since I had done my own research, and did not find it in the rankings, as I stated above.
Then this has more a local significance I presume, since you don't mention international appeal and salary prospects as a criteria?

Anyways, it's still an interesting option for me to study in South Africa.
Some more questions (I hope you won't get tired..):
I have read that instruction language is English and Afrikaans, does that mean I have to know Afrikaans to study?
As for general living, doe people speak English everywhere? Coming from a non English speaking country I am very keen on "perfectioning" my English skills.

Furthermore I'd be curious about the composition of classes, are there many foreign students in your class?

Thanks in advance Henkheath, very interesting to have your first hand info!

[Edited 26 Apr 2007 by jona]
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henkheath

Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Sat Apr 28, 2007 08:41 PM
The study was very elaborate, it did include the before and agter averages in salary as well as the positions held before and after.

shoot with the questions, I do not mind.

Yes, the instruction is in Afrikaans and English, but this would not affect you ar you will be able to receive your tuition in English.

English is widely spoken as well as the other 10 Official Languages of Southern Africa. Lanuage is not a barrier, believe me.

go to the following page to have a look at us.

www.puk.ac.za/fakulteite/ekon/pbs/mba_e.html
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jona


Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 59
South African / Australian MBA?
Mon Apr 30, 2007 01:00 PM
10 official languages? ok..

Good to hear that Enlgish is widely spoken and therefore not perceived as a foreign language I guess. That makes Aouth Africa an interesting place to study - as I said improving English language skills is an important argument.

[Edited 30 Apr 2007 by jona]
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henkheath

Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Mon Apr 30, 2007 01:08 PM
we have been conversing, so you will not perceive language as a barrier. You worry too much.
South Africa is a friendly country, friendly people, great diversity in culture and geography
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joergalbers


Joined: 08 Sep 2006
Posts: 33
South African / Australian MBA?
Wed May 02, 2007 05:05 PM
I have heard that it can be dangerous though, especially at night. Or let's say, more dangerous than what we are used to in Europe.
Is that not true? Or is that the case only in big cities?

[Edited 02 May 2007 by joergalbers]
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henkheath

Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Wed May 02, 2007 05:44 PM
It is all about perceptions (misperceptions)
Yes there is cime, no argument there. But what about the university in the New York, or will the crime in Harlem, or the Bronx deter you?
What about in the Middle east? or will the pubic displays in the town square, where they chop off the hand of thieves on a weekly basis deter you?
what about the recent shooting at schools in America, The violence in the Japanese Cabinet, where appointees fight with fists and chairs (looks like WWF) deter you from studying at Osaka University.

I have lived in many countries, and believe me each one has their own set of violent problems. In Belguim there were incidents where the French speaking side of the street would vandalise the cars of the Flemish speaking other side out of pure hatred.
The Dutch hate the Morrocans that bork illegally in their country.
there are so many examples.....ours is unfortunately front page news, and being in The Netherlands from '84 - '88 (end of the appartheid era), I know what perceptions are in Europe.

I would leave South Africa, when my children will be able to appreciate the history, culture, legacy of Europe, etc....... but my reason for leaving would not be crime.

to get back to your question, do you lock your door at night? If so why?
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jona


Joined: 11 Mar 2007
Posts: 59
South African / Australian MBA?
Thu May 03, 2007 10:34 AM
it's all relative... even in a town in Germany people can feel threatened, this is very subjective.

Anyways, I would think that Potchefstroom, where your university is, there is less problems of crime than in Cape town for instance.
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henkheath

Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Thu May 03, 2007 12:34 PM
If you have a look at Potchefstroom, you will find that it is a smaller community than Heidelberg, Germany. I Live in Centurion (Pretoria), which is 157km from Potchefstroom. We have contact in the 1st and 2nd year on a bi-weekly basis, but now in the 3rd year monthly. The quality of education between Gibs, Unisa, Potch, Rau are all on par with one or 2 subjects better than the other institutions, but the price form my 3 year MBA is R56K (Euro 6000) in comparison to the R78K (Euro 8387) from Gibs.
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joergalbers


Joined: 08 Sep 2006
Posts: 33
South African / Australian MBA?
Fri May 04, 2007 10:42 AM
May I ask what program you are taking exactly? I am a bit surprised when you talk about the third year, because an MBA does not take that long.

Otherwise, if it is an MBA you are doing, I would say that tuition is really low and very competitive.

Can you give me some idea about living costs? Then we will have gathered all infos about MBA in South Africa I think :)

[Edited 04 May 2007 by joergalbers]
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shashank

Joined: 03 May 2007
Posts: 3
South African / Australian MBA?
Fri May 04, 2007 10:46 AM
I am from INDIA and i plan to do my mba in finance from south africa. iwould like to kno if its easy for foreign students to find a job ther after my mba.
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henkheath

Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Posts: 12
South African / Australian MBA?
Fri May 04, 2007 11:17 AM
There is a skills shortage in the whole of South Africa, and the Alumni of most of the Business schools actively promote your CV from the end of the second year, as this helps their ratings
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