The appointment of Edwin Tjale as the new CEO of Business School Netherlands SA (BSN) constitutes a major step towards the realisation of the vision articulated by the school’s founder, Dr Dick Gerdzen.
This vision is in the spirit of Nelson Mandela’s contention that South Africa needs partnerships with First World institutions to accelerate the development and growth of managers in the new South Africa, Tjale says.
Tjale’s own CV records a mixture of experience and qualifications, both local and international. He received BAdmin and BTheol degrees from the University of the North in the 1970s, and MBA degrees from both BSN in Holland and the International Management Centre in the United Kingdom. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Bankers SA.
Before his appointment as CEO of BSN, he was national manager of business development at Sanlam.
The approach BSN uses differs fundamentally from traditional MBA programmes, he says. Its methodology focuses on real problems in MBA students’ own organisations rather than on case studies and textbook knowledge. The practical, results-oriented method, known as Action Learning, equips students with problem-solving skills for practical application in their own organisations.
Action Learning moves into the realms of knowledge-sharing and facilitation rather than simple lecturing, and learner involvement and participation are substantial. The Action Learning MBA is offered on a part-time basis or via the Internet.
The learning atmosphere is excitingly different, Tjale says, encouraging both students and tutors to become part of ‘a wellspring of knowledge” in which continuous improvement and critical insights are paramount.
For organisations, one of the most important reasons to sponsor their managers on this programme is the average direct return on investment. For example, Grant Ruddiman, manager of the Table Bay Hotel, realised an increase of 170% operating profit during his two-year MBA programme.
Women have become an important focus. BSN recently launched, together with Cape Talk and Radio 702, a competition to increase the participation of women in higher management positions. The Action Learning Woman of the Year Award will go to the woman who best demonstrates how to handle the problems encountered within her organisation.
In addition to this, BSN offered a one-third bursary for every woman manager/trainee who enrolled on the Action Learning MBA before July 1 2003. BSN also gave all the women who participated in the Action Learning Woman of the Year competition a 100% bursary for phase one of the MBA programme.
In 1999 BSN, together with Fair Lady magazine, gave two woman readers a 100% bursary to do the Action Learning MBA programme. This was followed by a 50% bursary for women in 2000.
BSN started its South African school in 1996. Its head office is in Cape Town, with branches in Johannesburg, East London and Durban (from August 1).
For information call 0800 843 622 or e-mail [email protected]