About Us

WBS Overview

Wits Business School is the graduate school of business administration of the University of the Witwatersrand, one of the top tertiary institutes in Africa. It is situated in Parktown, Johannesburg, the vibrant, commercial hub of the continent and offers a modern learning environment built on the Harvard School of Business ‘horseshoe’ format.

Why study at WBS?

From the students and faculty to our alumni and friends, as a collective, we make a substantial positive impact on the world around us.

Vision, Mission and Values

The School aims to create the academic, research, leadership and character excellence conditions that nurture graduates who grow and achieve beyond themselves as Africa's leaders, in business and in society. WBS' intention is also to build bridges - between business, government, civil society and organised labour- to address the issues critical to Africa fulfilling its economic destiny.

Strategic Plan

The WBS strategic plan is firmly rooted in the belief that the school can play a significant role in Africa as the continent undergoes economic regeneration and unprecedented expansion.

Accreditations & Affiliations

WBS is accredited by a number of leading international organisations, attesting to the high regard a WBS degree holds in the business world. We are also continuously audited and vetted, ensuring that your education is incomparable.

The University of the Witwatersrand

WBS is the graduate school of business administration of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), one of the top tertiary institutes in Africa, providing WBS access to arguably the finest ecosystem of knowledge and learning on the continent.

Visit WBS

Visit us on one of our campuses, or get in touch via phone or email, we would love to hear from you.

Careers @ WBS

The business school offers a range of career options for both academic and support teams.

Our Team

Here you will find a full contact list of all our departments

Access the WBS 2017 Almanac here

Academic Programmes

The Wits Business School Academic Programmes include the flagship MBA programme, the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PDBA), the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PDM), South Africa’s largest PhD programme and five leading Master of Management programmes.

MBA

The WBS MBA programme, accredited by the Association of MBAs for a record five years running, is the school’s flagship academic programme and is renowned the world over. The programme uses a combination of cutting-edge theory and guided practical application to develop the analytical, emotional and critical thinking skills you need to succeed in the world today.

MM in the Field of Business Executive Coaching

The first of its kind in South Africa, the Master of Management in the field of Business Executive Coaching is a unique opportunity for post-graduate students to further their own self-awareness, and apply this knowledge towards the learning and development of others.

MM in the Field of Finance and Investment

Finance is the linchpin of taught-skills necessary for both navigating enterprises successfully, and ensuring stable economic activity nationally and globally. It is composed of several important facets and thus requires its practitioners to acquire a dedicated, focused and comprehensive set of training, in order to be appropriately qualified. The Master of Management in the field of Finance & Investment Management at Wits Business School (WBS) is designed to fill this training need.

MM in the field Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation

The course provides a solid foundation of entrepreneurship knowledge and emphasises the entrepreneurial process as a way of building entrepreneurial skills in a start-up context. Real case material unites entrepreneurship theory and practice. The course is designed to provide a thorough introduction to the theoretical and practical issues associated with entrepreneurship.

MM by Research

The Wits Business School Master of Management (MM) by Research programme is aimed at students with an Honours degree who wish to further develop their graduate qualifications in a management-related field. An MM by Research gives you the opportunity to acquire in-depth knowledge in the focus area of study, as well as to build valuable research skills.

MM in the Field of Strategic Marketing

The course is designed for students who have studied marketing at the undergraduate level, and wish to further their studies in advanced business and marketing concepts. It is aimed at practicing marketers with marketing qualifications and experience who wish to further develop their careers in marketing.

MM in the Field of Innovation Studies

Long-term economic growth is being driven by technological innovation. Equip yourself to understand and manage the innovation process in ways that will lead to competitive firms and sustainable, human-centred development.

NOTE: Applications for 2017 open on 8 August 2016

PhD

Join top candidates from across the continent, participate in rich cultural and social debates and realise the vastness of the knowledge domains you can master by developing your learning and research skills.

Postgraduate Diploma in Management

The Wits Business School Postgraduate Diploma in Management challenges you to view business and management in a new light of innovation and creativity while preparing yourself for the challenges companies face on a daily basis

Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration

The Wits Business School one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration is for ambitious graduates who want the edge. It will accelerate your understanding of the world of business, advance your general business management knowledge, develop your leadership skills and sharpen your business acumen.

Search for a Wits Business School here

Select a number of courses and compare them to see which ones suit your needs best

Faculty + Research

Faculty Members

The academic faculty members at the Wits Business School bring together years of corporate knowledge, research experience and academic achievement from around the continent and world.

Finance and Accounting

Find our Finance and Accounting Faculty members here

Economics, Management Science and Information Systems

Find our Economics, Management Science and Information Systems Faculty members here

Human Resources and Organisational Behaviour

Find our Human Resources and Organisational Behaviour Faculty members here

Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Find our Strategy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Faculty memebers here

Find our Marketing Faculty members here

Find our Adjunct and Sessional Faculty members here

Research

Research is one of the four pillars of excellence at Wits Business School and up-to-date research in various fields enriches the learning experience at WBS.

Executive Education

Wits Business School is listed in the Top 100 best schools for Executive Education in the world and offers over 25 programmes relevant to global business today and with a particular Africa focus.

Customised and In-Company Courses:

Contact:
Desikan Naidoo, Business Development - Senior Account Executive
011 717 3142 or desikan.naidoo@wits.ac.za

Ariadne David, Business Development - Client Liaison Manager
011 717 3875 or ariadne.david@wits.ac.za

Aamir Suleman, Business Development - Client Liaison Manager
011 717 3618 or Aamir.Suleman@wits.ac.za

Jacob Makgato, Business Development - Client Liaison Manager
011 717 3813 or Jacob.Makgato@wits.ac.za

Executive Development Programme

Contact: Sindiswa Nambondia on 011 717 3778 or sindiswa.nambondia@wits.ac.za

International Executive Development Programme (IEDP)

Contact: Faith Koroloso on 011 717 3569 or Senamolela.Koroloso@wits.ac.za

New Managers Programme

Dates:
Part Time - Saturdays only: 3 June - 18 November 2017
Full Time: 11 September - 8 December 2017
Contact: Jackie Mthembu on 011 717 3594 or jackie.mthembu@wits.ac.za

Management Advancement Programme (MAP)

Contact: Full Time - Khosi Nkosi on 011 717 3628 or Khosi.Nkosi@wits.ac.za
Part Time and Weekend Block Release - Lehlohonolo Mmolotsane on 011 717 3113 or Lehlohonolo.Mmolotsane@wits.ac.za

Dates:
Full Time: 11 May - 25 August 2017
Weekend Block Release: 11 July 2017 - 3 November 2017
Part Time: 7 September 2017 - 16 June 2018

Thinking and Planning Strategically

Date: 25 - 28 July 2017
Contact: Kholeka Vikilahle on 011 717 3369 or kholeka.vikilahle@wits.ac.za

Art and Science of Negotiation

Date: 21 - 24 November 2017
Contact: Kholeka Vikilahle on 011 717 3369 or kholeka.vikilahle@wits.ac.za

Managing and Leading People

Contact: Kholeka Vikilahle on 011 717 3369 or kholeka.vikilahle@wits.ac.za or
Magda Janse Van Noordwyk on 011 717 3840 Magda.JanseVanNoordwyk@wits.ac.za

Business Executive Coaching for Organisational Excellence

Date: 17 May - 1 November 2017
Contact: Faith Koroloso on 011 717 3569 or Senamolela.Koroloso@wits.ac.za

Future Leaders Development

Date: 19 June 2017
Contact: Virginia Matshaba on 011 717 3690 or xoliswa.matshaba@wits.ac.za

Women in leadership

Date: 10 July 2017
Contact: Sonia Newton on 011 717 3511 or sonia.newton@wits.ac.za

Senior Leaders Development Programme

Contact: Virginia Matshaba on 011 717 3690 or xoliswa.matshaba@wits.ac.za

Finance for Non-Financial Managers

Dates: 15 - 18 May 2017
21 - 24 August 2017
13 - 16 November 2017
Contact: Adorable Jacinto on 011 717 3815 or adorable.jacinto@wits.ac.za

Applied Financial Management

Contact: Adorable Jacinto on 011 717 3815 or adorable.jacinto@wits.ac.zaDates: 10 July - 15 November 2017
Block format: 1^st Block: 10,11,12 July 2017
2^nd Block: 14,15,16 August 2017
3^rd Block: 11,12,13 September 2017
4^th Block: 16,17,18 October 2017
5^th Block: 13,14,15 November 2017

Creating and Managing Digital Marketing Strategies

Date: 17 - 20 July 2017
Contact: Kholeka Vikilahle on 011 717 3369 or kholeka.vikilahle@wits.ac.za

Advanced Business Project Management

Date: 22-26 May, 2017
03-7 July, 2017
14-18 August, 2017
Contact: Sindiswa Nambondia on 011 717 3778 or sindiswa.nambondia@wits.ac.za

Fundamentals of Business Project Management

Dates: 8-12 May, 2017
9-13 October, 2017
Contact: Sindiswa Nambondia on 011 717 3778 or sindiswa.nambondia@wits.ac.za

Municipal Finance and Supply Chain Management

Contact: Manku Kotelo 011 717 3110 Manku.Kotelo@wits.ac.za

Executive Leadership Development for CIO's

Contact: Kholeka Vikilahle on 011 717 3369 or kholeka.vikilahle@wits.ac.za

Masterclass of the WBS Energy Leadership Centre

Contact: Sindiswa Nambondia on 011 717 3778 or sindiswa.nambondia@wits.ac.za

Masterclass - Optimising Human Asset Value

Contact: Adorable Jacinto on 011 717 3815 or adorable.jacinto@wits.ac.za

Masterclass in leading change to prevent burnout

Contact: Alison Foote on 011 717 73539 or alison.foote@wits.ac.za

Service Leaders MasterClass

Contact: Rhoda Malebye on 011 717 3377 or rhoda.malebye@wits.ac.za

Search for a Wits Business School Executive Education course here

Select a number of courses and compare them to see which ones suit your needs best

News + Events

News

Read the latest news about Wits Business School, our faculty and graduates, past events and important upcoming events on our news page, or submit a news story or comment for The WBS Bulletin or website.

Events

Go to our events page for a full listing of upcoming or past events.

Subscribing to mailing lists for events
For updates on important upcoming events please click here to subscribe.

Suggestions for topics and speakers
What topics are important to you? Which speakers would you like to see? Please send your suggestions to: Thembeka Hlatshwayo on thembeka.hlatshwayo@wits.ac.za.

Students

The Student Experience

Students of WBS embark on a relevant, first-class, global-facing learning journey, graduating not only with the necessary technical, emotional and critical thinking skills to do business, but also with the drive and confidence to do something bigger than themselves.

Student Testimonials

See what some of our students have to say about WBS

Alumni

Become part of a network of active, innovative change makers that span every industry across the globe.

As a graduate of WBS, you become part of a broader WBS community of active and innovative changemakers. Our alumni network has been forged for half a century and spans every industry across the globe.

Update your Details:

Assist us in an effort to develop and sustain a relationship with you, by sending your full name/s and personal email address to Lebo Lethunya on 011 717 3556 or lebo.lethunya@wits.ac.za

Our alumni network has been forged for half a century and spans every industry across the globe.
We have more CEOs in our alumni than any other business school in Africa.
Wits Alumni ranked 32^nd globally based on the number of alumni who go on to attain top executive positions around the world.
As a WBS alumni you can draw from a large community for inspiration, advancement and networking.
Reunions are important events for WBS students and our dedicated WBS Alumni Office will assist reunion organisers in planning and organising the event.

Update your Details:

Assist us in an effort to develop and sustain a relationship with you, by sending your full name/s and personal email address to Lebo Lethunya on 011 717 3556 or lebo.lethunya@wits.ac.za

Class reunions are an opportunity to strengthen existing friendships, reunite with old friends, re-engage, form new alliances, expand your professional network and build exciting prospects for the future based on the common experience of the classroom. Reunions also afford you the opportunity to become involved in some of the projects, initiatives and developments that are taking place at your alma mater.

The WBS Alumni Office will work with your reunion organisers in the planning and co-ordination of your reunion so that it will be a fun, enjoyable and a memorable experience.

Download the WBS Guide to Organising your Class Reunion or contact Lebo Lethunya for further information on 011 717 3556 or lebo.lethunya@wits.ac.za.

The WBS Alumni Association supports the WBS mission to be recognised worldwide as Africa’s premier business school. It upholds the WBS values as values of its alumni, which are: academic excellence; critical, creative and clarified thought leadership; personal accountability; a positive work ethic; mutual respect and support; the celebration, respect and recognition of diversity; and sensitivity to wider societal issues and a responsibility to society.

Contact the WBS Alumni Chairperson, Terence Singh, on: terencesinghs@gmail.com

Centres + Chairs

Career Management

As a student registered in one of our academic programmes, personal career development is an intergral part of your journey with Wits Business School. Our Career Development Programme is about taking you from the classroom into the workplace.

Case Centre

Get access to award-winning case studies that analyse and address real-life business challenges, management processes and defining moments of leading South African businesses.

Centre for Entreprenuership

Located at the Wits Business School’s Parktown Campus, the CfE is a bridge between academic knowledge on entrepreneurship and implementation of knowledge into practice by entrepreneurs. We identify interventions and focus on asset-building within the entrepreneurship environment.

Chair in African Philanthropy

Practical study and relevant insights on pan-African philanthropy for learners, investors and organisations.

Leadership Development Programmes

The Wits Business School Leadership Development Centre is focused on developing the immense talent in this country. Turning students into confident leaders who know how they can make a contribution to their organisations and their own leadership development.

The Telkom Chair in Digital Business

The Telkom Chair in Digital Business is a first for South Africa and the continent and will ensure that as a business school located in the economic heart of Africa, we are at the forefront of delivering important research and relevant programmes that are essential for doing business in today’s digitised world.

International Office

International Office

International Office

WBS provides an enriching, international learning experience for students through exchange programmes, trips to the world’s major business centres, international guest speakers and visiting professors. Many of our faculty members are from outside of South Africa and we have an African and global focus across our curriculum.

Contact Us

We'd love to hear from you!

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to get in touch with us. Ask to subscribe to our events invitations or newsletter, or share an idea, speaker or article. Reach us on the contact details listed on the page or alternatively fill out the contact form.

Trump, globalisation and free trade - An Alternative Register Here

Public talk: Trump, globalisation and free trade - An Alternative

Start Date: Wednesday, 15 February, 2017
Time: 17:30 for 18:00
Contact Person: thembeka.hlatshwayo@wits.ac.za
Venue: Donald Gordon Auditorium, Wits Business School, 2 St David's Place, Parktown

Once again WBS invites you to a free public lecture by renowned British politician, activist and author Peter Hain, the Right Honourable Lord Hain of Neath, as he tackles the following questions:

Is Trump part of a wider threatening right wing populism?
Has globalisation failed too many people?
Are decent, secure working class jobs compatible with free trade?

Brought up in SA, Peter’s parents were jailed then banned and forced into exile in 1966. Peter served in the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown for twelve years. As Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, he negotiated an end to the conflict, and as a staunch anti-apartheid leader, Peter was instrumental in stopping all-white South African sports tours from 1969 onwards. An author of 21 books, Peter is Visiting Adjunct Professor at Wits Business School. Click here for speaker bio

Booking is essential.