Executive MBA News and Events

June 12, 2007
OneMBA® Alumni Plan South African Residency

OneMBA alumni will add a fifth continent to their educational resume when they visit South Africa in February 2008. The residency is sponsored by the OneMBA Alumni Board and will be led by Dave Bond (RSM Erasmus) and Peter Brews (UNC), both South African citizens and OneMBA Executive Committee members. All OneMBA alumni and their families are invited to attend the three-day residency.

The South African residency will meet in Johannesburg, the economic center of South Africa and the gateway to sub-Saharan Africa. The events will be structured similar to the OneMBA student residencies held in Europe, Asia, North America and South America:

• Discussions with local experts: African experts will share insights about the “African Discount” (why Africa underperforms in the struggle for productivity), as well as broader economic, political, social, and demographic trends. Then the focus will shift to South Africa (SA), with insights into the current SA political economy, the transition to democracy following apartheid, and an overview of the SA economy’s strengths and weaknesses.
• Site visits: Alumni will visit leading SA businesses and meet with their key executives.
• Cultural Events: Events include a visit to the Apartheid Museum and Soweto. Alumni may also be invited to a SA home to enjoy a traditional braaivleis (equivalent to an American barbeque).

The OneMBA Alumni Board is committed to an ongoing exchange of ideas and learning among the OneMBA community of students, alumni, faculty and administrators. The South African Residency is the first of many alumni events.