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Dear colleagues, alumni and friends
The past few weeks have been enormously challenging for the higher education sector in South Africa, including for the staff and students of a number of institutions across the country. We encourage all parties to engage constructively to find a long-term solution to these issues. Now is the time we need the voices of all stakeholders to be heard and to help determine the future of our institutions.
I am pleased to say that WBS continues on an exciting path of growth, and the last few months have seen a number of important developments at the School. In June, we opened a second campus at the Professional Development Hub (PDH) a Wits University owned building just five minutes’ drive from WBS Parktown. The new WBS PDH campus houses a number of academic and exec ed programmes.
Internationalisation is a cornerstone of our vision as the future African business school of choice. With a strongly pan-African and collaborative approach, WBS has created a new Chair in African Philanthropy and an endowed Chair in Digital Business (funded by Telkom). Both Chairs are ‘firsts’ for the continent of Africa and places WBS at the forefront of delivering new research that is highly relevant to our social and business context. 
WBS’s events calendar has never been busier and we have hosted a number of public seminars recently which have ignited lively debate. As part of the WBS community, we look forward to welcoming you to our upcoming events as we share ideas, debate issues and gain a deeper understanding of the world around us.
Lastly, I was immensely proud of WBS during the Wits graduation ceremony that took place in July.  We graduated 13 PhD students, 100 MBA students, 72 Masters of Management students and 30 Postgraduate Diploma in Management students. A fantastic result and I look forward to hearing about the remarkable accomplishments that our alumni will go on to achieve in the world. 
Best regards,
Steve Bluen
Director and Head of School
Wits Business School
WBS is constantly refining its academic programmes and redefining its role as a leading African academic institution. In line with this, and with an eye on meeting the needs of our future African business leaders, WBS has reintroduced their specialist innovation degree – a Master of Management (MM) in Innovation Studies.   
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Marketing Guru joins WBS!

On 1 May, WBS welcomed Professor Steve Burgess as Professor of Marketing and Research Director.  Prior to joining WBS, Steve was Director of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and Professor of Marketing.
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WBS shines at CLM Research Awards 
Two of our academics were honoured at the recent Commerce, Law and Management (CLM) Research Awards ceremony for their outstanding research outputs.
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Latest scoop! The delicious taste of success
Paul Ballen, a WBS PDM alumnus (2014) is becoming known in foodie circles in Johannesburg, and beyond, as the Paul who makes delicious homemade ice cream.  Paul graduated from Wits with an Honours in Clinical Psychology before doing his PDM and had no previous work experience, just a yen to change the way Jo’burgers think about ice cream.
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No mountain too high 
UK-based Kim Danks, WBS MBA alumnus (2006), is changing the lives of people living with mental illness in South Africa.  Kim’s non-profit organisation Climb Any Mountain was borne out of a personal mission: to find an alternative to institution life for people with intellectual disability and mental illness, a space where such people were empowered by their right to the same opportunities, choice and control over their lives that the rest of the population enjoys.
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Keeping it in the family
The MBA gets bad press as the ‘divorce degree’, and the demands it puts on family life are well-documented. A surprising number of couples and family members, however, decide to study concurrently. Perhaps it is a case of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ – and it appears to work well.
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Executive education course dates for 2016
Applications are still open for our 2017 academic programmes!
Fundamentals of Business Project Management: 31 Oct - 4 Nov 2016
Creating and Managing Digital Marketing Strategies: 28 Nov - 1 Dec 2016
Finance for Non-Finance Managers: 15 - 18 November 2016 
12 October
In Conversation with Sim Tshabalala
Hosted by: Imraan Valodia
13 October
Opportunities and Solutions - Addressing the key challenges facing the liquid fuels retail industry
Hosted by: Maurice Radebe
18 October
Ethical Leadership - In pursuit of ethical leaders
Hosted by: Cynthia Schoeman, Dr Yondela Ndema, Adriaan Groenewald, Ansie Ramalho
26 October
South Africa, China and Africa’ industrialization. Moving from mere “supplierships” to long term win-win value driven and wealth creation collaborative partnerships
Hosted by: Prof Douglas Boateng
Panel Discussion: Understanding Brexit and its Impact on the South African Economy
Wits Business School held a panel discussion with some of South Africa’s leading chief economists to discuss the repercussions of Brexit on the local economy. Hilary Joffe of the Business Day chaired the discussion, and the evening’s panellists were: Sizwe Nxedlana, Lesiba Mothiba, Lullu Krugel, Alan Mukoki and Dr Geoff Heald. The session was recorded and is available on the WBS YouTube channel.
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Public Lecture: The IMF- Bridging South Africa’s Economic Divide
Wits Business School hosted an exclusive lecture by Deputy MD of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) David Lipton in which he urged South Africa to embark on a new approach to economic reform by re-energising growth through inclusion and job creation.
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Another Careers Day Success!

More than 450 graduates and students attended the recent Wits Business School Career Fair 2016 held in Rosebank.This event is held annually, and once again graduates and corporate attendees had a great time engaging and networking in a buzzing atmosphere. This was the fifth Careers Day expertly co-ordinated by Charisse Drobis, Head of Career Management at WBS.
WBS does Mandela Day
WBS staff had a busy day on 18 July in honour of Nelson Mandela delivering food to Wits University campus in support of the Mandela Day Foodbank Challenge. This is a Wits Citizenship and Community Outreach programme established to address the ongoing issue of food security on campus.
Executive Education launches AML programme with Daimler

WBS Executive Education recently launched its partnership with Mercedes-Benz South Africa, a Daimler AG company, for a customised Accelerated Managerial Leadership (AML) programme. The programme has been tailored specifically for Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) employees who have been identified with high leadership potential.
Is there a role for business in combating corruption?
World Bank South Africa Economic Update Report: Promoting Faster Growth and Poverty Alleviation Through Competition
What makes great brands great? 
Fair pay for Business and Government – how do we achieve it?
In Conversation With: Sizwe Nxanana
The National Budget Speech: Analysis and Insights
South Africa’s Big Five Report Panel Discussion in partnership with McKinsey & Company
Are you a student, staff member or alumni? Do you have a story to tell or an event to feature? Do you have feedback on the newsletter? Please contact WBS Communications Manager, Jane Balnaves on jane.balnaves@wits.ac.za
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Wits Business School - Faculty of Commerce, Law & Management, 2 St David's Place, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2198 P O Box 98, Wits, 2050
, Gauteng | 2050 ZA
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