MBA learning philosophy

Learning outcomes

The USB's MBA aims to deliver graduates with the following capabilities:

  • An astute understanding of the environment in which we operate
  • Leadership abilities
  • The ability to thrive in a global multicultural environment
  • A thorough understanding of the concept of good corporate citizenship
  • The ability to articulate professionally in an organisational environment
  • Integrated learning and integrated problem-solving abilities with a holistic approach to the business environment
  • Strategic thinking abilities

Over and above thorough knowledge of how to operate a business, the USB MBA in particular focuses on:

  • Personal leadership development
  • Integrated and case-study learning
  • Personal skills enhancement

The USB believes that these distinguishing features of its MBA provide its graduates with a real competitive advantage.

Leadership development

This important part of the USB MBA consists of learning areas focused on how to lead yourself, how to lead groups, how to lead an organisation, and how to lead in a community:

  • Personal leadership
  • Group leadership
  • Organisational leadership
  • Societal leadership

"...to lead in a global multicultural environment"

Integrated and case-study learning

The USB MBA focuses on practice-based learning underpinned by a solid theoretical foundation. This is achieved through case-study learning, where a business case from an organisation is used as the starting point for a specific learning area.

To facilitate integrated learning, the USB will at times use co-teaching, where two or more lecturers will team-teach a subject to give students a thorough understanding of all the forces at work on a specific management or leadership problem. For example: a case may be presented by lecturers in people management, financial management and IT management to highlight all the relevant issues on the table, and to avoid looking at these issues in isolation.

The aim is to break down thinking and working in silos, and rather to follow an integrated approach to solving organisational problems.

Personal skills enhancement

The USB MBA also focuses on the ability of students to articulate professionally in a business environment. This includes the ability to write a concise, information-rich report on which the organisation can act. Therefore, as part of the programme:

  • Information literacy, i.e. the ability to use technology to gather information and to assess the value of information, is developed.
  • Presentation skills are enhanced and measured.
  • Writing skills are honed and assessed.

Further information

 Download PDF of comprehensive MBA brochure in English [402KB]
 Download PDF of comprehensive MBA brochure in Afrikaans [424KB]