By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa
The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, has been voted the top business school on the African continent for 2012.
A report released this week showed that by a vote of its international peers, the UCT Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) has been rated the top business school in Africa at the 5th Eduniversal World Convention of the Best Business Schools, held from 17 to 19 October in Lima, Peru.
“This is the fifth time that the UCT GSB has walked away with top honours at the event, five Palmes. Five Palmes go to business schools with major international influence. Second to the GSB in Africa, the University of Stellenbosch Business School also received five Palmes.”
Also reported is that the annual meeting was hosted by CENTRUM Catolica, the Graduate Business School of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru, and welcomed business school leaders, academics, and education professionals from around the globe.
While UCT GSB director, Walter Baets, said he was pleased with the award especially given that the Eduniversal system is based on a peer-review methodology in which business school deans from around the world vote.
“I believe that a peer-reviewed award such as this is one of the most valuable metrics to measure a business school by.
“The GSB aims to be the leading business school on the African continent in emerging market expertise. I am elated that the international business school community has recognised our on-going efforts to build a strong African model for business schools. Their votes are a wonderful boost,” he commented.
And the Eduniversal International Scientific Committee (ISC) nominates a selection of 1 000 business schools from 153 countries, across nine zones.
In addition, schools are nominated based on a global mapping system made up of criteria such as universality and international reputation. From the selection, deans and directors of the business schools are asked to vote for the school they recommend most.
“The Eduniversal ranking is important mainly because it describes the best academic opportunities for students,” added Baets.