Global MBA Testimonials
The process of creating value through work-integrated learning is extraordinary. It shifts the primary learning experience from the confines of academic institutions to the actual workplaces of our students. This transformation leads to an unparalleled sense of purpose, as it transitions skills training from theoretical teaching to the invaluable experience gained on the job.
Additionally, work-integration redirects the traditional focus of study from analysis to practical implementation. It is the act of implementation that has the power to bring about real change in the world. This new approach enables students to realize their potential in effecting positive changes within their work environments.
We invite you to explore the remarkable feedback from some of our students who have been willing to openly share their experiences of creating genuine value in their workplaces.
Charles Stols, Engineering Manager at MegChem, Cape Town, South African Republic
03.2019 |
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This assignment was of true value for me. I was not aware of that fact that misunderstanding and miscommunication in international business can be traced back to cross-cultural issues. It truly shed some light on my past experience – i.e. short-comings – in negotiating internationally and led me to adapt my style of communication. It came as a revelation that I don’t need to change as an individual but rather appreciate the difference and respect the other party’s culture. |
| Cross-cultural Management |
Kelvin Mukuku, Metallurgical Manager at Eastplats, Brits, South African Republic
03.2019 |
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With this assignment, I learnt the value of understanding people or companies in the country in which you are doing business. This knowledge will better prepare me for any issues that may arise during negotiations. I also learnt that my mannerism, as normal as they might be to me, might offend the people one is doing business with. This has better prepared me for future negations and other conflicts that may arise in doing business. |
| Cross-cultural Management |
Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe
02.2019 |
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I have realized that I as a line manager I need to enforce the appraisal system in my section of responsibility. I see the need to be more involved in building up the correct culture and have already started by having agreed performance contracts with my subordinates. In addition to enhance the appraisal system and also to be proactive, I now run personal interview meetings with them and as a team we have noticed incredible improvements with regards to being much more effective and increasing quality. |
| Appraisal and Performance of HR |
Samantha Kachikira, Process safety engineer at Ishecon cc, Johannesburg, South African Republic
02.2019 |
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Writing the assignment for this course taught me a lesson that I never thought was valuable – human behavior. That human behavior is the foundation of organizational behavior. As a manger if I master and understand that people are different, they have different personalities and they behave differently in different situations that it can become easy to influence their behavior in achieving organizational goals. Management is not as challenging as it seems, people have needs, and once I understand the basic needs of each individual I manage, I can be able to motivate them by rewarding them with their deepest need. |
| Appraisal and Performance of HR |
Rufaro Muzamhindo, Sales Manager at Rainbow Tourism Group, Harare, Zimbabwe
01.2019 |
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This course has created great value for me as I have realised that in order to achieve the overall objectives of the company there is a great need to be clear with regards to communication objectives to your clients. The assignment will also create tremendous value for the organisation as there had been no clear target audience as well as no communication objectives. Advertising was also more reactionary rather than planned. The assignment will help management to achieve its overall strategic objectives through planned communication that achieves results and ensures high occupancies with satisfied customers. |
| Marketing Decisions and Managing Activities |
Samantha Kachikira, Process safety engineer at Ishecon cc, Johannesburg, South African Republic
01.2019 |
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This course gave me the most valuable experience regarding communication with subordinates, family and friends. My approach had always been that of not building any relationships in workplaces at all because everyone knew why they came to work. However, my view has taken a total 360-degree change, and I am learning to be more congruent even in personal relationships. |
| Learning and Employee Development |
Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe
01.2019 |
| Carrying out this assignment I got to take a “chill pill“ and reflect on myself as a manager and how my subordinates view me; what effect and influence I have on them. I already see the areas I have to improve on to ensure that supportive communication is nurtured and developed in all my relationships. |
| Learning and Employee Development |
Tashinga Chimuti, Chief Finance Officer (CFO) at Medical Aid Society of Central Africa (MASCA), Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
01.2019 |
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Human resources management is an aspect of this programme that I was clueless on before. Now, I believe I will add value to my employer as I can take on some of the recommendations and run with the implementation myself so as to manage the costs associated with the project. In addition, I can also assist the HR officer with the project as I now have an appreciation of what needs to be in place to synchronise the business strategies of our company to the HR strategies. |
| Recruitment, Selection and Placement of HR |
Lerato Mphelo, Strategic Programme Manager at Absa Group, Johannesburg, South African Republic
01.2019 |
| For someone like me who has not been exposed to any research material before, I found the course easy to follow and understand. This will not only prepare me for my thesis, but it will be a useful tool to conduct marketing research at my workplace and my little startup company now and in the future. |
| Marketing Research |
Tashinga Chimuti, Chief Finance Officer (CFO) at Medical Aid Society of Central Africa (MASCA), Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
01.2019 |
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I think I shall add more value to our organisation as I shall no longer continue to sit back and wait for some third parties to come and train my staff so that they are better equipped to contribute in swaying the organisation towards meeting the strategic objectives. I shall do so myself, as much as is within my sphere of influence, by first of all applying what I have learnt so far and consistently making sure that I learn more on how to promote a learning culture for my staff. This is key for my employer as currently, this culture of learning and developing existing staff does not exist yet; there is no budget to hire new staff anyway. |
| Learning and Employee Development |
Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe
01.2019 |
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An enlightening course for a person such as myself who is not a marketer, but it brings about the need to ensure that trivial looking aspects of the business such as communication can be detrimental to the whole if not dealt with properly. Yes, as an engineer I can ensure that the production is done well but it’s all a waste if I do not have a market for the products I make. More engineers need to know about IBR’s marketing approach. |
| Marketing Decisions and Managing Activities |
Henry Hoveka, Managing Director at Multi-Wealth Management (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia
12.2018 |
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It was indeed an enlightening module and the content of this assignment will be shared at both board and Exco level for a concerted commitment in making the recommendations herein a business reality in the near future. The writer is grateful for this learning and look forward to further Human Resources Management modules. |
| Recruitment, Selection and Placement of HR |
Sharon Bwanya, Chief Operating Officer at Nurture Invest, Harare, Zimbabwe
12.2018 |
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As a member of the firm’s first marketing committee that will start operating in January, this assignment has helped me to start formulating the firm’s marketing plan and marketing activities that the marketing committee will be pursuing. Since the marketing committee will be on a 6-month trial basis, we will have to hit the ground running as we will have no time to waste. This assignment has therefore given us a head-start in terms of the activities we will be undertaking and to be able to justify such activities and communications as essential tools to help the firm fulfil its strategic objectives. As a proponent of the marketing committee, the success of such committee is quite personal, and this assignment has given me the tools and confidence that will go a long way towards a successful trial run. |
| Marketing Decisions and Managing Activities |
Sharon Bwanya, Chief Operating Officer at Nurture Invest, Harare, Zimbabwe
12.2018 |
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I must admit that this marketing module has thus far been the most challenging for me and it is because, traditionally, local law firms have not paid much attention to marketing due to restrictions on advertising. So, this has been quite unchartered territory for me. However, what this course has made me realize is that most law firms (including ours) have fallen into the trap of confusing advertising and marketing – which are two different concepts, albeit related. What is most frowned upon in our legislation is loud solicitous advertising and touting marketing activities such as broadcasting to the public that a law firm is the best or cheapest or fastest as this is considered conduct that is unprofessional and unworthy of the noble profession. This course has made me pore over the industry marketing and advertising guidelines and I have realized that there is nothing therein that bars law firms fr om conducting ethical market research wh ere necessary because at the end of the day, law firms are businesses that need to make informed strategic decisions in order to thrive. In a nutshell, the value creation has been to change my mindset towards marketing and to make me (and the firm) realize that there is more that can be creatively done under marketing even within what we perceive to be restrictive industry regulations. |
| Marketing Research |
Samantha Kachikira, Process safety engineer at Ishecon cc, Johannesburg, South African Republic
12.2018 |
| This assignment has opened my eyes to the endless business opportunities. The market research proposal is for my new company and this has created value in that I now have a go to document when I want to pitch my ideas to potential investors. |
| Marketing Research |
Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe
12.2018 |
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This course has helped me understand or differentiate some of the terms that I would get confused about. What normally happens is, some of these theories I have been doing but blindly. Now, designing a market proposal has helped me to put theories into practice thus showing me how practical it is to incorporate into my actual work. |
| Marketing Research |
Lerato Mphelo, Strategic Programme Manager at Absa Group, Johannesburg, South African Republic
12.2018 |
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The marketing management course has helped to appreciate the importance of linking marketing and communication to the company’s strategic objectives to an extend that I could connect it all together. With regards to the strategic objectives I appreciated the integration of this module with the ones on Financial management and Entrepreneurship. During the marketing residential period we completed a marketing plan for our businesses. This course on marketing decisions and activities allowed me to revisit my marketing plan and update it with more well thought and achievable marketing communication for my company. |
| Marketing Decisions and Managing Activities |
Perseverance Chavunduka, Production Superintendent at Bindura Nickel Corporation, Bindura, Zimbabwe
12.2018 |
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This course has helped me open up my mind to marketing. I previously had this notion that marketing was all about being a great talker and have your product/service sold. Now after having gone through the readings as well as the residential, I have reasonable understanding of the two and how and when each needs to be applied. Taking the theory and trying to apply it to our company, I see opportunities of opening new markets. Also privately, I see myself using what I have learnt in the family business that we are working on with my husband. |
| Strategic Marketing |
Sithabile Rondozai, Client Relationship Manager at CBZ, Harare, Zimbabwe
11.2018 |
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I always thought that employees needed to do their dream job and be motivated for them to produce results. I expected them to be self-motivated and produce results because I assumed, they were in their dream position. After having completed this assignment, I realized that I need to help them plan their work so that they are efficient through concentrating on a few things that matter. I have started implementing this learning outcome, having each subordinate being responsible for different key issues, instead on all of them doing the same thing with mediocrity. It was received extremely well, and we are confident that as a department we will be most efficient this year. |
| Principles of Effective Management |
Henry Hoveka, Managing Director at Multi-Wealth Management (Pty) Ltd, Windhoek, Namibia
11.2018 |
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Given my investment led career path, Marketing has been totally misunderstood by myself as a mere academic elective that has no significant meaning in business beyond actual sales and related activities such as branding and advertising. Writing the assignment opened my appreciation for marketing as a key business pillar given its ability to source market data for conversion into information. Sharing the proposal that we had to develop as the assignment for this course, my colleagues and I decided to conduct our first ever marketing research project, using the guidelines learned. I am amazed to see how the marketing research learning coupled with the initial IBR teachings has added to the further enrichment of my development as a prospective leading entrepreneur in Namibia. |
| Marketing Research |