Graduate into management

Equipping the youth with the tools and skills to launch their careers is a task that requires a vast network of expertise and a variety of resources, and with 22 years of experience, Wits Business School’s Postgraduate Diploma in Management gives students a real head-start into management.

Professor Jones Odei-Mensah, Programme Director for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PDM) in the field of Business Administration at Wits Business School, says that while the popular PDBA¹ requires graduates to have at least two years of work experience, the PDM gives them the opportunity to enter a business school management-level qualification without any work experience.

“The beauty of the PDM is that in one year, it equips its graduates to gain the equivalent of multiple years of experience and knowledge, providing them with actual entry into the workforce at a management level,” he explains.

Odei-Mensah emphasises that the programme, which is open to young people with an undergraduate degree in any field, gives students a broad understanding of specialised fields like economics, marketing, strategy and entrepreneurship management while also exposing them to business environments during a two-month internship.

“The PDM-BA from WBS gives young people the real head-start into being our managers of integrity and innovation for tomorrow,” he says. “This is how we can contribute to job creation, as a programme such as this gives our youth leaders the opportunity to fast track not only their careers but also create and nurture careers for the teams they lead.”

The theory component of this diploma incorporates a fusion between business principles and practice and by utilising case studies from the School’s own Case Centre, students are exposed to real-life business scenarios that are relevant to both a local and global context. As Odei-Mensah puts it, “At WBS we have skin in the game as we invest significantly to ensure we have the vast resources needed to support our students.”

He highlights the case method as a powerful learning tool for management students. “Students are ultimately exposed to some of this country’s most famous leaders and organisations and this gives students a unique opportunity to learn from contextually relevant and up-to-date case studies each year, giving them the space to play the role of a decision maker in a real-life business dilemma.”

Moreover, with a high calibre of lecturers from all over the world who are leaders in their fields, doing cutting edge research, students are exposed to an array of teaching methods and experiences. The theory learnt by students in class is then put into practice during a two-month internship which gives them the opportunity to enter a chosen working environment and actively learn about the business world, on the job.

While this may seem daunting at first, WBS has a variety of resources, through its Career Management Centre, which assist their students on their career development journey. This includes career counselling, career workshops, employment consultation, an annual career fair, CV and cover letter formulation and critique provision, graduate recruiting and networking events and mock interviews.

With small classes with a maximum of 70 people, students receive hands-on individual attention and are given the tools to find the right path for their future. “This goes beyond mentorship, it is guardianship, we help students find their fit to truly succeed,” says Odei-Mensah.

The group work basis of the programme further ensures that students gain crucial management experience in leading people from diverse backgrounds and fields, giving graduates a real grasp on what they will experience in the workforce. It also breaks any shyness, encourages every student to share their views, and requires that reciprocating students value such views.

“In doing this NQF Level 7 qualification, you will find your niche, plus we set you up for success,” concludes Odei-Mensah. With theory, practical application and a team of educators ready to help young individuals take the first step in their business career, the PDM is a one-year diploma jam-packed with substance to help students carve out their career of choice.

Apply now to study the Postgraduate Diploma in Management (PDM) in the field of Business Administration from Wits Business School. Learn more here.

Register for our online information session on 1 Aug at 5pm: https://bit.ly/3an04bt

This post and content is sponsored, written and provided by Wits Business School.