GSB launches 'practical' Black Economic Empowerment course

The UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) is set to launch a black economic empowerment (BEE) course with Empowerdex, a national BEE-rating company.

The 'practical' course, Experiential Black Economic Empowerment, focuses on experiencing how BEE is working in businesses, the challenges and the solutions being developed.

Vuyo Jack, Empowerdex director, said the course would enable businesses to map their BEE path under the new BEE Codes of Good Practice.

'The course will unpack the substance of the BEE Codes of Good Practice,' he said. 'The aim is to get businesses confident about their ability to comprehend and implement the codes, and to move beyond just compliance.'

Tours to companies will be conducted, looking at their frameworks other than ownership. In addition, the course will also explore socio-economic development projects and how businesses can contribute to empowerment. It will also draw in expertise across the range of areas relevant to BEE.

'If BEE remains in the lecture theatre, there is a risk that it can become only a talk issue,' said Jack. 'An experiential format enables business people to participate more actively, confront their assumptions, and test frameworks.'

The course will be run by the Executive Education unit at the GSB, which received a global top ten rating in 2005 and 2006 from the Economist Intelligence Unit for its offerings.