Lecturer Hamieda Parker was voted in as the forum's chair at its first meeting on July 17. Anneke du Toit, learning coordinator on the Associate in Management (AIM) programme, was in turn elected as deputy chair.

The forum is made up of about 25 members. These includes the GSB director and representatives from the school's faculty, students, its professional and administrative support staff, alumni unions and other external stakeholders, as well as delegates from UCT's Employees' Union (UCTEU) and Academics' Association (AA).

The establishment of a GSB transformation forum was first broached at the GSB's faculty bosberaad earlier this year. The forum sprang specifically from concerns over the dwindling number of black students on the School's MBA (full-time) programme.

"One problem that is the most visible to the external world is the lack of transformation within our MBA programme," said Parker. "The fall in numbers was counter to our expectations that numbers would, if not go up, then at least remain stable."

But the forum was designed to look at more than student issues, added Parker. "We also need to address the issue of transformation within a broader sense at the GSB."