Online course provider MasterStart has partnered with the University of Stellenbosch Business School Executive Development (USB-ED), to build and deliver a range of premium online short courses for Africa's current and emerging leaders.
Established in 2014, MasterStart is a Cape-Town based EdTech company with extensive experience in delivering and enhancing eLearning tools. Through the partnership, the company says it will develop online courses for USB-ED, helping the university faculty to grow its online executive education channel, providing online courses to meet professionals' needs.
USB-ED is the private executive development company of Stellenbosch.
"This relationship will allow USB-ED to harness the skills and experience that the MasterStart executive team has developed over the last 15 years in the e-learning industry," says Andrew Johnston, CEO of MasterStart. "We plan to work side-by-side with USB-ED to formulate an online course offering that will fulfil USB-ED's mandate to upskill leaders and managers throughout Africa."
The rapid adoption in technology in every sector of the economy means working professionals need to constantly learn new skills, notes MasterStart. As a result, more and more executives, business leaders and managers are looking to augment their formal education and training with skills like agile and responsive leadership techniques and a solid understanding of the digital economy.
"The expert-driven, fully-supported online short courses are tailored for the busy professional to enable participants to learn and build on new leadership and management skills while working," says MasterStart.
The course offering, which is still expanding, includes courses such as :Project Management: Principles and Practices; Operations Management; Leadership; Human Resources Management; Fundamentals of Risk Management, among others
Dr Tienie Ehlers, chief learning officer at USB-ED, says the courses will add value to executives seeking a more flexible learning environment.
"In the current environment of executive education, it is critical for organisations like USB-ED to stay up to date with the latest delivery methods within the digital space. MasterStart has proven to us that their online mindset in the space of executive education is well-aligned with our vision of growing this channel. We will always treat our face-to-face customised executive education as priority, but will move more and more into the space of blended approaches, and this is where MasterStart gives us that critical edge."
Moira de Roche, independent learning specialist and director of the Institute of IT Professionals SA, says a move from on-campus studies to online programmes is definitely an emerging trend.
"Higher education institutions need to grow their student numbers and revenues, and online programmes attract audiences from around the world. Higher revenues are even more essential now in the 'fees must fall' climate, and reduced government subsidies. UJ are very aware of this and are working on development of programmes and diplomas excluding undergraduate studies at this stage. Further and post-grad qualifications are often done by people already working and a flexible option suits them better than face-to-face. Institutions can grow."
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