Wits does e-learning

Johannesburg, 19 Mar 2008

The Wits Business School (WBS) has contracted NetLearn to host two of its management programmes in Durban, one of which includes a grounding in IT skills.

All the course modules are being presented by WBS lecturers, bar the IT module, which is being done by e-learning institution NetLearn.

NetLearn is one of the largest accredited International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) training and testing centres in southern Africa and MD Jenny Cole says the module amounts to the ICDL's "starter licence".

The ICDL starter module forms part of the New Managers' Programme (NMP). WBS NMP programme director professor Rasoava Rijamampianina says ICT is crucial in organisational performance. "This is why WBS has made ICT a prerequisite for any candidate wishing to study the NMP," he says.

A CAP Gemini Ernst & Young study, in Norway in 2001, found the average employee spent 38 minutes per day solving their own and other people's computer problems. "That's about three hours a week, 12 hours a month, or about 20 days a year," says Cole. "Multiply that by the number of employees in any organisation and that's a lot of wasted time and money!"

Cole adds that two NMP courses have already been held in Durban and that the first Management Advanced Programme (MAP) commences on 9 May. Up to 20 students can be accommodated at any one time for each of the programmes.

"Students can expect to find a similar learning experience and environment to that at WBS in Johannesburg and this is one of the reasons we chose NetLearn," adds Rijamampianina.

The WBS NMP is well suited to newly appointed managers or those being groomed for management positions. The objective of the NMP is to introduce new managers to business principles and develop skills in general management areas.

The programme comprises seven courses of study in a modular structure and is run on a block release basis for four, five-day sessions, over a period of three months. Assignments are completed between blocks and each module is examined.

The MAP is a part-time course designed to assist existing managers whose experience and prime activities have been in a functional area. The objective is to give managers a broad exposure to the fundamental nature and process of management and human behaviour within organisations.