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MANCOSA: 30 Years of education excellence
FOR 30 YEARS, MANCOSA HAS EMPOWERED STUDENTS WITH ACCESSIBLE, HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATION, SHAPING THE FUTURE THROUGH INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE.
that they have contributed to success of its students and who can change the world for the better,” says Prof Hamid.
In one of his most powerful quotes, the late Father of the Nation, Nelson Mandela, pointed out that education is the most powerful weapon that can be used to change the world. However, the tertiary education sector in 1995 faced significant legacy challenges of an unequal education system left behind as South Africa found its feet as a new democracy.
Undeterred by the daunting task of facing these challenges head-on, Professor Yusuf Karodia was emboldened by Mandela’ s words and founded MANCOSA with the vision of building an institution that would lead the democratisation of education, making tertiary qualifications available to all South Africans.“ Thirty years on from the realisation of Prof. Karodia’ s vision, we can take a step back and appreciate the difference we have made in South Africa and the role we continue to play as a leading provider of distance-based tertiary education,” says Professor Zaheer Hamid, MANCOSA Director and Chief Academic Officer.
Improving the lives of South Africans MANCOSA started as an empowerment initiative in the post-apartheid era, which aimed to provide accessible management education to those once marginalised. Registered under the Tertiary Education Act( Act 101 of 1997), the institution has evolved over its 30-year journey, expanding its reach and mission to stand today as a beacon of quality tertiary education for all.
In 2002, the institution earned its accreditation from the Higher Education Quality Committee( HEQC), an esteemed quality committee under the Council on Tertiary Education( CHE). Today, MANCOSA is a prominent provider of management programmes via supported distance learning across Southern Africa, proudly serving over 30 000 active students in its diverse programmes.
“ Along with the democratisation of education, Prof. Karodia’ s vision for MANCOSA was that it needed to be an institution that changed lives. Every student who graduates from MANCOSA can contribute to the future of South Africa – and the world – by shaping important debates, leading industries, and uplifting communities. Prof Karodia’ s vision has become the mantra of every MANCOSA staff member who feels proud
One of the issues that Prof Karodia was passionate about was transformation. This transcends the transformation of making education accessible to all; it is about transforming the lives of families by allowing access to affordable, student-centric tertiary education that presents families with dignity and opportunities to improve their socio-economic circumstances. Furthermore, over the past 30 years, MANCOSA has continued its commitment to offering high-quality education to South Africans while being a responsible and valued partner between business, society, and government.
Education technology to drive innovative learning and teaching In addition to the uniquely South African legacy challenges that needed to be addressed in 1995, the global tertiary education sector was coming to terms with the growth of the information age and the impact technology would have on teaching, the delivery of education and the consumption of information. Over the past five years, this has been a significant challenge as artificial intelligence has started to influence the global education narrative.
“ MANCOSA has always been one of the leading voices in South African distance education,” says Prof Hamid.“ Tertiary education globally is at a key inflection point. How do institutions marry traditional teaching models while incorporating technology? How will this impact teaching and learning, and how do these institutions ensure they adhere to high-quality standards? These are all key issues that need to be discussed,” says Prof Hamid.
It is not only about education While education is at the heart of MANCOSA’ s core service offering, Prof Hamid points out that the institution is making an impact in other ways.
Prof Hamid notes that employers seek labour with transferable skills, and this graduate attribute is successfully developed through distancebased education.“ It is essential to recognise that technology has created a global skills market. It is entirely possible for a person in South Africa to work for a foreign-located organisation, provided that they have a stable internet connection. This means that there is a global battle for skills.
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