In Walter Baets’ article, “What Young Africans want from Business Education Programmes,” he emphasizes the rising demand for “shorter, more modular business courses” that are more flexible and hands-on than the courses offered in the pursuance of the MBA. The Association of African Business Schools (AABS) recently revealed a growing interest by sub-Saharan youth in programs that are different from the run-of-the-mill business degree.
Although the interest in an MBA is at recent highs in some nations, for example, Europe, the need in Africa for entrepreneurship is driving youth away from the traditional model for many reasons. They desire entrepreneurial classes that are tailored to the rising access to technology and growth of online learning applications. Last year, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor published a report stating that the youth in sub-Saharan Africa are “among the most entrepreneurial in the world.” Furthermore, despite the fact Africa is experiencing economic growth, the unemployment rate is rising. This can explain, in part, why the spirit of entrepreneurship is rising.
Founded in 2015, the African Academic Association on Entrepreneurship (AAAE) created a support network for Africa’s business schools. Developed schools and smaller schools work in accordance with one another to fulfill much of the need, whereas private training shops are popping up to fill the gaps.
This public-private collaboration is going to have to address the demand for these new programs. Contingent upon their success, Africa will cultivate a new generation of qualified entrepreneurs for the foreseeable future, says Baets.
Walter Baets is affiliated with Graduate School of Business UCT and the Chair of the African Association of Business School (AABS).
GBSN was part of the inception of AABS.
Rohan Munsif is the Programs Intern at Global Business School Network.