College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2024 FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES CBE engaged in various fundraising initiatives, including the Technopreneurship Centre (TPC) which signed an SLA with MICT SETA to fund 12 postgraduate students who will work on special ICT/4IR projects. (The project is worth R1 million.) Prof Chioma Okoro (FIM) obtained a substantial grant of R1 million from Bank SETA, which will be used towards student fees in various programmes. IPPM has continued initiatives of over R1 million that are used in support of students’ studies. Prof Talita Greyling raised seed funding for the project, International Perspectives of Quality of Life & Community Well-Being: A Cross-Cultural Examination of Community & Domestic Violence, (R300 000 UKinSPIRE – Kentucky University). True North Partners provided bursaries to the value of R180 000 to the students of our Master of Financial Engineering. The Centre for Competition Regulation and Economics Development (CCRED) raised significant funding for research: R5 million from Graca Machel, and R1.2 million from Oxfam South Africa to research women in agriculture, an estimate of R500 000 from the COMESA Competition Commission, approximately R1 million from GIZ for an African market observatory on the agricultural value chain in Tanzania, R2.5 million from the Competition Commission of SA, R1 million from the Competition Policy and Power Research Fund, and R1.1 million from the City of Ekurhuleni to research black industrialists. In total, R4.2 million was secured through the Centre for Local Economic Development (CENLED) from the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) to train municipal officials and councillors in the Limpopo province. There are plans to expand this training programme to all the other provinces in South Africa. The Department of Finance and Investment Management (DFIM) obtained a sponsorship from Standard Bank and one from RMB for 100 students to engage with the banking industry. Further, the DFIM secured $10 000 (approximately R180 000 at current exchange rates) for research from the South African Reserve Bank. The STH celebrated securing external funding of R1.6 million. CBE secured over R23 million in research and development grants, supporting student bursaries, faculty led projects, and strategic academic initiatives. All these efforts align with CBE’s commitment to financial stability and its broader mission of research for societal impact. THE WAY AHEAD The CBE, aligned with the UJ 2030 Strategy and Objectives, will work towards transforming the business landscape by offering cuttingedge business solutions through exploring the intersection between innovative theory and practical guided applications through the various projects below. Integrating emerging technologies and SDGs into academic initiatives and research. The focus will be on green finance, sustainable tourism, and circular economic business models to position the CBE as a trusted supplier of highly sought-after skills, knowledge, and advisory services to Africa’s leading businesses, governments, and institutions. Cutting-edge syllabuses will be developed to ensure the CBE remains relevant to equip students with diverse, innovative, and critical thinking, adaptability, and ethical leadership, and to enable them to solve complex challenges. Programmes will include AI-driven decision making and data analytics to ensure students are exceptionally well prepared for the new technological and unprecedentedly fast-changing world. CBE remains committed to ethical leadership and social responsibility. Not only will sustainable principles be embedded into the academic curriculum, but students will continue to collaborate with industry in real-world projects to address business, economic and societal challenges to find impactful solutions. We will expand and deepen our international partnerships for exchange programmes and joint research initiatives to develop global citizenship and cross-cultural competency for better understanding of different cultures, perspectives, and global challenges, and thus contribute to a more balanced and sustainable world. Community engagement will continue to drive long-term societal impact through initiatives such as digital and financial literacy, the jars of hope, entrepreneurship development, and universal awareness of disability access and inclusivity. The College of Business and Economics is committed to embracing the UJ values of impact, innovation, inclusivity, and integrity with the aim to promote ethically responsible, compassionate, and socially aware graduates who can lead in a rapidly evolving global environment. By positioning itself as a leader in sustainability and societal impact, the College continues to shape the future of business and economic education and research. 87
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