Societal Impact and Sustainability The CBE continues to operationalise the UJ Strategic Plan 2035 by translating academic excellence into tangible societal value through a sophisticated intersection of the 4IR and SDGs. A flagship example of this commitment is the BigFive Quickfix project, spearheaded by Nobuhle Mbuyisa, a BCom Honours student in Logistics Management. Supported by the recently launched UNIPOD (University Innovation Pod), this initiative uses blockchain technology to bridge the gap in the automotive industry by connecting motorists with reliable backyard mechanics. By providing digital visibility to informal technicians, the project directly advances SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Furthermore, the College continues to explore green economy synergies through the specialised research of Prof Malan Naude and Prof Hema Kesa, focusing on sustainable supply chains and food evolution. Our commitment to inclusive societies and gender equity is institutionalised through highimpact annual gatherings, such as the Eagles Fly Above the Storm Women’s Conference. In 2025, celebrating 20 years of UJ’s impact and 30 years of South African democracy, the CBE partnered with the NeuroBusiness™ Institute and the NeuroCoach™ and Mentor Institute to host sessions under the theme Breaking the Glass Shackles. This collaboration focused on the cognitive and professional empowerment of women, providing a platform for their voices and choices in a modern leadership context. Complementing this, the inaugural Young Women’s Career and Skills Day, hosted alongside the Woman of Stature and Chayil Foundations, welcomed 100 young women from the Bosmont, Westbury, and Eldorado Park communities. This immersive experience aimed to break the cycle of poverty through education, culminating in the award of four Future Banker bursaries for participants to begin their professional journeys in 2026. These efforts are further supported by the Future Young Woman in Business Conference, which integrates mentorship and financial literacy training for both young women and men to foster a more equitable and aware workforce. The CBE also serves as a critical thought leader in the pursuit of peace, justice, and strong institutions by ensuring that economic structures are both resilient and transparent. The College played a central role in the planning and execution of the Combating Corruption Summit 2025, reinforcing the University’s stance on ethical leadership. This was mirrored by the VII International Congress on Sustainable Development (SD2025), hosted by the Centre for Local Economic Development (CENLED) in collaboration with Portalegre Polytechnic University. The Congress delved into innovative Eagles Fly Above the Storm Conference 2025 solutions for peripheral regions, emphasising social innovation and sustainable regional development. Furthermore, the Decolonising Finance and the Financial System in Africa public seminar, held in collaboration with Rethinking Economics for Africa (REFA), provided a critical platform to examine how entrenched financial structures are intertwined with legacies of imperialism and gendered exclusion. Collectively, these initiatives position the CBE as a global influencer that actively challenges marginalisation whilst building the partnerships necessary to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Inaugural Young Women in Business and Economics Skills Development Workshop 2025 84 85 College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2025 College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2025
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