AABS Overview

By training current and future leaders in their home markets, business schools in Africa play a critical role in laying the groundwork for private sector development. Its programmes build effective business schools in order to improve the practice of management in African organisations and to enhance the relevance and contribution of business schools to policy debate on African development research and policy development. AABS demonstrates our members’ commitment to increase significantly the contribution that business schools make to the economic and general development in the African continent.

 

 

The Association undertakes a number of activities, including:

·         The organisation of a high level workshop for faculty development entitled “Teaching the Practice of Management (TPM)”.  Teaching the Practice of Management is in its fourth year with over 200 participants who have completed the course to date. Planning for TPM 5 is underway, which will take place in Ghana in June 2009.

·         Several workshops for deans of member schools focusing on governance, quality assurance, international accreditation, business school management, teaching case development

·         Assistance for member schools in attaining international accreditation

·         An African Deans study visit to leading business schools in the UK, France and USA in 2007 and an Africa MBA Directors study visit to leading business schools in the UK and Europe in 2008. Planning is underway for a Deans study visit East in February 2009.

·         Knowledge sharing through visits by deans of leading international business schools to AABS member schools

·         Sending AABS representatives to international forums, particularly those of international accrediting bodies allowing Africa to take its place in the global business school community.

·         Planning for “Researching the Practice of Management” a high level workshop for faculty focusing on researching effective management in Africa is underway and the first workshop should take place in July 2009.

·         Planning for a “Programme Managers Worskshop” is underway and the first workshop should take place in August 2009.

 

The Association pursues activities that deliver results and build momentum.

The Associations’ objectives are to:

·         Promote excellence in business and management education in Africa by supporting graduate capacity building, collaboration and quality improvement

·         Promote the collective interests of its members

·         Provide a forum for the expression of members’ views and interests, taking into account the interests of member institutions (including country, region, language and gender)

·         Organise, promote and support information and knowledge dissemination and exchange on management education in Africa

·         Promote cooperation amongst business schools in curriculum and faculty development improvement

·         Assist in the development of teaching methodologies and research in business

·         Promote cooperation with other associations sharing similar objectives

·         Promote dialogue and interaction with private and public sector institutions to advance understanding of management practices and education and training needs

·         Stimulate business schools’ and faculties’ participation in public discourse, policy growth, private sector development and management education and training

·         Contribute to the enhancement of the leadership and management of African organizations

·         Promote high standards in management and business education through cooperative efforts and the use of appropriate quality assessment systems

·         Engage in any other activity to promote the goals of the Association.

 

AABS was established in Lagos in October 2005 and was registered as a Non Profit Organisation in September 2007. Overall oversight of the activities of the organisation is vested in the Governing Board elected from among member schools. The board has delegated the day to day management activities to an AABS Secretariat based at GIBS in Johannesburg. The secretariat is led by a Programme Manager (Sarah Tinsley) supported by an Operations team (Jonathan Cook and Sam Nganga).