Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/499026
MAY | JUNE 2015 BizEd 35 dation, the initiative is a collaboration among academia, NGOs, and the private sector. Our goal for the accelerator is to meet the needs of South Africa's poor by supporting and scaling up successful social impact organizations. A third initiative is the Social Innova- tion Lab, part of our MBA program. The SI Lab immerses students in theoretical coursework and practical activities designed to drive social innovations for emerging economies. Students who par- ticipate in the SI Lab also can specialize in social innovation and work directly with viable social enterprises during their studies. Instead of narrowly focusing on curricula and course material, business schools should pursue more initiatives that ensure that students are exposed to the real world as much as possible—es- pecially students studying in emerging economies. We must invite students to participate in projects and programs that uplift communities, and we must provide more paths that inspire and mo- tivate students to become change agents in the world of business. LEAD BY EXAMPLE Africa's socioeconomic challenges pres- ent tremendous opportunity for African business schools. But our schools need to embrace these opportunities—eager- ly. We need to innovate and experiment more, and our programs need to be more flexible. We need to o‡er students learning experiences that will transform them into the leaders and entrepreneurs that their countries and communities need most. And we need to model the skills we teach. Only by doing so will we train leaders who can help African countries achieve their goals. An interesting paradox is that the conditions we see in today's emerging economies—high degrees of uncertainty, complexity, and social inequality—are conditions we increasingly see in many parts of the developed world. The workers most needed by businesses in Africa are those needed by businesses worldwide. African business schools are incredibly close to these issues— they've been living and breathing these conditions for 50 years. That means our schools actually can be the models for their Western counterparts. Our schools have the potential to lead the world. Walter Baets is the director of the Uni- versity of Cape Town Graduate School of Business in South Africa. This is about taking you to the next level. Unleash your potential at one of only 5% of worldwide business schools accredited by the AACSB. Encounter what few business schools can offer: A major metropolitan learning laboratory, where superb business connections translate into a rewarding life-long career in the fi eld of your dreams. This is a business school in a city that means business. To learn more about the Lubar MBA, visit lubar.uwm.edu/mba. IT'S A LAUNCHING PAD. IT'S MORE THAN AN MBA.