On a warm Johannesburg day on 10 October 2015, MANCOSA graduated 744 students across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications. Graduates, together with their families, took great delight in receiving their certificates, being capped and hooded in a ceremony characterised by some joyful moments of traditional dance and enthusiastic family support. Besides the odd tear of joy (and maybe relief at finally graduating) there was much to celebrate. Graduates travelled for the ceremony from many parts of South Africa and SADC countries, including Namibia, Mauritius, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Swaziland, to name but a few.
Professor Yusuf Karodia, the MANCOSA Principal, congratulated all students at both the morning and afternoon graduation ceremonies for their hard work and outstanding success in completing their qualifications. He said,
“This ceremony is indeed a great occasion with 744 students graduating today. It signals the continuing achievement of our mission to develop and broaden the managerial and leadership skills of our people on the African continent, Indian Ocean Islands and throughout the world, to take their rightful place as managers and leaders at the cutting edge of global business.
The significance of this event lies beyond this celebratory occasion. There is a general consensus on the very urgent need to arrest crippling poverty, address food security, ensure environmental and business sustainability, and create sustainable employment by fashioning a new developmental path to ensure economic growth and raising living standards for all the people on the continent. There is also agreement that one of the ingredients for locating the continent on a high growth trajectory is through ensuring sustained investment in human capital development.”
Professor Karodia paid special tribute to the MBA graduates who worked hard to complete the degree despite their demanding jobs and family commitments.