The Gordon Institute of Business Science In 1998, the University of Pretoria decided to open a world-class business school in Johannesburg, to meet the need for a high quality South African business school that is international in its orientation, academically rigorous and that works in close partnership with business to directly enhance their competitive performance. Combining a major investment by the University of Pretoria and substantial contribution from the Donald Gordon Foundation, the world-class Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) officially opened in January 2000. According to its Director, Professor Nick Binedell: “The Donald Gordon Foundation provided a generous and significant major endowment towards the establishment of the Gordon Institute of Business Science. This partnership evolved from a common vision, shared values and an understanding of the needs of South African executives and businesses to develop their personal and organizational business competitiveness. The early support for the establishment of the school was a signal indicator that the business school would be established to provide world-class business education, which would be globally competitive and locally relevant.” GIBS’ purpose is to significantly improve the competitive performance of individuals and organisations through business education. To this end, GIBS offers a number of intensive, dynamic and progressive academic and executive programmes aimed at high calibre individuals. According to the Financial
Mail’s third survey of MBAs (August 2002): |