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):
“The performance of GIBS is particularly impressive considering how the ranking is devised. Research company Markinor canvasses the views of employers, asking them to rank each of the 22 business schools in SA on five criteria: quality of curriculum; quality of staff; quality of graduates; research ability and focus; and employer interaction with the business school.
Founded three years ago through a major donation from Liberty Life founder Donald Gordon, GIBS has a solitary MBA graduating class to its name. To have earned the plaudits of employers in such a short time is credit indeed. If the school's rise in reputation continues, it will be snapping at the heels of Wits in no time.”