Author: The DaVinci Institute

When we think of gearing up to compete in the global knowledge economy, we tend to think about the need for universal access to the internet and broad-based digital education. Few of us think about the role that doctoral graduates have to play – or why they’re so important. 

To gain some insight into this, we need to test our knowledge of exactly what a knowledge economy is. Unlike an industrial economy, which depends primarily on manufacturing output, a knowledge economy relies on the production, distribution and use of information and ideas. This is a radical shift in focus from what we have always seen as the source of value in an economy and is the concept that lies at the very heart of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), the technology-driven tectonic shift that’s changing everything about the way we live, work, learn and play. 

At an everyday level, this means that most jobs in today’s world require a well-developed ability to assess, analyse and apply knowledge in order to serve people in some way. Whether this is in banking, healthcare, education, retail or, indeed, manufacturing, the long and the short of it is that the greatest value a company or organisation has is the knowledge of its workforce. And that knowledge needs to be nurtured at every level. From a strategic point of view, the ability to be agile and to innovate quickly and successfully within the context of constantly evolving technologies and shifting levels of interaction can make or break a business. 

Banks, for example, now have to offer not just a physical presence and an internet presence but also technologies that deliver a host of added values and an easy, user-friendly customer experience. Retailers, in turn, are rapidly having to adapt to the burgeoning demand for a seamless and convenient online purchasing experience that is backed up by a high level of customer service. Even in farming, the use of AI-driven technologies like drones and rain monitoring systems are essential if farms are to be efficient and remain competitive. 

The role of doctoral graduates

This is where the need for doctoral graduates comes in: graduates who have the skills required to innovate and lead enterprises of all kinds into the future. And, if their qualifications are to be relevant in the contemporary working environment, studying towards a doctoral qualification means much more than proposing an area of study and writing up a lengthy thesis that few people beyond the academy are destined to read. 

This applies especially in South Africa, which has such pressing transformation and development needs, the measure of a doctoral degree lies in the impact it has, both in the graduate’s field of study and on society as a whole. 

The government has recognised how important it is to promote doctoral study and has set a target of producing 5 000 doctoral graduates a year from 2030, nearly double the number of candidates who graduated annually just five years ago. It is also aiming to ensure that 75% of all academics in universities across the country hold a doctoral degree by 2030, again double the number who held this qualification at the turn of the decade.  

The motivation for this is to equip academia, government, business and industry with suitably qualified individuals to drive the development of a robust and sustainable knowledge economy characterised by a future-focused mindset and what can only be described as extreme technological proficiency. In a context such as this, knowledge is the new form of fuel and doctoral graduates are the engines.     

A new breed of doctoral graduate 

With this in mind, it’s clear that we need to cultivate an entirely new breed of doctoral graduates and that studying towards a doctoral degree needs to go way beyond the acquisition of specialised knowledge. 

In short, doctoral degrees need to deliver graduates with a set of highly transferable skills in problem-solving, critical reasoning, in-depth analysis and original thinking. Above all, doctoral qualifications need to strengthen the graduate’s capacity to consider every challenge in a multidisciplinary way and to take many different variables into account when finding and implementing solutions to those challenges. 

If South Africa is to be able to compete with developed economies driven by knowledge, the value of doctoral education can’t be underestimated. And it is for this reason that candidates need to adopt an entirely different approach to study — and to apply their learning.  

A unique approach to doctoral study

The nature of business schools should be such that they require doctoral candidates to interrogate the nature and role of their area of study while still in the process of writing their degree proposals — and to find a unique voice before undertaking the degree itself. 

Once equipped with a doctoral degree, candidates need to be able to make a significant contribution to change and development, both in their field of study and in society as a whole. They also need to be able to demonstrate a meaningful return on the investment they or their companies have made in advanced education. 

They have to test and defend their theses before they are accepted for doctoral study, and throughout this initial process, they need to engage with faculty and other students in a way that reflects the real-life working environment. 

What kind of doctoral graduates do we need? 

There is a growing need for graduates who are equipped to take a multidisciplinary approach to the management of technology, innovation, people and systems. This is because there’s a need for learning programmes to support the goals of both the National Development Programme and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). 

The aim of all institutions of higher learning is, therefore, to do more than impart knowledge; it’s to empower future leaders with the capacity to change the world based on the universal values and teachings of visionaries like Leonardo da Vinci and Nelson Mandela. 

Like these and other historic leaders, we believe that education is the most powerful tool for effecting positive change in society. And if we boil it down to a single deliverable, as institutions of higher learning we need to contribute to the pipeline of excellence that will enable South Africa to compete successfully in the global knowledge economy. 

Professor HB Klopper, Executive Dean: Research, DaVinci Business School

DaVinci Business School offers two doctoral degrees, a Doctor of Business Leadership and a Doctor of Management in Technology and Innovation.

In her enthusiastic address, “Let’s Innovate for Life and Stay Young at Heart”, at the 2024 academic year opening, Dr Marla Koonin emphasises the importance of staying connected to our hearts to foster innovation and sustain youthful enthusiasm.

Drawing on Tom Kelley’s insights from the Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Series at Stanford, she outlines five habits to enhance creativity: thinking like a traveller to stay observant and curious, treating life as an experiment where failure is a step towards success, nurturing an attitude of wisdom by questioning what we know, using our ‘tortoise mind’ to allow subconscious processing and creativity, and following our passions to align our strengths with what we love doing. Dr Koonin’s message encourages embracing a mindset of continuous innovation and curiosity as keys to a fulfilling and impactful life.

Let’s Innovate for Life and Stay Young at Heart! By Dr Marla Koonin

If you are to believe Hallmark, then this is the month of love, the month of the heart. The heart is the essence of what keeps us alive and connected, and so today, I would like to connect us back to our hearts. 

As part of the Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Series at Stanford, Tom Kelley, General Manager at IDEO, presents five habits that enhance creativity, and he describes how they can help us be more innovative and successful in every part of our lives. His podcast is titled Young at Heart: How to be an Innovator for Life. It is also eloquently summarised by Guadalupe de la Mata.  

For centuries people have wondered about what the elixir is to remain young at heart, perhaps one of the ways we can do so is to be an innovator for life, and in the process, we can influence more humane sustainable societies. Kelley, in his podcast, speaks of five habits for being an innovator for life and staying young at heart that I want to share with you on this quest to stay young at heart and innovate for life.  

1. Think Like a Traveler 

Take your mind to a place you have travelled to, a foreign place, something that is new to you. When you travel to somewhere new, you are in a heightened state of reality, you notice things differently and your brain is on elevated alert, your senses are enhanced, and you become more aware of the things that are happening around you.  

Kelley explains that in these moments of newness, you observe your environment in more detail, and you switch off the autopilot that takes you through everyday life. He encourages us to keep that part of our brain switched on as often as possible.  

We need to breathe, pause, and engage in life as if our senses are heightened, like we are travellers in our own life. We need to, as he says, “turn up the traveller part of our brain to capture the deep and up-to-date knowledge of what is happening around us.”  

2. Treat Life as an Experiment 

Kelley prompts us to succeed, we will have to fail. He reminisces that “unfortunately, failure is seen as undesirable in our society; however, people forget that most innovations are preceded by a number of failures.”  

At DaVinci, as part of the Mode 2 approach to knowledge discourse and our approach to learning and teaching, as well as in the TIPS™ Managerial Leadership Framework, we highlight the importance of promoting experimentation. We explain that if you want to truly be agile as a managerial leader and for organisations to embody agility, they need to Manage their Technology and Innovation through several competencies and practices, one of which is to promote experimentation.  

As a Business School DaVinci’s position on promoting experimentation is viewed through the lenses of Kolb (1984), Gelb (1998) and Leonardo DaVinci himself. To sensitise society about the benefits of experimentation in learning and working, experimentation should occur at both the individual and organisational levels. Underpinned by the principles of divergent thinking, assimilated thinking, convergent thinking and accommodative thinking and substituted by Gelb (1998), with reference to Leonardo Da Vinci’s principles of Curiosita (seeking the truth), Dimostrazione (taking responsibility), Sensazione (sharpening awareness), Sfumato (engaging the shadow), Corporalita (nurturing integration), Connesione (embracing holism) and Scienza (cultivating balance), individuals could develop an awareness of the power of integrating different modes of thinking, thus, successfully co-creating lasting solutions and innovations.  

The competence to promote experimentation and to take risks in a safe-to-fail environment encourages self-reflection, stimulates novel and adaptive thinking, and assists in overcoming habits that may restrict creative thinking. Applying effective communication strategies (adult, parent, child relationship), consciously supports the expression of ideas and aspirations, which allows business leaders to find their voice. This competence of promoting experimentation tends to optimise collaboration and facilitates and grows cooperative mindsets (DaVinci 2020).  

So continually remind yourself that no matter how young or old your heart feels, it is ok to fail, as long as you take lessons from the failure and refine your thinking, shift what you are doing, continue to grow and keep moving forward. If you want to stay young at heart and innovative, then never stop treating life as an experiment.   

3. Nurture the Attitude of Wisdom 

Kelley states that it is “not what you don’t know that gets you into trouble, it is what you know for sure that is not so.”  

To nurture the attitude of wisdom, we need to keep an element of seeking and discovery in front of our minds. We must always distrust what we know, just enough to prompt us to keep searching. We need to think outside what is in the box and cast our minds to what is beyond our understanding and socially constructed reality of truth to see what is yonder and the possibility of what we cannot see but is out there to be discovered.  

4. Use your Brain and your Tortoise Mind 

 Kelley tells us to think with our tortoise mind. Yes, that’s right, slow and steady even wins the race in innovation! Kelley positions the tortoise mind as a part of our subconscious mind that works in the background of our consciousness. It is the part of our mind where, even without knowing, we mull over thoughts, ideas, problems, solutions, etc., for days, weeks, months, and years as they tick away. It reminds us to stop thinking that the moment of innovation is that “aha” moment that seems to come like a bolt of lightning to one’s mind. Instead, the “aha” moment is the result of engaging the tortoise mind. It is just the moment of us stepping across the finish line, not running the race.  

The tortoise mind needs time to process – so turn off your music and calls the next time you are driving home from work and give your mind time to daydream, think and be creative. Go on and engage that tortoise mind and stay young at heart! 

5. Follow your Passions 

We all get told to follow our passions to be successful, and then we will never work a day in our lives, but how does one put this into practice? Kelley encourages us to think about following our passion in three circles, as summarised by de la Mataas follows:   

Circle 1: What are you good at? 

It is important to keep in mind what you are good at. However, just because you are good at something doesn’t mean that this is the only thing you can do in life.  

Circle 2: What are you born to do? 

People have a good idea about what they are good at. But it’s harder to figure out what you are born to do. Take the time and reflect, even for just a few minutes a day on what it was in your day that you felt the happiest doing. Start reflecting over time on what that is to trace what it is you are passionate about and born to do.  

Circle 3: What would people pay you to do? 

Finding ways to get paid and live on what you love doing is the best blessing: you will never work again. 

 If you live your passion, you will naturally do so with more energy and invest more time into it and leverage your strengths by doing so. Innovators cannot be stuck in their ways; they must be flexible, creative, and continuously evolving to make an authentic change, and that requires us to give ourselves the space to reflect and engage our tortoise minds. I implore you to keep innovating and stay young at heart and mind no matter how your body ages.  

 For the full podcast, click here.

 Ends 

Dr Marla Koonin

Executive Dean: Learning Operations and Governance: DaVinci Business School

*The views expressed in this speech present the personal insights of the speaker, which are not intended to represent DaVinci Business School’s official positions or beliefs.

Short Bio: Dr Marla Koonin

Dr Marla Koonin stands out as a visionary leader in the field of higher education, boasting an illustrious career that spans over two decades. Her journey began with a solid foundation in journalism and public relations, which paved the way for her ascension to senior roles in academic administration, institutional research, and program development.

Dr Koonin’s expertise extends to the intricate process of accreditation, underscoring her dedication to maintaining high educational standards.

At the heart of her professional narrative is her role as Executive Dean of Learning Operations and Governance at DaVinci Business School, where she has been instrumental in shaping innovative educational practices and policies. Her academic credentials are impressive, with advanced degrees in Communication, Journalism and a PhD focusing on the nuances of Organisational Communication Culture and Climate. This academic prowess complements her practical experience, providing a strong foundation for her leadership and governance roles.

Dr Koonin is also celebrated for her contributions to scholarship and public discourse. She is a prolific writer, with her works published in esteemed academic journals and mainstream media outlets, and is a respected author and editor in her fields of expertise. Her writings not only reflect her deep understanding of public relations and journalism but also her commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering informed discussions.

Her vision for education is characterized by a relentless pursuit of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity. Dr Koonin’s leadership philosophy centres on enhancing the student experience, ensuring that educational programs are not only academically rigorous but also accessible and relevant to a diverse student body. Her efforts to streamline operations and governance at DaVinci Business School have been pivotal in creating an environment that encourages critical thinking, creativity, and lifelong learning.

Beyond her administrative and scholarly achievements, Dr Koonin is a mentor and advocate for students and educators alike. Her dedication to education extends beyond the confines of her institution, influencing educational policy and practice on a broader scale. Dr Marla Koonin’s career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to shaping the future of higher education through leadership, innovation, and a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of learning.

Yesterday, the DaVinci Business School hosted its annual academic year opening event. Dr Riaan Steenberg, one of our board members, delivered a thought-provoking commencement address.

In his inspiring commencement address, Dr Riaan Steenberg challenges the traditional notions of academic freedom with a compelling question: “Are we free to think and teach?” Against the backdrop of today’s global and societal demands, Dr Steenberg advocates for a revolutionary approach to scholarship and teaching, emphasizing the need for academic militancy to drive Africa’s development and prosperity. He underscores the importance of education in unlocking innovation and creating industries that not only spur economic growth but also address the continent’s most pressing needs. With a deep dive into the constraints on freedom imposed by societal and external forces, Dr Steenberg calls for a collective responsibility towards fostering a future where freedom is not just an individual aspiration but a collective achievement. This thought-provoking address from a leader in African education highlights the pivotal role of academic institutions like DaVinci Business School in shaping thinkers, leaders, and innovators who can rise to the challenges of the modern world and contribute significantly to Africa’s sustainable progress and freedom.

Are We Free to Think and Teach? Scholarship and Teaching for the World as It Is Today By Dr Riaan Steenberg

Good morning, esteemed colleagues, distinguished guests, and the brilliant minds that form the future of our continent. Today, as we stand at the academic precipice of a new era, I am tasked with exploring a question of profound depth and significance: “Are we free to think and teach? Scholarship and Teaching for the World as It Is Today”.

Are we free to think and teach? At first glance, the academic halls will open and echo with a resounding “Yes.” Yet, as we delve deeper into the fabric of our responsibilities and the context of our world today, we find that this freedom is intertwined with an inescapable duty. A duty not just to educate but to forge real and lasting solutions that address the pressing needs of our society and our continent at large.

Freedom is a multifaceted concept that embodies the power and right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. It is both a fundamental human right and aspiration and a cornerstone of societal organization, encapsulating individual autonomy, the liberty of choice, and the absence of oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behaviour, and views.

We are all free – but we are often unwilling to accept the price of true freedom. You can do what you want, but if it hurts another, then there should be justice. You can live where you want but do not be surprised if another has a right to that land. You can feel what you want, but we universally have emotions when it involves others. So freedom itself is inherently constrained by having to interact with others and rules and norms built over time.

We can argue that the life of the ascetic is then the true price of academic freedom in the tradition of the sages that would go into a cave and come back years later – having achieved true wisdom. Invariably, these enlightened sages end up teaching or leading – so once again, freedom seems inextricably linked to serving others.

At its core, freedom involves the delicate balance between the individual’s rights and the collective well-being, necessitating a framework within which freedom is exercised responsibly. It transcends mere physical liberation, reaching into the realms of intellectual and spiritual expression, allowing for the free exchange of ideas, the pursuit of personal goals in the context of a just world, and the cultivation of a life that reflects one’s true self and values. The pursuit of freedom has always been in the essence of the human experience enabling growth, innovation, and the pursuit of happiness. So the prize that is bigger than personal freedom is the chance for collective freedom. To collectively achieve freedom, we collectively need to foster a society that respects and uplifts the dignity of all its members so that not just one but all can be free. We need to respect and uplift the value of each member of society so that all, and not just one, can be free. We need to respect and uplift the spirit of each person so that all, and not just one, can soar to the greatest heights of human fulfilment.

So it brings me to the most pressing question – why is Africa not free? How has this continent escaped the true fulfilment of its potential? Is it because we have let others define our freedom? Is it because we are squandering our resources at the cost of the freedom of our souls, serving as the bread and minerals basket for others for centuries?

While Africa faces a myriad of critical needs, ranging from economic diversification, education, healthcare, infrastructure, food security, clean water, environmental protection, governance, digital transformation, and energy sustainability, the core challenge transcends these individual issues. The continent’s paramount task is not merely addressing each need in isolation but fostering the creation of innovative industries that inherently solve these problems as a product of their operation. To do so, I pose it to you as an audience today that the true spirit of innovation will be ignited in the minds of PhDs and researchers who will design these industries to make a real and positive change.

DaVinci Business School is ideally poised, through its management of technology and innovation programmes, to be that centre of innovation and growth that will ignite Africa’s freedom.

This singular real challenge, therefore, is to cultivate a robust ecosystem of thinkers and doers that design industries that not only drive economic growth but also seamlessly contribute to solving Africa’s most pressing needs. This approach underscores the importance of holistic solutions that integrate economic development with social and environmental well-being, suggesting that the creation of such industries is indeed Africa’s single biggest challenge and opportunity for sustainable progress. If we then take this to its logical conclusion, then we have to posit that our freedom is limited and that we need to apply ourselves ceaselessly to the intellectual pursuit of creating these industries – which inevitably leads to the conclusion that we need to start with education.

Today, I also want to honour pioneering thinkers such as Prof Ben Anderson, who has been a sentinel in saying we need to have a different conversation – that led to the formation of DaVinci Business School.

In this era of unprecedented challenges and opportunities, the traditional paradigms of learning and teaching are undergoing a transformative shift. No longer can we afford to be siloed in abstract theories and disconnected disciplines. The world today demands a more applied, integrated approach to scholarship—one that transcends academic boundaries and leads directly to the formation of new industries, innovations, and solutions that can uplift our communities and economies. There is simply not enough time for us to solve our collective challenges. The IP game is over and dead, and the solutions game has opened. It is interesting to note that service economies are experiencing rapid inflation as AI is already changing the order of labour both by making existing effective providers more productive, thus limiting new entrants, but also by moving to a more personalised paradigm of having the tools that you need and lifting the order of work away from manual solutions.

What is the objective, then, from a scholarship perspective? While usually, a scholar seeking parsimony between their ideas and the proven “laws” found through the scientific method in those most glorious halls of intellectual breakthroughs that we would all like to enter – we must realise that many of those laws were often proven with Africa not being around the table. There can thus be no parsimony if the ideas we have do not line up with what we experience as researchers. I found in my own research that the tools to support entrepreneurs and the so-called challenges facing entrepreneurs were grossly misunderstood in the literature that was not from Africa. We must also realise that the very objectives that are currently prevalent in many disciplines do not serve us. I propose that our scholarship should look for solutions that many other scholars in the world will claim already exist and may lead to scathing and unpopular perspectives or violation of previous conventions or settled arguments. We should not be scared to overturn these findings – challenge and reprove these outcomes, and also, we should not be scared to claim the loss of humanity in these solutions. We should also not be afraid to draw on ourselves as African scholars and re-interpret the world to foster our own freedom and to serve our own needs.

I find it fascinating that if you want supply and demand statistics for Africa you can find it in China, Europe and the US – because they know what we buy from them, but you cannot find it in Africa. I find it challenging that we collaborate with drug researchers to test drugs in Africa that we end up buying at great cost from smart people who make us pay in diamonds, gold and rare minerals for things that they learnt from us. I find it most disturbing that we export iron ore to pay for cars that get imported from countries that have no mineral resources. So we rack up debts for buying things that we supplied the raw materials for. We have to buy chickens as part of trade deals so that farmers in other countries can prosper while our politicians kill our own local industries for hands full of silver and gold that was drawn from our own soil.

This brings us to the heart of our discussion: the notion of freedom within the academic realm. To be free to think and teach in the context of our shared reality is to recognize the weight of our responsibility. We are not free in the sense of operating in a vacuum, detached from the world’s ailments. Rather, we are entrusted with a profound duty to society—a duty to leverage our intellectual resources, creativity, and collective wisdom to tackle the issues that plague our continent and to use every tool possible to stop us from hindering its progress.

The question then shifts from “Are we free to think and teach?” to “How can we think and teach in a way that serves the greater good?” This is where I am a proposer of the concept of academic militancy for Africa. As scholars, educators, and students of this esteemed institution, we are called upon to be academically militant. Not in a sense of aggression but in our unwavering commitment to pursue knowledge that directly contributes to Africa’s development and prosperity. I believe that many of the solutions that are in the academic discourse and indeed in the world today have been weaponised against Africa. Our recent experience with climate change is one such example – where we are being paid monies to fit into agendas that further entrench our dependencies on others. It is time for us to solve our own energy crises and not look to external solutions that exploit our mineral wealth in exchange for giving us tools to convert our own sun into power. Let us be the thinkers who design the tools to deploy these industries and learn from others rather than being sold our own futures that we then have to work back at great cost. This is definitionally not being free – it is to become economic slaves, mineral slaves and intellectual slaves.

I propose that academic militance is an important first step in getting us to a new place like Africa.

It is not our job to tear down others but to build our own new truth that works for us.

To be academically militant is to challenge the status quo, question outdated practices, and boldly venture into uncharted territories of research and innovation that can redefine the future of our continent. It is about harnessing the power of applied learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking to create tangible change. It is to enable multiple generations to challenge others who use Africa as its doormat for exploitation, thus imposing restrictions on the fundamental expression of our humanness as Africans. It is observing for ourselves what others are so keen to tell us and being less bothered by restrictions that others place on us for their so-called help that they give us what we already have at our own expense through unburdening our minds with rules and conventions that are not applicable here.

Our role as part of this place of learning and this time of learning, and indeed as part of the broader academic community in Africa, is to prepare a new generation of thinkers, leaders, and innovators. Individuals who are not only equipped with theoretical knowledge but who are also deeply committed to applying this knowledge in ways that foster economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability in Africa, which is our context.

In preparing to conclude – while the freedom to think and teach is a foundational pillar of academia, it is not an end. It is a means through which we fulfil our societal duty to develop solutions that significantly impact our world. As we embark on this academic year, let us embrace our responsibility with vigour and vision. Let us be academically militant for Africa, not just in words but in actions that resonate across our continent and beyond.

In conclusion – we are free to think and teach only when we live that freedom. The rules are there to make us free. If others are not following them – we should call on those very rules to serve us – and redefine them when they do not. Without using this freedom that we have to think and teach, we become the oppressor, we become the constraint, and we destroy futures, and we destroy ourselves. We cannot be free without liberating ourselves.

We cannot liberate ourselves if we put on the shackles that others have prepared for ourselves daily and if we do not equip ourselves and others to express our true potential. This gives us a duty to teach, enable, guide and coax others to create these freedoms not only for ourselves but for others and to demand that Africa’s resources be used for the good of her people in the most efficient and prudent manner possible to achieve her sustainable prosperity and freedom.

It is also not an individual responsibility but a collective responsibility. I give you permission today to be free to think and teach in an African context and look forward to achieving our collective mission of lifting Africa to rise.

Thank you.

Dr Riaan Steenberg

Board Member: DaVinci Business School

*The views expressed in this speech present the personal insights of the speaker, which are not intended to represent DaVinci Business School’s official positions or beliefs.

Short Bio: Dr Riaan Steenberg

Riaan is the Director of Operations and Co-Founder of the NetEd Group, the fast-growing African education platform that incorporates Eduvos, Stellenbosch Business Institute and the Davinci Business School. His life’s mission is to build a network of private universities that educate 250,000 students per annum across Africa, and the NetEd group is currently on its way to achieving 15,000-20,000 students for the year 2024. He is a practical academic, and his doctorate is in using education to awaken the entrepreneurial spirit; he focuses on unlocking value for businesses through Culture, Entrepreneurship, Systems and Innovation. He is a lifetime learner, a business architect at heart and has more than a decade of experience in higher education management at the helm of some of South Africa’s most innovative private higher education environments.

Riaan has a strong technical and analytical approach, and he enjoys working with large teams and often complex implementations. He thrives in the world of mass communications and marketing. He enjoys shaping the potential of people through education in the fast-paced world or private higher education in South Africa. He is a deeply spiritual person and can be said to truly love life. He believes, together with his partners at NetEd, that Africa is too rich to be poor and that the true challenge is to create better education outcomes for as many people as possible.

Dr Riaan Steenberg’s multifaceted background, combining his passion for education with a wealth of leadership experiences and a strong educational foundation, marks him as a visionary leader who is making a substantial impact in the world of education and business. His commitment to fostering education and supporting the growth of businesses is a testament to his exceptional leadership capabilities. As a data scientist, management consultant, and entrepreneur, Dr. Steenberg will continue to shape the future of education and corporate growth across Africa and beyond.

In a passionate address at the DaVinci Business School’s 2024 Academic Opening yesterday, we were privileged to witness a powerful vision for the future of education. Samantha Naidoo, our distinguished Registrar, laid out an ambitious roadmap for the year ahead, emphasising the critical role of academic and research excellence in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

Her speech highlighted the business school’s commitment to co-creating innovative learning experiences and underscored the importance of integrating academic rigour with real-world applications. Through initiatives like the redesign of the Moodle Learning Management System, the launch of the D@SH student helpdesk, and a series of student support workshops, DaVinci is setting a new standard for educational excellence.

The introduction of industry and academic leaders as subject conveners further enriches our curriculum, ensuring that our students are equipped to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. Join us as we embark on a journey of discovery, innovation, and growth at DaVinci Business School, where every step forward is a step toward creating a more sustainable and compassionate world.

Navigating New Frontiers: DaVinci’s Vision for 2024 By Samantha Naidoo

To our distinguished guests, esteemed alumni and students, our Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Directors, Programme Director, respected academic team and staff, and to the broader DaVinci community, including those attending online, I extend a warm welcome to The Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management’s 2024 Academic Year Opening.

As we commence this academic year, we are gathered today in the spirit of promoting both academic and research excellence. As an institution of higher learning, we are cognisant of our obligation to co-create new learning experiences, not just for our current student body, but for the benefit of the sector at large. It is an honour that we embrace with deep gratitude and great humility. It is a role that speaks to our highest aspirations. Our engagements and partnerships support our endeavours to generate bodies of knowledge that direct the learning experiences of our students towards sustainable development.

With academic rigour, DaVinci Business School embraces the mindset that nothing is as practical as a good theory. A well-developed theoretical understanding provides valuable insights and guidance for practical application and problem-solving in real-world situations. We are committed to translating theory into practice by employing principles of Mode 2 Knowledge Production in the student learning process, which engages with knowledge production that is founded on the principles of contextual application, transdisciplinarity, heterogeneity, social accountability, and enhanced quality control. This approach functions within the context of real-world application based on the premise that teaching, learning, and research initiatives are not strictly positioned within the parameters of a particular discipline-based theoretical framework but are rather situated within the broader context of an extra-disciplinary application. Students are therefore encouraged to interrogate the practices of their respective workplaces, organisations, or communities and, together with colleagues and the support of expert Faculty and Supervisors, co-create innovative solutions that are both relevant and current.

2024 will see the Institute make strides in improving the student experience, as well as ensuring that the institute’s policies, procedures and practices align with the Higher Education Practice Standards of the recently launched Quality Assurance Framework by the Council on Higher Education. In an effort to drive continued excellence in customer centricity, Davincians, together with the technical support of external stakeholders, have embarked on the phased redesign of Moodle, the Institute’s Learning Management System. The project is aimed at enhancing both the internal and external user experience, underscored by the innovative way in which we manage technology for maximum benefit.

The learning operations and governance portfolio is further excited to share the launch of the student helpdesk, aptly named D@SH. Students are now able to log a query online from anywhere and at any time with any department and receive a tracked record and direct response from the relevant DaVinci team member, thus improving the efficacy of responses to queries and transparency in discussions.

We are excited to be offering a series of student support and enhancement workshops on a monthly basis, kicking off in March, where experts will be hosting talks on topics that are relevant to our students, such as mental wellness, activating the mind as an adult learner, Design Thinking for work, and writing for research, to name but a few.

The launch of student chat groups with the Executive Dean LOG is an initiative that shines the spotlight on the student voice. This initiative is aimed at bringing to the fore matters that the students are passionate about and require the attention of the leadership team. The student chat groups have been implemented over and above the one-on-one calls, student surveys and other feedback mechanisms that are available.

Our commitment to expanding the diversity of our faculty has resulted in the introduction of subject conveners who are recognised industry and academic leaders in the areas of technology, innovation, people and systems. We were thrilled to welcome the first of these appointments – Henra Mayer as the Subject Convener of Innovation – Henra is a respected and well-recognised industry player, and we are excited to have her as part of the team and see the impact to our curriculum and student experience.

DaVinci considers professional development to be a fundamental requirement for all staff. We are particularly excited to share that two of our established academics at the Institute reached their Doctoral milestones at the end of last year. Dr Greg Tosen and Dr Mark Fuller had their doctoral degrees conferred at the October graduation ceremony, together with Dr Raymond Toga, from our Learning Coordinator team. Well done on this achievement, Colleagues.

The Institute continued to add yet another Membership badge to its list of achievements, in not only being approved as a Member of the Association of African Business Schools but also successfully submitting its application for AABS accreditation and having been assigned an internationally recognised Mentor in Dr Jean-Phillipe Ammeux to guide us to reach this next milestone.

In its strides to not just be a South African Business School but an African Business School, the Institute, through the guidance of a member of the newly convened Strategic Advisory Board, was recently approved as a CPD Licensed Body by the Engineering Council of South Africa. This will allow DaVinci to verify CPD Service Providers and validate CPD Category 1 Developmental activities. The recognition by ECSA is expected to open the door to cross-border initiatives in Africa.

Under the leadership of Prof HB Klopper, the research portfolio is expected to attract and recruit top talent in research in terms of faculty, partnerships and senior students. The research capacity of the Institute is expected to develop by focusing on theme-based research priorities in 4 domains of excellence, namely innovation, freight forwarding & customers, ESG and corporate finance. Thought leadership initiatives, such as MasterMinds, research seminars, focus group forums and doctoral showcases, will be prioritised in order to strengthen DaVinci’s research standing in the sector. The groundwork for the establishment of a research centre is currently underway, with engagements and discussions with key partners in progress.

While this day is largely about commencing 2024 with meaningful endeavours that promote the importance of teaching excellence and impactful learning that contributes to the communities that we serve, may you be reminded that our facilitators, supervisors and staff still require your support, our Industry partners,, as they strive to inspire, to ignite a spark of curiosity, and to nurture those seeds of knowledge that they impart to our students. Their dedication knows no bounds, their commitment is unwavering, for they understand the profound impact they have on shaping the future.

In their workshops and in their offices, they don’t just impart information; they sow the seeds of possibility, they cultivate dreams, and they sculpt destinies. Let us celebrate these unsung heroes, for they are the architects of tomorrow, the guardians of wisdom, and the custodians of hope.

In striving to emulate their dedication, as we navigate the intricacies of daily existence and commit ourselves to lifelong learning, let us endeavour to create a more compassionate and sustainable world. May education not only be readily available to all but also deeply ingrained within our cultural fabric, fostering an environment where teaching and learning are cherished and celebrated by everyone.

In closing, I leave you with these words of wisdom from our CEO, Mr Frilk Landman; “The concept of proximity between industry and education is to create a circular personnel economy in which education can be tailored to meet industry and business needs”.

Thank you.

Samantha Naidoo

Registrar: DaVinci Business School

*The views expressed in this speech present the personal insights of the speaker, which are not intended to represent DaVinci Business School’s official positions or beliefs.

Short Bio: Samantha Naidoo

Samantha Naidoo is the Registrar at DaVinci Business School, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to her role. With a robust background in education management, she excels in program management, business planning, academic report writing, and project management. Samantha’s advanced business acumen, underpinned by impressive qualifications, equips her with a deep understanding of effective processes and systems. Her skills in resolving issues and implementing improvements are unparalleled, ensuring the institution’s standards are not only met but exceeded.

Currently pursuing a Master of Education in Educational Management from the University of Johannesburg, Samantha also holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the University of the Witwatersrand. A key highlight of her career is managing the development, accreditation, and registration of South Africa’s first engineering higher education qualification offered by a private education provider, showcasing her leadership and innovative thinking.

Samantha is an Affiliate Member of the Chartered Institute of Professional Practitioners and Trainers and holds a Master Occupational Directed Practitioner (M.ODP) designation, further testament to her commitment to professional excellence. Samantha Naidoo is a forward-thinking education manager dedicated to fostering academic excellence and innovation at the DaVinci Business School.

Early last week, we had the privilege of attending the 8th World Conference on Qualitative Research (WCQR), Johannesburg, where academics (scholars), from local and international regions, congregated to present and discuss their research experiences and findings, with the support of Gauteng Provincial Government, co-sponsorship of The DaVinci Institute, in collaboration with Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, and various other equally important institutions that actively participated. 

As an aside, it is worth mentioning that the WCQR is an annual event (conference) that aims to bring together researchers, academics and professionals, promoting the sharing and discussion of knowledge, new perspectives, experiences and innovations on the field of Qualitative Research. 

Setting the scene, introductory notes were made by Professor King Costa, the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of WCQR. The Gauteng Premier, Mr. Panyaza Lesufi, graced the stage with his welcome address before the commencement of the conference on 23 January 2024. 

What was evidently the main point of discussion centred around the nature of qualitative research, its essence, and methodology. Participants engaged in a lively exchange of ideas, each offering unique perspectives on how qualitative research could be defined and conducted. The conversation delved into the fundamental characteristics that distinguish qualitative research from quantitative approaches. 

Our academic team representing DaVinci included Professor Paul Singh (Head of Postgraduate Studies), Dr Raymond Toga (Learning Coordinator: Doctoral Programmes), and Professor HB Klopper (Executive Dean: Research). All three were engaged participants in insightful discussions and presentations. 

From a witness standpoint, emphasised was the importance of subjectivity and the researcher’s role in the qualitative research process; it was further argued that qualitative research is inherently interpretive and subjective, requiring researchers to immerse themselves in the context and meaning of the data. One of the participants during the conference brought attention to the flexibility and adaptability of qualitative methods, emphasising the need to be responsive to emergent themes and unexpected insights during the research journey. 

As the discussion evolved, there was a thoughtful and contemplative consensus that qualitative research goes beyond mere data collection and analysis. It involves a deep exploration of the social, cultural, and contextual factors, meaning that this approach allows for a richer comprehension of the underlying meanings and complexities inherent in the studied phenomena. 

How remarkably insightful it was that all speakers expressed passion in their individual fields of study and the enthusiasm to share their individual journeys. This was especially evident during coffee intervals, where networks were forged and formed. The spirit for lifelong learning was palpably charged. 

In a country where there is a pressing need for research discussions and tangible outcomes, this conference marks a significant stride in advancing progress, particularly in the realm of qualitative research. We take great pride in having been key participants, actively collaborating, and co-sponsoring this meaningful occasion. It is through international academic events such as this conference (WCQR) that The DaVinci Institute, as a business school, fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas and knowledge among scholars, researchers, and industry experts. 

We are delighted to present one of our distinguished doctoral alumni, Dr Pheaga Jacob Moasa, whose academic journey culminated in graduation from The DaVinci Institute. 

Dr Pheaga Jacob Moasa, when asked about his career to date, says, “I started my career as a trainee accountant in a Chartered Accounting firm and moved through the ranks in various roles at different companies, specialising in monitoring and evaluation, governance, risk, and compliance. Currently, I am employed with the Wholesale and Retail Sector Education and Training Authority as a Senior Manager in Enterprise Risk Management. This position entails providing assurance on governance, risk, and compliance to the board and management on high-value projects and the annual strategic plan to optimise the delivery of the SETA objectives.” 

Perhaps influenced by his work, Dr Moasa is of the view that monitoring, evaluation, and implementation of plans and processes have evolved over the years in all sectors and organisations. However, in South Africa, monitoring and evaluation were first formally implemented by the Department of Land Affairs, where the first Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate was established in 1995.

Research on Monitoring and Evaluation in Sector Education and Training Authorities

Thus, his doctoral study (entitled: Monitoring and Evaluation as a Governance Tool for Enhancing Accountability in the Sector Education and Training Authorities) is focused on various facets of monitoring and evaluation, including the evaluation process, cost-benefit, return on investment, social return on investment, and value for money, to gain more insight into the history and development of monitoring and evaluation. 

This study, as Dr Moasa notes, reviewed current monitoring and evaluation practices adopted by the participating sector education and training authorities and explored typical, potential obstacles encountered in the execution of systematic monitoring and evaluation.  

The research findings, Dr Moasa further accords, highlight a set of challenges that have generally contributed to the poor implementation of monitoring and evaluation in recent times. Findings indicated the extent to which planned monitoring and evaluation activities were conducted and were linked to the project monitoring together with risk management activities to mitigate the corruption risks that might materialise and disturb the proper implementation of the skills development. The findings further revealed that the existence of the monitoring and evaluation framework provided a structured measure on which projects were monitored as a process to curb negative events such as project failure or, in a worse case, corruption regarding the funds paid to learners in the form of stipends.  

Interestingly and furthermore, notes the author, there is a strong relationship between monitoring and evaluation and good governance within the participating sector education and training authorities, namely the bank sector education and training authority, the insurance sector education and training authority, and the wholesale and retail sector education and training authority.  

To this end, the study recommends that the approved monitoring and evaluation framework and policy in the sector education and training authorities be further used to enhance accountability and transparency in all participating sector education and training authorities. In addition, the study recommends that more efforts be made to advocate for the utilisation of the reports that were produced by these business units. The efforts will ensure that monitoring and evaluation of the discretionary grants accurately account for the money spent and enhance good governance, accountability, monitoring, and evaluation of activities relating to the quality of the learning experience for learners in various disciplines offered by relevant sector education and training authorities, says Dr Moasa. 

The Post-PhD Path and Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Scholars

“Discipline, consistency, and focus are the three primary qualities that helped me in my PhD journey”, as Dr Moasa concedes, before adding: “Studying for doctoral qualifications is a path that transforms lives because it reveals important characteristics that one would not have known without this study. The voyage puts a person’s fortitude, tolerance, ability to manage their time, discipline, and critical thinking to the test. This was clear from how one handled the various problems and challenging situations encountered in the workplace. The qualification has brought a lot of pressure and, at times, unreasonable expectations from me by the people in my professional and social life. This includes the expectation to provide solutions and advice on subjects that I haven’t personally encountered.” 

In light of his distinguished academic prowess, we afford our esteemed alumnus the platform to divulge his forthcoming endeavours and impart pearls of wisdom, encapsulated in his declaration thus: “Given my passion for education, my next step will be to help other students with similar interests earn their postgraduate degrees through supervision roles and other unstructured required assistance. Hence, I will also soon begin post-doctoral programmes. My advice to students who want to take this journey is to prepare mentally and reorganise their social and professional lives in a way that won’t subject them to too much pressure.” 

Recently, The DaVinci Institute hosted its first, yet insightful, student funding webinar on external bursaries and student loans in partnership with Vela Trust and Student Hero. During this event, the evolution of our business school, along with an overview of DaVinci’s academic programmes, was outlined by our Executive Dean of Learning and Design, Dr Rudi Buys.

Crucial Steps to Unlocking Student Funding, Dr Retha Langa’s Expert Advice from Vela Trust

To set the scene, Dr Retha Langa, Executive Head at Vela Trust, provided a glimpse of the trust itself, explaining its purpose. Crucially, she delved into the discussion surrounding the various ways one can obtain education funding or bursaries. Dr Langa noted the fact that student funding is a major challenge for many in South Africa and, therefore, as Vela Trust, “we are trying to unlock more funding for students, and we support students to apply for bursaries. We do a lot of work to empower students to grab the opportunities that are there. My input tonight is really around shedding light on how both these work and to give you some insight into how you can successfully apply for them.”

During her presentation, Dr Langa spoke about various key bursary requirements and tips – further noting that bursary applications are quite competitive, thus ensuring that one meets the application criteria and submits within the application timeframe is imperative.

Simplifying Student Funding, Johan Wiggins Shares Expertise as CEO of Student Hero

Johan Wiggins, Co-founder and CEO of Student Hero, joined the discussion and introduced the organisation he leads as “South Africa’s largest student finance facilitation service; it is an initiative aimed at helping current and prospective students learn about, apply for, and qualify for study finance from various educational finance providers on a single platform.” Johan also spoke about the nature and intricacies of student funding, giving invaluable insights about the qualifying criteria and the process to apply for study finance.

Building Opportunities, DaVinci’s Quarterly Webinar Spotlights Funding Insights and Collaborations for Students

Focused on the pivotal task of identifying and leveraging funding opportunities for our students at Davinci, events like these play a crucial role in empowering our student community. The insights provided during the webinar not only shed light on the challenges students face but also offered practical guidance on successfully applying for bursaries and student loans. The DaVinci Institute remains dedicated to fostering an environment where education is accessible to all, irrespective of financial constraints.

Next year, in our quarterly student funding webinar, we look forward to continued collaborations with organisations like Vela Trust and Student Hero to co-create more opportunities for our students in the years to come.

External Bursaries

Discover bursaries provided by external organisations that we’re excited to share with you. Thanks to our partner, Vela Trust, which provides bursaries, student support, and employability initiatives to enable graduates to find meaningful work. Don’t allow financial constraints to hinder your education and future prospects. Take the opportunity.

Apply today!