MCom Bus Man newsletter 2018

College of Business and Economics (CBE)
MCom Business Management
NEWSLETTER
FROM THE OFFICE
OF THE COORDINATOR
WELCOME
MCOM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Mr Chris Schachtebeck
Dear MCom Business
Management alumni, first
and foremost, welcome to
the very first newsletter of
the MCom programme! The
programme, which has been
in existence for a number
of years, has undergone a
number of changes. The
purpose of the newsletters
will be to keep you, our
valued alumni, in touch
with programme related
changes, news, events and
other important information
that might be of interest to
you. Most importantly, the
newsletters are aimed at
engaging and connecting
with you, our alumni, thereby
creating a network and
community of MCom alumni.
We do hope to engage in
future with you on events,
talks and other areas of
collaboration.
The second half of 2017
saw the establishment of
the College of Business and
Economics (CBE), under
which the MCom Business
Management programme
falls. The CBE, led by the
Executive Dean, Prof Daneel
van Lill, is the result of the
merger between the Faculty
of Management and the
Faculty of Economic and
Financial Sciences. A further
critical development within
the CBE is the launch of
the Johannesburg Business
School (JBS), led by
Senior Director, Prof Lyal
White. The Department
of Business Management,
which manages the MCom
programme, falls under the
JBS. The JBS consists of the
Departments of Business
Management, Finance and
Investment Management,
Industrial Psychology and
People Management, and
Transport and Supply Chain
Management.

MCOM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
The purpose of the MCom
(Business Management)
degree is to augment
functional training with
the knowledge, insight and
application that managers
need in their management
functions in a changing world
of work. The degree is aimed
at equipping managers for
the transition from functional
responsibility to that of
strategic responsibility.
In support of the strategy of
the College of Business and
Economics, management and
leadership development has
the greatest impact when
learning can be translated
into action and business
results. The MCom (Business
Management) programme
is based on this philosophy.
Learning in this degree is
strongly career directed and
action learning orientated
and is, therefore, founded
in theory, but practically
oriented. A broad-based
orientation is followed so that
candidates with potential
are equipped for top
management levels.
The MCom (Business
Management) programme
is aligned with market
and business needs and
related education worldwide
and in South Africa. It is
known for its focus on
competence, individual
attention to students,
and unique, innovative
learning opportunities. This
MCom is administered
and coordinated in the
Department of Business
Management. The MCom
(Business Management)
specialises in five areas:
• Marketing Management
• Information and
Knowledge Manaegment
• Applied Information
Systems
• Supply Chain Management
• Business Management.
The programme is at HEQF
NQF 9 (master’s level). The
qualification load consists
of 50% coursework and
50% research. Students are
required to complete the
programme in a maximum of
three years or a minimum of
two years. The qualification
consists of seven compulsary
modules, four specialist
modules and a minor
dissertation.
The MCom programme can
be considered as a strongly
differentiated executive
programme, competing with
the best MBAs of South
Africa, as it offers a unique
mix of academic rigour
with strong roots in the
business environment. The
programme has been ranked
as one of the best business
management programmes
in South Africa and has
obtained the status of best
specialised master’s degree
in South Africa by PMR for six
years in a row.
Each module is presented
in a three-day block from
Thursday to Saturday.
Lectures take place in a block
from 09:00 to 17:00 daily on
Thursday and Friday and
08:00 to 13:00 on Saturday.
This approach has proven to
allow working professionals
to effectively participate and
complete the programme.
THE MCOM OFFICE
The MCom office consists
of four team members. Mr
Chris Schachtebeck is the
Head of the Programme.
Administrative support is
provided by two full-time
faculty officers, Ms Zukiswa
Tshwete and Ms Prashika
Panday. Additional office
support is provided
by Michelle.

MCOM BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
Ms Zukiswa Tshwete
Ms Prashika Panday
MS ZUKISWA TSHWETE
Zuki started as a Faculty
Officer, in the Department
of Business Management
at UJ on 1 October 2013. In
July 2016, Zuki moved from
the Department of Business
Management to the MCom
office, which is located
within the same department.
Zuki’s responsibilities include
arranging annual orientation
sessions, assisting with
student queries, handling
internal documentation
and providing students and
lecturers with programmerelated
documentation and
information.
MS PRASHIKA PANDAY
Prashika took over the role
as Senior Faculty Officer
in February 2017. Prashika
joined UJ in 2011, initially
working as an operations
manager, programme
coordinator and marketing
coordinator. She has over
20 years’ experience in
the higher education
environment. Prashika
coordinates the minor
dissertation section of the
MCom programme, which
includes submission of
titles, managing the minor
dissertation flow as well
as liaising with students
and supervisors.
MR CHRIS
SCHACHTEBECK
Chris started at UJ in
mid-2013 as a lecturer in
the Department of Business
Management. He lectures
various entrepreneurship
modules at undergraduate
level, as well as a module
in Operation Management.
Chris supervises a number
of postgraduate students
at honours and master’s
level. In addition, Chris
teaches on the Continuing
Education Programmes
within the Department, as
well as researches in the
field of entrepreneurship,
intrapreneurship and small
business management.
Chris joined the MCom
office in April 2018, following
the tenure of Dr Darelle
Groenewald.
ALUMNI RELATIONS
In an effort to connect
more meaningfully with
our MCom alumni, we are
looking for your input, stories
and collaboration. We are
specifically looking for stories
on notable achievements
of our alumni, possible
collaborations or stories on
how the MCom Business
Management has assisted in
your career. Please reach out
to us on ztshwete@uj.ac.za
or cschachtebeck@uj.ac.za.

College of Business and Economics (CBE)
MCom Business Management
www.uj.ac.za