phd digital transformation uj

Joburg Business School launches PHD in digital transformation

With the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) continuing to disrupt global markets, it is time that leaders prepare themselves to meet this challenge. The Johannesburg Business School (JBS), a faculty of the University of Johannesburg, recently launched its Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Digital Transformation degree which is tailored to help business executives and organisational leaders adapt to an ever-changing digital environment.

As one of the first digital-centric business programmes at South Africa’s highest level of education, DPhil is providing academic credibility to a subject that has long been seen as an abstract concept. The programme is in line with the JBS’ goal of becoming South Africa’s premier business school for the digital era. It is for business executives and organisational leaders who are poised to introduce and be the frontrunners of the digital transformation efforts of their organisations.

For the last decade, 4IR has been a subject best left to futurists, global economic lobbying organisations, governments and the few businesses that saw emerging technologies looming. However, according to Professor Lungile Ntsalaze, the head of the JBS DPhil in Digital Transformation programme, 4IR technologies are fast becoming a part of our daily lives and leaders will need to incorporate them into their operations. “The transformation to a digital future is happening right now. Everyone has to be prepared for the disruption that it will cause.”

The DPhil programme is that very tool that will help make organisations future fit, said Ntsalaze. “The technologies are bursting out of laboratories and making their way into the world on a marketable scale. Our programme prepares students to take advantage of the new opportunities that will arise from this disruption.”

Unlike traditional doctoral programmes, this particular degree is a balanced mix of theory and practice, with a supervisory panel from a diverse pool of experts to benefit students’ work. Mentors are on hand to support candidates throughout the research proposal development stages. Since digital transformation cuts across organisational functions and industries, this programme, through a highly selective admission process, is accessible to anyone with a Master’s degree from any field of study.

4IR tech meeting global challenges head-on

The World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution considers emerging technologies – such as big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cloud computing and drone technology, among many others – as tools that can help us overcome the global challenges of inequality, climate change and food security.

Ntsalaze said that turning digital transformation into a subject of study emphasises the important role organisations play in overcoming these global challenges. “Digital transformation has long been government’s rallying cry to keep South Africa relevant within the global economy. But government may not be able to transform the country as quickly as large businesses can. Corporates can adopt emerging technologies swiftly and take them to market. If business rides this wave, South Africa will remain a vital part of the global economy.” He added that it is the business sector that will be the catalyst for wholesale digital transformation.

Finding innovative solutions to real-life problems

While there is a gap between digitalisation and the lack of skills among the population – which has increased rates of unemployability – a key aspect often overlooked is business skills, said Ntsalaze. “In the not-so-distant past, countering unemployment meant creating jobs, upskilling employees’ digital skills or encouraging entrepreneurship. These interventions have not worked. Instead, we need digitally skilled workers with good business acumen.”

He added that the government would need to address this gap as soon as possible to prevent much of the labour force from becoming irrelevant in the near future. “It is no wonder that some multinational tech companies are coming to South Africa with ready-made expat workers. South Africa needs to recognise that we need a workforce that is digitally adept and business savvy.”

A worldwide survey conducted by the next-generation online university platform, Nexford University, found that 85 million jobs will be unfilled by 2030 due to skill shortages. It also stated that 87% of employers worldwide report a lack of talent. “A globalised business world runs with digital tools which demand that employees have high levels of skill. Soon enough, we will find that semi-formal – or middle-skilled – positions need to be filled by highly educated individuals,” said Ntsalaze.

JBS is poised at the interface of academia, business and the public sector to have a real impact on society with DPhil, giving students conceptual knowledge and practical tools to initiate, lead and manage the digital transformation process for their organisations. Students, supported by leading researchers and industry experts, will undertake rigorous scholarly research to develop the intellectual capacity that is essential to address societal challenges.

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Joburg Business School launches PHD in digital transformation

Apr 21, 2022

The Johannesburg Business School (JBS), a faculty of the University of Johannesburg, has launched its Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Digital Transformation aimed at helping business executives and organisational leaders adapt to an ever-changing digital environment.

According to Professor Lungile Ntsalaze, head of the JBS DPhil in Digital Transformation programme, 4IR technologies are fast becoming a part of our daily lives, and leaders will need to incorporate them into their operations. “The transformation to a digital future is happening right now. Everyone has to be prepared for the disruption that it will cause.”

The DPhil programme is a tool to help make organisations future fit, says Ntsalaze. “The technologies are bursting out of laboratories and making their way into the world on a marketable scale. Our programme prepares students to take advantage of the new opportunities that will arise from this disruption.”

Unlike traditional doctoral programmes, this particular doctoral degree is a balanced mix of theory and practice with a supervisory panel to benefit students’ work from a diverse pool of experts. Mentors are on hand to support candidates throughout the research proposal development stages. Since digital transformation cuts across organisational functions and industries, this programme, through a highly selective admission process, is accessible to anyone with a Master’s Degree from any field of study.

The World Economic Forum’s Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution considers emerging technologies – such as big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cloud computing and drone technology, among many others – as tools that can help us overcome the global challenges of inequality, climate change and food security.

Ntsalaze says that turning digital transformation into a subject of study emphasises the important role organisations play in overcoming these global challenges. “Digital transformation has long been government’s swansong to keep South Africa relevant within the global economy. But government may not be able to transform the country as quick as large businesses can. Corporates can adopt emerging technologies swiftly and take them to market. If business rides this wave, South Africa will remain a vital part of the global economy.”

He adds that the business sector will be the catalyst for wholesale digital transformation.

While there is a gap between digitisation and the lack of skills among the population – which has increased rates of unemployability – a key aspect often overlooked is business skills, says Ntsalaze. “In the not-so-distant past, countering unemployment meant creating jobs, upskilling employee’s digital skills or encouraging entrepreneurship. These interventions have not worked. Instead, we need digitally skilled workers with good business acumen.”

He adds that government needs to address this gap as soon as possible to prevent much of the labour force from becoming irrelevant in the near future. “It is no wonder that some multinational tech companies are coming to South Africa with ready-made expat workers. South Africa needs to recognise that we need a workforce that is digitally adept and business savvy.”

A worldwide survey conducted by next-generation online university platform Nexford University found that 85-million jobs will be unfilled by 2030 due to skill shortages. It also stated that 87% of employers worldwide report a lack of talent.

“A globalised business world run with digital tools that demand employees have high levels of skill. Soon enough, we will find that semi-formal – or middle-skilled – positions need to be filled by highly educated individuals,” says Ntsalaze.

New PhD in digital transformation

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is no longer an abstract concept – it is happening. As it continues to disrupt global markets, business leaders need to prepare themselves to meet the challenges it presents and incorporate its emerging technologies into their operations. The Johannesburg Business School (JBS), a faculty of the University of Johannesburg, recently launched its Doctor of Philosophy (PhD/DPhil) in Digital Transformation, which is already being seen as the programme that can help business executives and organisational leaders adapt to an everchanging digital environment.

As one of the first digital-centric business programmes to become available in South Africa at the highest level of education, the DPhil provides academic credibility to a subject that has long been viewed an abstract concept. The doctoral programme is in line with the JBS’s goal to become South Africa’s premier business school for the digital era. It is intended for business executives and organisational leaders who are poised to be the frontrunners in the digital transformation of their organisations.

For the past decade, 4IR has been a subject largely left to futurists, global economic lobbying organisations, governments and those businesses that saw the emerging technologies on the horizon. However, according to Professor Lungile Ntsalaze, Head of the JBS DPhil in Digital Transformation programme, 4IR technologies are fast becoming a part of our daily lives and leaders will need to incorporate them into their operations. “The transformation to a digital future is happening right now. We all need to be prepared for the disruptions it will cause.”

The DPhil programme will help make organisations future fit, Ntsalaze says. “The technologies are moving from laboratories into the world market. Our programme prepares students to take advantage of the new opportunities arising.”

The doctoral degree is a mix of theory and practice, with a supervisory panel from a diverse pool of experts to benefit students’ work. Mentors are on hand to support candidates through the research proposal development stages. Since digital transformation cuts across organisational functions and industries, the programme, through a highly selective admission process, is accessible to anyone with a Master’s Degree from any field of study.

Meeting global challenges

The World Economic Forum’s Centres for the Fourth Industrial Revolution look at emerging technologies – such as big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cloud computing and drone technology, among many others – as tools that can help us overcome the global challenges of inequality, climate change and food security.

Ntsalaze says turning digital transformation into a subject of study emphasises the important role organisations play in overcoming these global challenges. Businesses, big and small, can adopt emerging technologies quickly and take them to market. “If businesses ride this wave, South Africa will remain a vital part of the global economy.” He says it is the business sector that will be the catalyst for digital transformation.

For more information visit: https://jbs.ac.za/

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Joburg Business School Launches PhD In Digital Transformation

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is no longer an abstract concept – it is happening. Leaders will do well to incorporate its emerging technologies into their organisations.

With the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) continuing to disrupt global markets, it is time that leaders prepare themselves to meet this challenge. The Johannesburg Business School (JBS), a faculty of the University of Johannesburg, recently launched its Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Digital Transformation is quickly being considered the very programme that can help business executives and organisational leaders adapt to an ever-changing digital environment.

As one of the first digital-centric business programmes at South Africa’s highest level of education, the DPhil is providing academic credibility to a subject that has long been seen as an abstract concept. The programme is in line with the JBS’ goal of becoming South Africa’s premier business school for the digital era. It is for business executives and organisational leaders who are poised to introduce and be the frontrunners of the digital transformation efforts of their organisations.

For the last decade, 4IR has been a subject best left to futurists, global economic lobbying organisations, governments and the few businesses that saw emerging technologies looming. However, according to Professor Lungile Ntsalaze, the Head of the JBS DPhil in Digital Transformation programme, 4IR technologies are fast becoming a part of our daily lives, and leaders will need to incorporate them into their operations. “The transformation to a digital future is happening right now. Everyone has to be prepared for the disruption that it will cause.”

The DPhil programme is that very tool that will help make organisations future fit, said Ntsalaze. “The technologies are bursting out of laboratories and making their way into the world on a marketable scale. Our programme prepares students to take advantage of the new opportunities that will arise from this disruption.”

Unlike traditional doctoral programmes, this particular doctoral degree is a balanced mix of theory and practice with a supervisory panel to benefit students’ work from a diverse pool of experts. Mentors are on hand to support candidates throughout the research proposal development stages. Since digital transformation cuts across organisational functions and industries, this programme, through a highly selective admission process, is accessible to anyone with a Master’s Degree from any field of study.

4IR tech meeting global challenges head-on

The World Economic Forum’s Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution considers emerging technologies – such as big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cloud computing and drone technology, among many others – as tools that can help us overcome the global challenges of inequality, climate change and food security.

Ntsalaze said that turning digital transformation into a subject of study emphasises the important role organisations play in overcoming these global challenges. “Digital transformation has long been government’s swansong to keep South Africa relevant within the global economy. But government may not be able to transform the country as quick as large businesses can. Corporates can adopt emerging technologies swiftly and take them to market. If business rides this wave, South Africa will remain a vital part of the global economy.” 

He added that it is the business sector that will be the catalyst for wholesale digital transformation.

Finding innovative solutions to real-life problems

While there is a gap between digitisation and the lack of skills among the population – which has increased rates of unemployability – a key aspect often overlooked is business skills, said Ntsalaze. “In the not-so-distant past, countering unemployment meant creating jobs, upskilling employee’s digital skills or encouraging entrepreneurship. These interventions have not worked. Instead, we need digitally skilled workers with good business acumen.”

He added that the government would need to address this gap as soon as possible to prevent much of the labour force from becoming irrelevant in the near future. “It is no wonder that some multinational tech companies are coming to South Africa with ready-made expat workers. South Africa needs to recognise that we need a workforce that is digitally adept and business savvy.”

A worldwide survey conducted by the next-generation online university platform, Nexford University, found that 85 million jobs will be unfilled by 2030 due to skill shortages. It also stated that 87% of employers worldwide report a lack of talent. “A globalised business world run with digital tools that demand employees have high levels of skill. Soon enough, we will find that semi-formal – or middle-skilled – positions need to be filled by highly educated individuals,” said Ntsalaze.

JBS is at the interface of academia, business and the public sector to have a real impact on society with the DPhil, giving students conceptual knowledge and practical tools to initiate, lead and manage the digital transformation process for their organisations. Students, supported by leading researchers and industry experts, will undertake rigorous scholarly research to develop the intellectual capacity that is essential to address societal challenges.

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The Fourth Industrial Revolution is no longer an abstract concept - it is happening. Leaders will do well to incorporate its emerging technologies into their organisations.

With the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) continuing to disrupt global markets, it is time that leaders prepare themselves to meet this challenge. The Johannesburg Business School (JBS), a faculty of the University of Johannesburg, recently launched its Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Digital Transformation is quickly being considered the very programme that can help business executives and organisational leaders adapt to an ever-changing digital environment.

As one of the first digital-centric business programmes at South Africa’s highest level of education, the DPhil is providing academic credibility to a subject that has long been seen as an abstract concept. The programme is in line with the JBS’ goal of becoming South Africa’s premier business school for the digital era. It is for business executives and organisational leaders who are poised to introduce and be the frontrunners of the digital transformation efforts of their organisations.

For the last decade, 4IR has been a subject best left to futurists, global economic lobbying organisations, governments and the few businesses that saw emerging technologies looming. However, according to Professor Lungile Ntsalaze, the Head of the JBS DPhil in Digital Transformation programme, 4IR technologies are fast becoming a part of our daily lives, and leaders will need to incorporate them into their operations. “The transformation to a digital future is happening right now. Everyone has to be prepared for the disruption that it will cause.”

The DPhil programme is that very tool that will help make organisations future fit, said Ntsalaze. “The technologies are bursting out of laboratories and making their way into the world on a marketable scale. Our programme prepares students to take advantage of the new opportunities that will arise from this disruption.”

Unlike traditional doctoral programmes, this particular doctoral degree is a balanced mix of theory and practice with a supervisory panel to benefit students’ work from a diverse pool of experts. Mentors are on hand to support candidates throughout the research proposal development stages. Since digital transformation cuts across organisational functions and industries, this programme, through a highly selective admission process, is accessible to anyone with a Master’s Degree from any field of study.

4IR tech meeting global challenges head-on

The World Economic Forum’s Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution considers emerging technologies – such as big data, blockchain, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cloud computing and drone technology, among many others – as tools that can help us overcome the global challenges of inequality, climate change and food security.

Ntsalaze said that turning digital transformation into a subject of study emphasises the important role organisations play in overcoming these global challenges. “Digital transformation has long been government’s swansong to keep South Africa relevant within the global economy. But government may not be able to transform the country as quick as large businesses can. Corporates can adopt emerging technologies swiftly and take them to market. If business rides this wave, South Africa will remain a vital part of the global economy.”  

He added that it is the business sector that will be the catalyst for wholesale digital transformation.

Finding innovative solutions to real-life problems

While there is a gap between digitisation and the lack of skills among the population – which has increased rates of unemployability – a key aspect often overlooked is business skills, said Ntsalaze. “In the not-so-distant past, countering unemployment meant creating jobs, upskilling employee’s digital skills or encouraging entrepreneurship. These interventions have not worked. Instead, we need digitally skilled workers with good business acumen.”

He added that the government would need to address this gap as soon as possible to prevent much of the labour force from becoming irrelevant in the near future. “It is no wonder that some multinational tech companies are coming to South Africa with ready-made expat workers. South Africa needs to recognise that we need a workforce that is digitally adept and business savvy.”

A worldwide survey conducted by the next-generation online university platform, Nexford University, found that 85 million jobs will be unfilled by 2030 due to skill shortages. It also stated that 87% of employers worldwide report a lack of talent. “A globalised business world run with digital tools that demand employees have high levels of skill. Soon enough, we will find that semi-formal – or middle-skilled – positions need to be filled by highly educated individuals,” said Ntsalaze.

JBS is at the interface of academia, business and the public sector to have a real impact on society with the DPhil, giving students conceptual knowledge and practical tools to initiate, lead and manage the digital transformation process for their organisations. Students, supported by leading researchers and industry experts, will undertake rigorous scholarly research to develop the intellectual capacity that is essential to address societal challenges.

Phd in digital transformation can spur SA’s economy into a 4IR reality

• Prof Lungile Ntsalaze
• College of Business and Economics

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Lungile Ntsalaze

Professor Lungile Ntsalaze is the Executive Dean of the University of Johannesburg's (UJ) College of Business & Economics (CBE). Prior to joining the CBE, he was the Head of the Doctor of Philosophy in Digital Transformation at the Johannesburg Business School (JBS), a faculty of UJ.

He is a Chartered Accountant with over 13 years of post articles working experience in industry and academia, and a winner of the 2021 SAICA Honours TIE award, a prestigious recognition of his exceptional work and contribution to the field of accountancy.

Professor Ntsalaze completed a PhD in Development Finance studies from the University of Stellenbosch. He also holds membership status as a Chartered Development Finance Analyst. His research interests include household over-indebtedness, multidimensional poverty and digital transformation.

• 2022–present Executive Dean Designate: College of Business & Economics, University of Johannesburg
• 2021–2022 Professor & Head of the Doctor of Philosophy in Digital Transformation: Johannesburg Business School, University of Johannesburg
• 2019–2021 Professor and Executive Dean: College of Accounting Sciences, University of South Africa
• 2017  University of Stellenbosch Business School, PhD Development Finance

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• Chartered Accountant CA(SA), South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
• Chartered Development Finance Analyst (CDFA), Chartered Institute of Development Finance (CIDEF)
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Digital transformation, the African way

• May 30, 2022
• 4th Industrial Revolution , College of Business and Economics , Faculties , Johannesburg Business School , News , Opinion Pieces

Professor Randall Carolissen is the dean of Johannesburg Business School (JBS), a faculty of the University of Johannesburg (UJ). He recently penned an opinion article that first appeared in  IOL News on 30 May 2022.

The African continent is at a crossroads. Globally, technology has become pervasive and is being used to make exponential leaps, across all aspects of life. Yet, Africa continues to lag when it comes to digital transformation and the concept of digital economies.

But we cannot stand back from this. There is too much at stake. The digital divide between countries on the continent, and the rest of the world, will continue to increase. Africa will continue to be the continent that is seen as solely useful for extracting raw materials. And, gradually, African countries will stagnate.

The digital state of the continent

To ensure that Africans take greater advantage of technological advancements, it is important to understand the continent’s structural and social issues. Firstly, there is a fragility in African economies, which is most evident when there is a global crisis. African countries often suffer disproportionately.

Secondly, the sovereign debt of many African countries puts them in a place where they cannot invest in infrastructure, which serves as a significant hindrance to how to take advantage of technology. Without the infrastructural development, especially beyond urban areas, it becomes difficult to take technology to the people.

Another limitation is the distance between mobile phone penetration, which is high, although primarily in urban areas, and the actual use of mobile phones. For example, in South Africa, according to the 2020 State of the ICT Sector report, smartphone penetration was 91.2% in 2019, which is misleading because many may have mobile phones, but they don’t necessarily connect to the internet.

Instead of using these devices to disseminate knowledge and ideas, or to access new ideas and thinking on the internet, people basically use the phone just for talking and messaging. This is probably partially due to the roll-on effect of limited infrastructure, namely, higher than normal data costs and insufficient bandwidth.

What Africa brings to the table

The challenges that Africa faces provide for exciting opportunities for the rollout of digital solutions, in a way that advances and shifts the continent’s paradigm beyond simply trying to fill all the infrastructure gaps.

The continent has a great deal to offer by way of indigenous knowledge systems and developing digital solutions to sectors like agriculture. We need to leverage and take advantage of our very rich endowments across the continent and, in the process, disseminate these to the rest of the world, on our own terms.

For example, in agriculture, the African continent has shown how agricultural practices can be made more efficient, by applying the right solution to the right geographic location, at the right time, using drone technology.

In addition, with the high mobile penetration, the banking sector, internationally and on the continent, has been looking at how to use technology to make transacting easier. MPESA, which started in Kenya and has spread to other countries on the continent, serves as an African model that can be replicated in other parts of the world.

Furthermore, with Africa poised to become a free trade area, with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, trade across borders, and the future role of borders, create even greater opportunity, including in terms of a possible increase in revenues generated.

At the heart of all of this is Africa’s people, who are the continent’s biggest asset. It is absolutely imperative to look at how we educate the people using technology, while ensuring that they are in the best position to leverage the rich endowment I mentioned earlier.

Building leaders that are fit for the future

According to the World Economic Forum, one-third of current jobs will disappear by 2030. At the same time, Africa’s youth demographic is the second highest in the world, after Asia. Add to this how the future of work is going to be totally different from what we are used to, and there is no room for debate.

To harness this youth dividend, we are compelled to train people differently. We are compelled to make our continent more digitally literate. We are compelled to make sure that we embed technology into the way we live and leverage technology; otherwise, we won’t be able to interface effectively with the rest of the world.

We need to train leaders who are fit for the future. We need leaders who are imaginative, combine analytics with design and creativity, and use both sides of their brains. And this needs to happen earlier than at a tertiary level. A question I constantly ask myself is “how do we prepare our kids and develop their brains optimally, so that when they get to university, they can indeed become these innovative, forward-looking, curious, productive, and visionary citizens, who we further upskill and release into the world?”

The reality is that we must look at our school systems critically, because I believe that you can only develop your brain if you stretch it at a young age.

It is this thinking that is at the heart of what we do at the Johannesburg Business School, and what inspires us daily. This disruptive phase that we are in needs a different type of business leader, a leader who is adaptive, agile, can be nimble, is nuanced in their approach, and can adjust strategically as things unfold.

To do so, we have reconfigured all our programmes to lead with a digital transformation lens. With the MBA, I realised that we were still training business leaders pretty much in the same way as when I did my MBA many years ago, at a time when order and predictability were valued above all else. We reconfigured our MBA and introduced both a Post-Graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Business Administration and a Doctor of Philosophy, all in digital transformation, in addition to all our executive programmes, which we co-design with our clients.

With our doctoral programme, the initial plan was eight students but, after receiving more than a hundred applications, we currently have thirty-three from different disciplines, which enriches the experience even further and is in line with how the future is unfolding. Digital transformation requires a cross-pollination of ideas, across many disciplines, and, in the programme, the cohort benefits from the richness of a physicist, an attorney, a university administrator, an engineer, and a chartered accountant, amongst others.

I have found this extremely invaluable and enriching in my own career. I have a PhD in Nano-Physics, MBA (cum laude) and MCom, and I have worked both in corporate and being the head of research in Sars. Now I am dean of a new business school, that is seeking to embrace and pilot Africa into this exciting future of digital leadership. That diversity of training and experience allows me to bring different insights and different ways of thinking, and that is what we are imparting to those who participate in any of our programmes. Clearly, we have to develop both sides of our brain to be effective as future-focused business leaders, as entrenched silos across disciplines are beginning to coalesce. Analytics, creativity, design for ease of use, and people management are integrated into the technology companies dominating other GDP contributors globally.

When it comes to our Centre for Entrepreneurship, we recognise that we have no choice but to develop small businesses, particularly when you look at youth and graduate unemployment, especially in South Africa. Traditionally, I would say that the enterprise development of SMEs suffer from a mindset problem, namely that they will stay with SMEs into perpetuity.

Essentially, we need to build people to have a bigger vision for their business, beyond just living from “the survival perspective”. Digital technology effectively brings SMEs into an interconnected network or ecosystem, where they can punch significantly above their weight. This should enable them to move up the value chain and grow into bigger businesses.

With this in mind, the Johannesburg Business School (JBS), firstly, is building a digital ecosystem for our SMEs, of which there are close to a thousand, where they can connect and trade with each other, as well as collaborate, to access technology, markets, finance and the like. Secondly, we have connected our MBA students with SMEs, to act as mentors and advisers. This counts toward the MBA students’ practical work.

Sustainable digital transformation

At the end of the day, it is all about the societal impact of technology and the digitisation of our world. We are living in a constantly shifting and complex world, and while we need to train people in hard ICT skills, like security, software development, etc, we can’t shy away from the issue of social justice, inclusion, and human interfaces that are contextual and appropriate.

It is about balance and creating a world that works for everyone, as opposed to the few. Nature has shown us repeatedly that, if only part of an ecosystem consumes, the whole ecosystem eventually collapses.

This is beyond a technological revolution; it’s also about societal transformation. I truly believe that, by fully developing our people, by reskilling and upskilling them, all the other challenges can be solved, including infrastructure.

For Africa, specifically, this also lessens the dependencies and reinforces the understanding that we need to look after ourselves, and technology enables us to do so. All in all, it is an exciting time. We have a great opportunity to institute greater social justice in this world, and make it a better place for everybody. We can’t afford to miss this window.

*The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the University of Johannesburg.

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• Women need to upskill to join the digital transformation revolution: UJ’s Dr Stella Bvuma
• UJ’s 4IR webinar series calls for automation to achieve digital transformation
• Women need to be at the forefront of digital transformation

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Programme Manager: DPhil in Digital Transformation (P8) (Johannesburg Business School)

Position summary, introduction.

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is a vibrant and cosmopolitan university, anchored in Africa and driven by a powerful strategy focused on attaining global excellence and stature (GES). With an emphasis on independent thinking, sustainable development and strategic partnerships, UJ is an international university of choice. The University is guided by the Vice-Chancellor’s vision of “Positioning UJ in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in the context of the changing social, political and economic fortunes of Africa”. The Johannesburg Business School (JBS) has embraced the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and repositioned itself to equip current and future leaders to deal with the digital transformation resonating throughout the world. The digital revolution encompasses shifts in the mind-sets and paradigms, and change management will be imperative as there is a blurring between the disciples of leadership, engineering and the creative arts globally. JBS is therefore established as a digital business school situated within a globally competitive university ready to address societal developmental needs.

Job description

The council of the university of johannesburg has declared the university as a mandatory vaccination site as per the applicable policy ((https://www.uj.ac.za/covid-19/). all applications and offers of employment is dependent upon compliance with the said policy..

• Collaborate with the senior management (the Dean and the Head of the DPhil) to oversee an effective end-to-end operational delivery of the DPhil, including ensuring compliance with academic regulations and accreditation requirements
• Ensure the efficient and timeous scheduling (production of timetables) and communication thereof of ALL aspects of the programme. (Ensure the timeous dissemination of information to students of important events, e.g., changes to the timetables, venues, etc.)
• Liaise with Lead Academics and other lecturers to ensure module pack material is appropriate and, and uploaded to the LMS on time.
• Suggest continuous improvement measures based on information sources such as student feedback, and implement approved measures in consultation with internal reporting structures.
• Ensure that the programme adheres to all governance and regulatory requirements, including but not limited to, policies governing student recruitment and selection, programme management, faculty administration, assessment policies and graduation processes.

Minimum requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree with preferable specialisation in Social Sciences, Psychology or Business Management, or any other relevant qualification (NQF 7) or equivalent.
• At least five years’ work experience in a professional services environment, preferably in adult learning, consulting, or hospitality and events management.
• Experience in academic administration (preferable), alternatively, general experience in attention to detail administration, project management and coordination.
• Understanding of the higher education sector.
• Experience using a Learner Management System (LMS) or Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs), preferably BlackBoard.
• Advanced MS Office skills.
• Understanding of adult learning principles with programme delivery experience.

Your application, comprising of a detailed Curriculum Vitae as well as the names and full contact details (including telephone numbers and e-mail addresses) of at least three traceable and credible referees must be uploaded before or on the closing date of the advertised post. Please also attach the following: a copy of your highest academic qualification, proof of registration with professional bodies you might belong to and if applying for an academic position, a list of accredited research output and/ or a portfolio of your creative output. If you require technical support / assistance on the UJ e-recruitment website, please contact our service provider PNET on the following contact details: 0861 227337/010 140 3099 or email [email protected]

Candidates may be subjected to appropriate psychometric testing and other selection instruments.

In conjunction to merit on the basis of qualifications, experience and proven achievements the University of Johannesburg is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and those individuals from the historically disadvantaged groups. As necessitated by operational requirements the University reserves the right not to make an appointment to positions advertised. If you have not received a response from the University within 8 weeks of the closing date, you should assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Our Support team is here to assist. Tel: 010 140 3099 Email: [email protected]

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Graduate Programme 'The Economic Impact of Digital Transformation'

The Graduate Programme 'The Economic Impact of Digital Transformation' is an interdisciplinary PhD programme of the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany. The programme is financed by a grant from the State of Thuringia and started in 2020. We offer a comprehensive PhD-level training. The programme is international and highly committed to quality in teaching and research.

The programme

The PhD group hosts doctoral candidates from the Friedrich Schiller University Jena which are financed by the University or by external scholarships e.g. DAAD, CSC. The PhD students are expected to complete their PhD projects within 3 years. The first year is devoted to improving the theoretical knowledge and competences, while the second and the third year concentrate on the dissertation-related research. The programme offers a structured course program including a 2-week summer school each year. The programme serves as a platform for collaboration, as a facilitator of joint scientific activities, and as a forum for knowledge exchange. It also provides senior expertise for junior research training in all necessary areas of competence: thematic, methodological, and transferable skills such as networking, scientific management, time management, and career planning.

Research Topics

Allowing for a broad concept of "digital transformation" the Graduate Programme is structured into five research areas:

• Digital Methods and Data
• Law and Regulation
• Organizations and Individuals
• Markets and Regions
• Education and Competences

Through methodological, theoretical and empirical courses the programme deepens the capabilities of our PhD students to conduct a world-class research. The courses are taught by the Faculty of the programme as well as by external scholars.

Wednesdays are seminar days. Our PhD students are welcome to invite distinguished scholars from all over the world to present their current work and discuss it with the group. At least once a year the PhD students present their own dissertation progress. Their work is then discussed and refereed by peers and senior researchers.

The participating scientist work at various departments of the Friedrich Schiller University e.g. Economics and Business Administration (including Statistics, Business Educational Studies), Law, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Philosophy (esp. Intercultural Communication), Chemistry and Earth Sciences (esp. Economic Geography) as well as Mathematics and Computational Sciences.

our faculty members

Research environment

The PhD group shares the capabilities, the resources, and the facilities of the University in Jena  de . Additionally it is integrated in an environment of related graduate programmes in social sciences. Th e Graduate Academy is further dedicated to supporting PhD students with additional advice, courses, and financial aid.

You are not the first historically important person who decided for the educational excellence of the 450-year old University of Jena. Philosophers such as Shelling, Hegel, Schopenhauer, and Schiller, mathematicians such as Leibniz and Frege, and physicists such as Abbe studied and worked in Jena.

Today Jena is a lively city with a strong presence of students and researchers. Besides the University, Jena hosts 3 Max Planck Institutes, a Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering, a Leibniz Institute for Age Research, and a University of Applied Sciences. The historical presence of companies such as Carl Zeiß and SCHOTT make Jena a world center of optics research. Check what Jena can offer for you today External link .