Stanford and USB-ED join forces for Foresight and Innovation in South Africa.

Sept. 10, 2010 - PRLog -- Stanford Center for Professional Development at Stanford University and the University of Stellenbosch Business School, Executive Development (USB-ED) announce a new initiative to deliver of series of executive programmes for the next generation of South African leaders  that will address some of the most urgent challenges facing South Africa.

The programme, entitled Innovative Futures, aims to fill the critical management skills gap undermining South Africa’s economy by introducing proven methods in long-range problem-solving and foresight skills developed at Stanford University.

Targeted at business and government leaders, the programme is designed to help them tackle strategic challenges in innovation and become more effective in long-term planning.

Graduates of the four day programme will receive a certificate from the Stanford Center for Professional Development. http://scpd.stanford.edu

The programmes will run at the University of Stellenbosch Business School:

Cape Town:          12 – 15 October at Bellpark Campus Bellville
Johannesburg:    19 – 22 October at The Campus, Bryanston, Johannesburg  

The methodology from the Center for Foresight and Innovation (CFI) at Stanford University provides the backbone of the programme. CFI’s comprehensive methodology of foresight and innovation has been designed to help all types of companies and professional roles. http://foresight.stanford.edu/

“Our program builds upon 50 years of Stanford research and teaching of design thinking methodologies”, says CFI Director William Cockayne.

“Developed at the behest of industry, we've taken this program into the labs, offices, and research centres of organizations worldwide.

Stanford University is one of the world’s leading universities, educating global leaders and playing a key role in the rise of Silicon Valley, which is home to major technology companies such as Apple, Adobe, Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Intel, Cisco and HP.

Frik Landman, CEO of USB-ED, described the initiative with Stanford as an important coup for a South African business school. Landman said, “The young leaders of South Africa have immense potential, but often lack access to the right training opportunities. Our competitive advantage in Africa is a population heading for a billion of which almost 50% would be under the age of fifteen. President Zuma has repeatedly vowed to make education a priority. In that spirit, this partnership is an exciting step in leadership development – at USB we continue to be committed and involved to facilitate this national priority.”

“We're very excited by the opportunity to work with the universities, companies, and supporting organizations in South Africa, with the intention of expanding our network of global innovation”, says Cockayne, also a consulting associate professor in Stanford’s mechanical engineering department.

The initiative is facilitated by the Institute of Public Policy & International Development (IPPID) based in San Jose, California.

David Altman, co-founder of IPPID, spoke about his organisation’s vision. Altman said, “Creating more leaders in South Africa with the professional skills to lead the country’s companies and government agencies is critical. Enhancing innovation and development capacities of South Africans is consistent with the advancement of social and economic development.”

"The SCPD is pleased to partner with USB-ED and IPPID to extend design thinking and foresight concepts to South African business and policy leaders. We believe the methodology and tools, which have been time-tested at Stanford and in the Silicon Valley, will help leaders view the current challenges with new perspectives.  We expect this new perspective will yield innovative solutions to complex problems" says Dr. Andy DiPaolo, senior associate dean, school of engineering and SCPD’s executive director.

Contact person (For more Information)
Samantha Diedericks
Tel  + 27 21 918 4479
E-mail  Samantha.diedericks@usb-ed.com

Register Here:  http://www.usb-ed.com/course/innovative-futures

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The Institute of Public Policy and International Development (IPPID) was formed to help build leadership and innovation capacities in Africa through partnerships with leading institutions and experts in South Africa and around the world.