Graduate School of Business Leadership

In 1965, following the advice and active support of senior South African business leaders, Unisa decided to introduce a Master of Business Leadership (MBL). The success of this programme, coupled with the unique characteristics associated with a multidisciplinary degree led, in 1969, to the establishment of the SBL as an autonomous body within the university.

As its name and that of its flagship programme (the MBL) indicate, the emphasis from the start has been on leadership development as opposed to administration. It is significant to note that, at the time, the SBL was the first business school in the world to offer high quality, Masters level business education by means of a combination of distance and part-time tuition (a model which has subsequently been imitated by numerous business schools around the world). The SBL is widely regarded as one of the top three business schools in South Africa. Since its inception it has produced more than a third of all the MBL/MBA Degrees awarded by South African universities.

The Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership is invested in the Production of New Knowledge through its Research Capabilities. This is to steer the Academic Project of the insititution to inform business and the curricula strength of the School.

the strength of the Academic Project and Research is undertaken by our top and highly rated Academics, members of the Adjuct and Postdoctoral Faculty, our students, together with our partners in business industries and other academic institutions.