On Friday, 20 July 2012, the Tertiary School in Business Administration (TSiBA) was very proud to host their Graduation Ceremony at Old Mutual. With extra special guest speaker, Minister Trevor Manuel, 31 TSiBA graduates were capped for achieving their Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Entrepreneurial Leadership.

This was the biggest graduation ceremony TSiBA has ever seen and brings the total number of TSiBA graduates to 77 since this unique private, not for profit business school held its first Graduation ceremony in 2008.

TSiBA Education NPC is a non profit business school that was founded in 2004 and is registered and fully accredited with the Department of Higher Education as a private higher education institution. Students are not required to pay for their education monetarily, but rather to "Pay it Forward" by transferring the knowledge, skills and resources that they gain at TSiBA into their communities. In this way, TSiBA’s vision of "Igniting Opportunity" is realised.

TSiBA’s academic programme consists of an accredited Certificate in Practical Business Administration and a Higher Certificate in Business Administration that act as a bridge into TSiBA’s accredited and enriched Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) in Entrepreneurial Leadership. The curriculum uniquely integrates knowledge, skills and attitude. TSiBA’s Profile of Graduateness has been carefully designed to match the needs of employers/or the competencies needed to be a successful entrepreneur.

TSiBA has two campuses in the Western Cape - an urban campus in Pinelands, Cape Town and a rural campus, TSiBA Eden, in the town of Karatara, near Knysna. A replication in Botswana is planned for 2013. TSiBA also has Ignition Centres which assist grassroots entrepreneurs who are linked to TSiBA Education. To date, over 200 entrepreneurs have received financial, business, management and marketing assistance on a pro bono basis.

Each graduate was capped by Professor Fatima Abrahams, TSiBA’s chairperson, whilst Adri Marais, TSiBA’s CEO, shared some appreciations for each graduate. The appreciations really added that something extra as it became clear just how many challenges some students have faced in reaching their goal.

Minister Manuel expressed his thoughts, "It’s so wonderful to see an organisation like TSiBA grow and flourish. TSiBA students are so committed to making South Africa better, they are conscious citizens and walking examples of ‘Paying it Forward’. I applaud you!"

The event was co-ordinated by Ntombiza Lingani; TSiBA’s marketing co-ordinator and a TSiBA graduate herself. The event was co-sponsored by The Old Mutual Foundation, a platinum partner.

Source: www.sagoodnews.co.za