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CIDA has developed a reputation as a pioneer in the development of 21st century education. Its champions include President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, who says of CIDA: “The education offered is designed to make students relevant, truly empowered, integrated citizens and leaders that are skilled and equipped to build the South African economy and society.”
ORGANISATION INSIGHTS
Turnover: CIDA is a not for profit organisation and is funded by a large number of corporate supporters, who make financial contributions to the university. The largest of these supporters is Investec Bank, who donated a building that has been the turned into CIDA’s main campus.
Core Service:
CIDA is an education institution for 21st century Africa. Designed to develop thinkers and leaders, CIDA is a high quality, low cost and holistic education offering for those who would not normally be able to afford further education. A 4 year cutting edge business and technology degree is offered – the only free, open access holistic higher educational facility in the world, which is operated by students for students. Furthermore, students must return home during holidays, to teach their families and communities about what they have learnt and changing others through influence and knowledge transfer.
Vision: “Leveraging Africa’s own Human Capital and Genius to Change the Continent”. Ultimately, CIDA’s aim is “societal transformation.”
POVERTY INSIGHTS
The wider context
“CIDA produces an African solution to African issues.” Many see lack of access to higher education as a major stumbling block and barrier to growth, prosperity and success of a developing nation. The model of CIDA has been deliberately designed to be fully replicable with the plan to open more branches of the university in other severely deprived areas of South Africa, as well as other developing nations worldwide.
In sub-Saharan Africa, 3% of individuals over the age of 20 have post school educational qualification. A recent study by the World Bank found an 89% correlation between tertiary education and economic indicators such as GDP per capita and labour productivity per capita. In South African, tertiary education can cost upwards of R 100,000 (approximately £8,500). CIDA’s works on a scholarship basis for its students, removing access issues.
To give an idea of the profile of student, Taddy Blechler, the Universities founder, who in post apartheid South Africa decided to put something back in to the country, says of the young people: "they are from disadvantaged, terribly poor families. They are all bright, but they've never used a computer before. They come from areas that don't have electricity or water. They'll have been in schools with no books. They've got the talent but have never had the opportunities."
What the university offers
“The education offered is designed to make students relevant, truly empowered, integrated citizens and leaders that are skilled and equipped to build the South African economy” said South African President Thabo Mbeki.
From accountancy through to human development course, the four year degree offered to students who are lucky enough to secure at place at the university (19000 applicants for 1800 places), is indeed unique. CIDA’s approach is one of developing the ‘whole person’ – a total education solution, learning not only academic skills, but life skills, to help them become well rounded, confident and integrated citizens in society. Students attend 7-9 hours of lectures per day, taking 3 times the number of courses of traditional business courses.
Lessons at the university are taught by top industry players such as accountancy firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Days at the university are divided into six key components, starting with meditation at 8am in the morning:
- Knowledge – this is the academic art of the day, teaching business subjects such as accounting, strategy, statistics as well as remedial education and ‘knowledge of the world.’
- Skills – technology training, as well as softer life skills
- Values – students learn about professional ethics, African leadership values, and principle centred leadership.
- Action – this part of the day is devoted to managing the campus, as well as corporate internships and community activities.
- Self-management – Using self development tools such as meditation and counselling helps students reach their full potential
- ‘Love of Life’ – extra-curricular activities, from sports to music to societies.
- The Extranet – Community outreach projects, in which students teach their communities about entrepreneurship, financial management, career guidance and health issues. The founder of the university believes this has allowed over 1million to be positively affected by CIDA.
Business benefit
For the students, in successfully following the programme for four years, by the time they graduate: “bigger, deeper, wider, in fact more in every way.” The programme taps individual’s latent talents to develop the genius of every student, regardless of financial background, culture, religion and race.
For corporate supporters of the programme, “the source of the future of Africa” can be found in CIDA graduates.
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© Article 13 2004
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