First MANCOSA female graduate from DBA programme

Dr Patricia Ndlovu could not hold back her excitement as she defended her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) thesis at MANCOSA, the first by a female at a private higher education institution.

Dr Ndlovu who hails from Gauteng undertook research for a thesis titled, “The Development of a Financial Sustainability Implementation Framework for State-Subsidised Independent Schools in Gauteng Province, South Africa”.

MANCOSA’s DBA programme has been designed for candidates who have completed a relevant Master’s Degree and are looking to further develop their practical and theoretical knowledge of the principles that govern private and public sector organisations, through research.

The strength of the DBA programme is centre on MANCOSA’s mission to have an impact on the student’s developing knowledge and skills and to conduct rigorous research that is directly relevant to one’s organisation, industry and community

Professor Magnate Ntombela, principal of MANCOSA, said: “We share the joy and celebration of Dr Ndlovu’s achievement which demonstrates MANCOSA’s competence to produce high-quality graduates whose work will have a positive developmental impact.

“The accomplishment, in essence, gives life to our vision: ‘Education for a better world for all‘.

“We are also not apologetic for highlighting the first female DBA graduate because it is an apt reminder that gender inequality still exists.”

Dr Ndlovu’s research aimed to establish findings that fed into a novel framework to aid the financial sustainability of state-subsidised independent schools in the Gauteng region of South Africa. 

“I completed my MBA with MANCOSA and thereafter I was at ease when studying the DBA programme as the institution nurtured the ‘academic’ in me.

“As a result of my thesis, I started a foundation that focuses on getting learners from underprivileged backgrounds into better schooling opportunities,” she said.

Ndlovu added that her advice to youth is to believe in themselves.

Her recipe for success is to be consistent, show up and do the very best that one can.

Ndlovu’s future plans are to ensure the financial stability of independent schools is met, to expose children to a better-quality education and to engage in part-time lecturing.