Change the world

23/11/2022

Reasons to be Proud - #R2bP: A team of staff, postgraduate students and alumni, under the umbrella of the Business and Economic Sciences Faculty recently won a silver medal in a BRICS high tech international industry competition with their business concept for a safe playground.
Their submission competed against teams from Russia, Brazil, India and China as well as Ghana. 
 
The assignment brief was to develop an innovative project for a new product, taking into account all the lifecycle stages. The team’s safe playground design is geared towards minimising injuries when children use swings, slides, merry-go-rounds, horizontal bars, and other gymnastic items, at any time of year and in various indoor and outdoor conditions. 
 
As a business competition, the team had to develop the life cycle of the product involving, marketing, HR management, financial management and project management, with all team members bringing their own specialist skills to the competition. Deputy Dean Prof Michelle Mey recommended the team when a Russian contingent from BRICS approached her. 
 
Business and Economic Sciences faculty e-technologist Tiaan Gerber was the project leader and is currently completing his PDBA to start his MBA in 2023. Marketing was done by Business School Relationship Officer Ruan Jonker and alumnus Nicholas Landman. Ruan is completing his PGCE and will commence with his PDBA next year. 
 
HR management lecturer in charge of the HR in the project, Adrian Andrews, is starting his Masters studies in 2023, while Daniel Louw, did the 3D-modelling. Daniel completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering and is currently busy with an internship. Alumnus Wikus Bezuidenhout was in charge of finance. Nico Landman was the appointed BRICS mentor and facilitator.
 
“With the combination of business, marketing, human resources, finance and engineering, the knowledge and experience gained from this challenge was invaluable”, Tiaan said. In addition, his studies as postgraduate student in business helped immensely as he was able to strategise and use the knowledge gained within the classroom. 
 
 
From left, Tiaan Gerber, Daniel Louw, Nico Landman, Nicholas Landman, Wikus Bezuidenhout and Ruan Jonker. Absent Adrian Andrews
 

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