By Graham Moore | Head of Partnerships
Since the June report to GlobalGiving, TSIBA and Northeastern University (Boston) celebrated their 19th year of their annual international collaboration by bringing together TSIBA students (from South Africa) and Northeastern University students (from the USA) in a virtual design thinking sprint aimed at solving real-world challenges faced by local start-up entrepreneurs. Using Stanford University's five-stage Design Thinking model and the global 'Double Diamond' process, students collaboratively engaged in experiential, impact-driven learning that combined business theory with practical application. The initiative not only enhanced students’ communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills, but also uplifted each participant as potential future entrepreneurs - with new tools and confidence with knowledge on that which may be required to build and grow successful businesses. The initiative also served to demonstrate the power of global collaboration to drive inclusive, grassroots economic development in the context of broader environmental and economic realities
Further, and in alignment with the strategic objective of promoting internationalisation of this institution’s offerings, the resourcing of the TSIBA Global office was bolstered by the deployment of a full time resource. Mr John Durr, Formerly Entrepreneurship Anchor and senior TSIBA resource of over ten years, was appointed to lead us in this internationalisation strategy. In addition to strengthening existing international partnerships, the task includes forging new partnerships to continuously enrich TSIBA’s international exposure to the benefit of TSIBA and partner institution students, while also diversifying revenue streams. Towards this, other recent constructive engagements included those with Audiencia University (Nantes, France), the University of North Carolina (USA), B360 Education Partnerships (Switzerland), ULBS (Romania), Rosenheim (Germany), Fonntys (Netherlands) and Northeastern University (Boston, USA).
The above initiatives are shared as key components of the IMAGINE TSIBA journey documented previously. As TSIBA celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024, and as we celebrate our 21st through this year, so too have we begun to imagine where we might go, and what impact we might achieve - in South Africa, but also outside of our national borders. The TSIBA education model espouses purpose-lived transformative leadership, and as we journey into our third decade this institution affirms its commitment to the power of this offering as a powerful driver of social change across the globe. We also remain firmly of the view that as humanity struggles with multiple existential challenges, this model presents a path forward. Towards this we are grateful for the many financial partners who have supported TSIBA through 2025, including those whose funding has been provided through GlobalGiving., including the recently received grant of USD$ 96 000 000. Such donor funding, representing a significant contribution of the USD$ 1000 000 received this year to date, provides the financial ‘oxygen’ of the stated TSIBA commitment.
As the imagine TSIBA journey unfolds, a recent strategic overview affirmed our core value of Resilience, Integrity, Sustainability, and Excellence, referred to internally as RISE, values which underpin the drive to position TSIBA as an institution of choice by delivering relevant, future-fit education that drives student success and employability, supported by robust governance, thriving infrastructure, and an organisational structure designed for efficiency and excellence.
Rising above the ongoing operational matters at hand daily, the past months have thus been reflective in nature, asking and working to answer where TSIBA might journey in the next 21 years. Having recently reached the key milestones of awarding over 10 000 full or partial scholarships, producing 8 Mandela-Rhodes Scholars, 2 United Nations PRME Global Student Regional Leaders in Africa and 3 Kofi Annan Scholars, this was a moment to consider how TSIBA might lead into its future, and what that might mean for our core stakeholders, our students, and our financial partners who make all of what TSIBA does possible.
IMAGINE TSIBA
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