Skills development of a manager: a higher education perspective

Inaugural lecture--Technikon Witwatersrand, 6 August 2002@@The importance of focusing on skills development among management students is highlighted. Management students' perception of the relevance and importance of specific management skills mentioned in the literature is investigated by means of a survey conducted among some groups of management students at the Technikon Witwatersrand (TWR). The students' perception regarding their own skills development while studying at the TWR is also tested. Suggestions for the curriculation of management educational courses are made, and the importance of forming learning partnerships between learner, educational institution and employer organisation is pointed out. The futility of attempting to turn people into managers in the classroom alone is emphasized and the need for life-long learning is highlighted.