A recent announcement from Eiffel Corp, a leader in the Higher Education software and service digital education space, has announced that the company has decided to end its 21 year-long partnership with Blackboard, an international e-learning company.

Eiffel Corp has recently sent notice to Blackboard, highlighting its intention to terminate this long-standing partnership. Reportedly the motivation behind this decision was largely based in Eiffel Corp’s desire to structure and tailor its services in such a way that it can be more responsive to its core customer base in African Higher Education sector and beyond. Eiffel Corp believes that the separation will empower the company to align better with sentiments and macrotrends in the African higher education space. In addition, Eiffel Corp is looking forward to improving its multiple offerings to “effectively serve the local higher education landscape to an even greater degree,” says Ian Light, CEO, Eiffel Corp.

Light stated that much consideration had gone into this decision. He outlined that, although Eiffel Corp appreciates the success achieved with Blackboard during the course of the 21-year partnership, the time has come for Eiffel Corp to forge a new and separate path. Light made it clear that this decision was believed to be the best step in Eiffel Corp’s pursuit to align its services more directly with client needs. “Although our partnership is ending, we remain fully committed to our clients’ needs and ongoing contracts and programmes. We greatly value the relationships that we have built over the past two decades,” continues Light. This step also affords Eiffel Corp the opportunity to diversify its services beyond its current core e-learning offerings.

Through the process of working with and learning from experiences within the African higher education market, Eiffel Corp has continued to grow and tailor its services to fully meet the continually changing needs of the higher education space. This experience has afforded Eiffel Corp the position of being considered the number one software and service provider in digital and related services for higher education.Light believes that this experience, and the resultant industry expertise, equips Eiffel Corp to maintain its premier position and continue to service the South African Higher Education landscape effectively. This applies not only in the present but also in terms of predicting, shifting, and adjusting services to maintain excellence within this ever-evolving space.

“From 2020 onwards, we look forward to building on our mutual successes with all clients and partners and plan to share our exciting innovations with our current and prospective customers. We will be scheduling face-to-face updates with our clients early in the new year, and we are excited for what lies ahead,” concludes Light.

Eiffel Corp has made it clear that the organisation has a deep respect for Blackboard and the valuable connections and personal relationships made over the lengthy period of collaboration. Eiffel Corp wishes Blackboard all the very best both now and in future.

Milpark Education launches the National Certificate in Generic Management

Milpark Education’s College has launched a new online accredited qualification, the National Certificate in Generic Management. The course launches on 24 January 2017 - where classes for the first module will commence - and runs until 4 July, 2018. The National Certificate in Generic Management is quality assured by the South African Board of People Practices (SABPP). The qualification is aligned to NQF level 5 rating and it “forms part of a learning pathway of management qualifications across various sectors and industries,” explained Maritsa Grewe, Milpark College Academic Manager.  

Milpark Education boasts an interactive learning experience that is flexible enough for students to study at their own convenience, independently of place and time. Students participate in live online lecturing sessions and asynchronous online group discussions - multiple instances of assessment will ensure student progress.   The focus of this qualification is to enable learners to develop competence in a range of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values including:  

• Initiating, developing, implementing and evaluating operational strategies, projects and action plans, and where appropriate, recommending change within teams and/or the unit so as to improve the effectiveness of the unit.
• Monitoring and measuring performance and applying continuous or innovative improvement interventions in the unit in order to attain its desired outcomes, including customer satisfaction, and thereby contributing towards the achievement of the objectives and vision of the entity.
• Leading a team of first line managers by capitalising on the talents of team members and promoting synergistic interaction between individuals and teams. To enhance individual, team and unit effectiveness in order to achieve the goals of the entity.
• Building relationships using communication processes both vertically and horizontally within the unit with superiors and with stakeholders across the value chain to ensure the achievement of intended outcomes.
• Applying the principles of risk, financial and knowledge management and business ethics within internal and external regulatory frameworks in order to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of the unit.
• Enhancing the development of teams and team members through facilitating the acquisition of skills, coaching, providing career direction, and capitalising on diversity in the unit.  

If you’ve a penchant for generic management studies then this course is for you. Applications for the 24 January 2017 intake are open and you can visit our website for more information or by contacting Student Services on 086 999 0030.

NOTES TO EDITORS  

Established in 1997, Milpark Education was one of the first private providers of higher management education in South Africa. Today, it remains a leading provider of Higher Education and Further Education and Training Qualifications. Milpark Education is registered with the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as a Private Higher Education Institution. With a national footprint in South Africa, Milpark has two teaching campuses in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and a support office in Durban.  

The Milpark MBA has been rated in the Top 10 of Accredited Business Schools in South Africa since 2009. Milpark was rated as the number one private provider of the MBA degree in the 2015 PMR Africa national survey on accredited business schools offering MBA/MBL degrees in South Africa. In 2016, PMR Africa rated it number one again in the private sector, as well as second overall in the same year.  

Milpark Education comprises six schools of specialisation, namely

1. Milpark Business School
2. Milpark College
3. Milpark School of Commerce
4. Milpark School of Government
5. Milpark School of Investment and Banking
6. Milpark School of Financial Planning and Insurance