When last did you study something? If you’re in the working world, you’ll probably sit there for a moment and wonder, that long ago?! I don’t blame you, studying normally takes up far too much time and any professional short course you might find won’t be accredited or it will cost you a fortune. That’s where GetSmarter comes in, GetSmarter is a specialist online training firm that works together with top universities and industry experts to present professional short courses throughout South Africa, a company who I’ve dealt with on several occasions and one which I’d vouch for. They’ve trained over 4000 people over the past 4 years across their portfolio of 11 courses and have 875 people signed up for the second half of 2010.
I guess you’re curious about the courses now aren’t you? Well, you all know about the wine course (iMod readers seemed to enjoy this one a lot, I kept getting enquiries about it!), I’ve blogged about this one before, oh and of course, the Internet super user course! These are just 2 of the 11 courses, most of which are presented n conjunction with the University of Cape Town, the other courses include topics such as project administration, Internet and the law, internet marketing, financial management, labour law, business writing and legal documents, guest house management and creative writing. That’s a powerful collection of courses!
The course that strikes me the most is their University of Cape Town Start and Manage a Small Business course. I’d like to think of myself as an entrepreneur – I might work a full time job, but I certainly do have other little things on the side that keep me busy. I love the rush I get when I start something new, it’s a feeling I can’t explain – some of my ideas work and some don’t, of course, but what I can tell you is that I have no real training or anything and if I did, I bet I could tip the scale to favour me more! Anyway, let me not go off topic, the point I was making here was merely that if I could do a course like UCT Start and Manage a Small Business, I bet I could run some of my ideas far better than I do now! More and more people are starting little businesses on the side, life’s getting really expensive and the requirement to supplement a salary, in my opinion, could soon be a requirement – it’s a scary thought (There are 49 million people in South Africa!) The UCT Start and Manage a Small Business course will provide you with the following:
- Learn how to start and run a small business in South Africa
- Guides you through each stage of business establishment and management, from the conceptualisation of a new business idea, to the sale of your first product or service and the sustainable growth of your enterprise.
- Highly practical 9-week part-time course presented online
- Students receive a University of Cape Town certificate in Starting and Managing a Small Business
The course is 9 modules long and should only take approximately7 hours of your week.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the course or how much it costs or even when it starts, you have three options:
- Give Abby a shout on 021 685 4775
- If you’re shy, email her on abby@getsmarter.co.za
- Visit the course details on the website
I’d love to hear from you if you’re interested in doing it, if several of you jump on, I’ll join you! :D
I think this course would be absolutely fantastic to do! I think anyone should be doing this especially younger people as it will not only teach them skills to start a business, but just general skills to help them become successful in life. I would have loved to do this course!
I totally agree James, it’s one of those things.. we didn’t get taught any of these incredibly important skills at school, so it’s a taboo to most of us and these skills would be priceless further down the line should we decide to start companies. Not only that, but working in a operations manager position like I do, I can leverage these skills to ensure that the company is running correctly and efficiently.
Know what I mean?
Completely know what you mean! It is simply skills that will help you through life. Valuable stuff to be learnt here. I am going to see if I can *somehow* get the funds together to do this course! Holding thumbs!
I’m keen to do it as well, provided there are a few other people doing it at the same time as me :)
After the crap we had with Intec, I’ve been looking for courses for my girlfriend, but I’m so weary at the moment.
Good to see it’s got the backing of UCT, so I might send my girlfriend off on this.
Ye mate, a family member went through all the problems as well, paid all the money, no books came, hundreds of phone calls took place and I still don’t even know if it was ever sorted out.
GetSmarter is accredited by UCT, and I’m friends with the CEO and some of the staff, it’s a legitimate operation, you won’t go through crap with GetSmarter like you did Intec, that much I can assure you, and you know what, if something did go wrong, I’d walk a quick drive over and give their CEO grief ;) Won’t happen though.
This is such a cool course!
You know, SMMEs and start-ups are so important to the economy and can be such a viable source of income. I think that the very practical nature of the modules of this course could prove immensely valuable.
Another thing – I’m based Joburg, but the course is online, so it doesn’t matter. I’m seriously considering signing up. Time permitting.
Oh brilliant. Seeing courses like this on offer is really inspiring. Too many school leavers (and graduates for that matter) are being lured into supposedly secure job positions/career paths.
The entrepreneurial spirit needs to be cultivated as it is just about the most empowering skill a person can have – and in this economic time, puts one in charge of their own livelihood.
Seeing a course that acts as ‘training wheels’ for budding entrepreneurs is encouraging as many business owners have had to take a ‘trail and error’ approach. Myself included!
Learning how to run your own business and not someone else’s (*cough* MBA *cough*) is certainly an invaluable skill!
And for those who want the accreditation – you couldn’t ask for a more recognized institution than UCT.
Nice one :)
@Bret – I agree, especially in South Africa, where we need people to start businesses and keep the cash flowing in. Someone should offer a course on running a business that needs to receive funds from overseas, that would make for interesting learning! Time’s the problem my side too unfortunately! Thank you for the comment :)
@Lara – Thanks for the comment! Couldn’t agree more, courses like this should almost be compulsory to all people leaving school who are interested in starting a business, it would definitely favour our economy! Lol, yes MBA :D
Awesome seeing this here – would love to have some of my fellow Imod readers on the course!
@James: There are one or two places you can actually win the course for free – check out Ideate (dot) co (dot) za, and Entrepreneurmag (dot) co (dot) za
I couldn’t agree more that these are skills which we just aren’t taught enough, and that in this day and age, entrepreneurship is coming more and more to the forefront of society :)
Come on @Gareth – Slip us some behind the scenes information about the course, you know you want to ;)
Hmmm… Slip a tip or two, you say? :)
Well, for one, it’s the fastest way to get a qualification accredited by an education megastar like UCT… Compare 9 weeks to say, 6 months, anybody?
And, I hear that if you know where to look, there are automatic discounts off the course price that apply to Joe Public… ;)
Hey guys,
Great to see this type of response! This really is an awesome course, and we’re really looking forward to presenting it.
If you’d like more information, send me an email on abby@getsmarter(dot)co(dot)za or give me a call 021 685 4775.
Just an update for everyone, we’ll be publishing some more information on this course tomorrow morning, so keep your eyes locked on :)
Hi guys. I’m enrolling for this course, but being the typical broke South African, I need to hack the system to afford the course.
If you sign up in a group of 3 or more, you get 10% off the course fee. Unless Gareth is willing to share his secrets, I’m in need of 2 compatriots to sign up with me so we can all get discount. :)
Anybody in? That R660 off makes a world of difference to my pocket.
@BrokeStudent – When I studied I took out a student loan, why not go to the bank and have a chat to a consultant?
Hi Chris,
I saw the course fee but didn’t realise it excluded VAT. I loaned 6k and then realised my mistake. Felt really blonde. If I can get the discount I can still go. If push comes to shove I might be able to loan the other R800-odd from a friend or my parents but I thought to try this first. If I don’t get 2 companions to join me I’ll take the 2-month option so I have more time to get the rest.
Can’t blame me for trying! :)
What the hell. Why do they advertise excl VAT? They’re not a wholesaler, so whats the point, other than to make the course look cheaper than it is.
Thats a no-no
Hey @BrokeStudent,
Sounds like your really keen to join us for this course. I’ve managed to arrange a discount for all iMod readers who would like to sign up for the course! Include ‘iMod’ in the promotional code field when registering and we’ll give you a 10% discount for the course!
We hope to welcome you to the course.
And there we go @BrokeStudent – sign up and enjoy the course! :)
@Abby
Wow! That’s awesome. Thank you so much!
I’ll definitely use the promo code. Off I go to register!
Hooray! :D
@BrokeStudent – Great! We look forward to welcoming you to the course. I’ll look out for your registration form:)
@BrokeStudent – Are you doing the course?
Hi Chris,
I am indeed doing the course! I’m enjoying it – it’s challenging and thought-provoking at the same time :) We’re on Module 3 already!
Thanks!
Hi @brokestudent,
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the course! Its always great to hear from our students.
Lots of luck for the rest of the course:)
That’s awesome to hear BrokeStudent! :)
Hopefully you won’t be broke anymore, once you’ve developed that skill set ;)