A belief in leadership skills, tenacity and self discipline are what Cobus Potgieter, founder of MSC College, learned during his years as a Special Forces soldier in the former South African Defence Force (SADF).

 After matriculating in 1975, Potgieter joined this elite military outfit, known as the Recces, serving in the armed forces until he resigned with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1990. Potgieter says, “I started MSC College in 1991 as a one-man business because of the need for business education that existed then and still does. The business evolved and was eventually franchised in 1993. Although I do not come from a family of entrepreneurs, they did provide a lot of support and encouragement.”

Prior to entering the business world, Potgieter had only one previous career, as a professional soldier. Some may argue the military has very little to do with business but he believes being part of a highly trained band of men helped him hone attributes needed to be successful in business. His military background taught him to push through adversity and learn from mistakes, turning misfortune into opportunity.

Entrepreneurship, he believes, is about how big your dream is and how much you believe in it. “Everybody is born with the desire to do something of significance, something that will make a difference in other people’s lives. To me, uplifting people is that something of significance that drives me. I enjoy working with people, by helping them to grow and realise their dreams. This motivates and propels me to succeed.”

 The ability to get others to believe in your dream as much as you do is always the challenge. But the passion and energy that drive Potgieter is contagious and energises those around him. He has always focused on surrounding himself with great people who are strong in the areas where he is weak – especially in his inner circle. This allows him to focus strategically while they keep track of the operational aspects of the business.

 Being a leader in business is about making the right decisions. His philosophy, says Potgieter, “is to employ the best person for the position. Even if I do not have a position for potential champions I employ them, knowing they can add value to the organisation. I believe in providing my staff with suitable training and the tools that allow them to carry out their jobs with excellence. I do everything in my power to keep these champions, by continuously stretching them to the limit, rewarding them, and assisting them in growing in their jobs and in their personal capacity.”

 In his career as an entrepreneur he has started four businesses. His first was MSC College, which now has 22 franchised colleges nationwide. Four of these colleges are company owned. They focus on providing business education to school leavers entering the working world, as well as specialised skills training for corporates.

 In 2000, Potgieter started an outdoor adventure academy, Beyond Adventure, with the goal to instil vital leadership qualities and business skills in young people. Such skills will hopefully enable them to become self-employed individuals who generate income and assist the economy through job creation.

 At the beginning of 2011, Potgieter started the Master Artisan Academy of South Africa (Maasa), an educational institution with a difference. It is specifically designed to train a wide spectrum of the population in much needed artisan skills. These range from mechanical engineering, renewable energy systems, solar, photovoltaic, wind and electrical engineering. “We provide full qualifications, trade preparation and trade tests in our state-of-the-art workshops in East London.”

 To date, not one of his business ventures has failed. With regards to failure, his personal motto is that sometimes he wins and sometimes he doesn’t, but he never loses. “I use every disappointment to grow and ensure that mistakes are never repeated. I see times of adversity as God’s classroom, where wonderful lessons are taught to those with an attitude of learning. I do not like to fail but I am not afraid of failing as it always produces some sort of learning opportunity.”

 He lives by a work hard play hard mentality and believes in the importance of family. He and his wife are keen horse riders and to get away from it all, go on three-week off-road safaris in Botswana and Namibia, combined with a horse safari in the Namibian desert. Although his wife helped setup MSC College and ran Beyond Adventure for seven years, Potgieter jokes that they decided it was best for their marriage if they didn’t work together anymore. “She now runs a cycad nursery on our smallholding, believing that plants are much more cooperative than people. Our three children are involved in their own successful businesses. Two of them own five MSC Colleges and our son has a successful paint manufacturing business in Port Alfred.”

 A challenge is sourcing people with the right make up of attitude, ability, passion and integrity, coupled with a desire to grow and an immaculate work ethic. His second greatest challenge is finding the right type of franchisee. He wants business people that are passionate about upliftment. Although the end goal of any business is financial gain, he does not want money chasers. Their first priority has to be to change lives and only then will financial reward follow.

 Potgieter’s tips to entrepreneurs:

• Believe in your dreams.
• Know why you are starting a business.
• Have unquestionable passion, as it energises you.
• Employ people who share your dream and strengthen your weaknesses.
• Celebrate successes regularly.
• Build a strong network around you.
• Start your business with an attitude of giving, not receiving.

 Published: Succeed magazine

At about 5.3% of gross domestic product (GDP) and 20% of total state expenditure, South Africa has one of the highest rates of public investment in education in the world, but on the other side, by the end of 2010 South Africa ranked 107^th of 180 countries in terms of world Literacy and moved down to 128^th out of 204 countries in 2012. To put it in perspective Zimbabwe is ranked at 110. To make things even worse, South Africa is consistently at, or near the bottom in international rankings of maths and science literacy and no longer participate in these events.

Within right, the question may therefore be asked whether the Public Education and Training Systems is currently delivering the quality education and training that is such a vital lever of change and progress in South Africa and which our Constitution is promising?

The answer at the moment is a definite “NO”. Private Universities and Colleges will therefore continue to play a key role in providing higher education across the country and offer advanced certificates and diplomas with a vocational focus, responding to high demand for market-oriented qualifications to produce graduates with drastically needed skills.

For a Private Higher Education Institution to make a meaningful and sustainable contribution to the South African “Crises in Education” it needs to be able to measure up against the rigorous accreditation and registration processes of the South African education system and fully align itself with the priorities of the new National Skills and Development Strategy (NSDS III). In doing so, Private Education will not only close some of the current gaps within the Public Education System, but also play a leading and innovative role in transforming the sector.

The new National Skills Development Strategy (NSDS III) commits itself to a number of priorities aimed at the improvement of the quality of life of the South African community, of which the following are dependent on quality education, training and development (ETD):

• Overcoming the shortages in the supply of people with the priority skills needed for the successful implementation of current strategies to achieve accelerated economic growth.
• Increasing the number of appropriately skilled people to meet the demands of our current and emerging economic and social development priorities.
• Improving universal access to quality basic education and schooling.
• Implementing skills development programmes that are purposefully aimed at equipping recipients with requisite skills to overcome related sources of poverty and unemployment.
• Ensuring that young people have access to education and training that enhances opportunities and increases their chances of success in further vocational training and sustainable employment.

Where the Public Education System is currently failing to successfully deliver the expectations, MSC Business College over the past 21 years have consistently met those requirements and complementing the public education system. 

As a “quality” partner to the South African education system MSC has a proud record of:

• Being fully compliant with registration and accreditation requirements
• Delivering uninterrupted education and training of a high standard in a safe and learner-friendly environment over the past 21 years
• Offering various entry and exit points to its study programmes that increases access to education and training
• Providing a financially affordable alternative to learners with flexible payment options
• Motivated, friendly, professional and skilled facilitators and trainers
• Being consistently innovative in understanding the demands of industry and therefore complement programme offering with additional support programmes like “MySIME” a realistic simulation of the business environment.

Although the underpinning initiatives of the new NSDS III and the political objectives of Government might scare private education away and make it extremely difficult to operate by channeling most of the skills levies towards public institutions, the public education system will still take a very long time before it would successfully be able to provide all the demands that our young people so desperately need to be competitive within a global economy.

It is therefore essential that young learners make informed decisions about their future and be given quality alternative options in education and credible private training and education institutions like MSC Business College who is eager and willing to provide that opportunity.

Written by:

Willie Gresse

Strategic Manager, MSC Business College

“After finishing my grade 12 in 2002, I was determined to stand on my own two feet right from the beginning and grabbed the chance to work at MSC Business College,” says Suzanne.  After her stint as a receptionist, Suzanne moved to Johannesburg in 2003 and took on a role as a database administrator at MSC in Kempton Park, while studying a business degree part-time.

Suzanne, together with her husband, then started the MSC Rustenburg campus in 2006. “My career started with MSC, and I felt it needed to move on with MSC.  Taking a franchise in a business I already understood well was an unmissable opportunity,” said Suzanne. In the campus’ first year it did well and Suzanne won the MSC Top Newcomer Award. Since opening, the college has grown by nearly 100%, with twice as many students now registered.

Following the success of the first campus, Suzanne opened a second college in Klerskdorp in 2008. In their first year, the college accepted a large number of enrolments and also won the ‘Top Newcomer Award’. “Since 2008, the college has shown good growth, again doubling the amount of students now studying at the campus in 3 short years,” says Suzanne. The campus won the MSC Franchise of the Year Award in 2011.  

“I think that hard work and determination are the two biggest contributors to my success, along with great support from the MSC Business College Head Office and management team,” says Suzanne. “We are a small, tight-knit team.  Head Office and the franchisees work closely together to ensure every franchisee has the support they need to maintain the high standards of quality and excellence MSC has established a reputation for.”

The campuses run by Suzanne form part of the 22 MSC Business College campuses in seven provinces in South Africa, with more franchising opportunities available.  MSC Head Office staff includes specialists in each area, including IT, HR, Finance, Quality Assurance, and Marketing, to provide support and guidance to franchised campuses.

 “I am grateful for the opportunity to have grown a career and a business with MSC Business College in education, a huge area of both need and of opportunity in South Africa,” says Suzanne. (ENDS)

The first exchange is currently underway with Michael Pawel, a graduate from Germany. He completed his studies in Industrial Administration in Germany and is on a 3 week experiential contract with our local Foxte Ikhwezi where he is gaining and sharing experience in the various departments as an Industrial Clerk. He has also benefited from speaking English and is in turn assisting those who are learning to speak German by engaging with them in German in the workplace.

Michael is loving the South African experience – he can’t believe the size of the steaks and has enjoyed the Transkei beaches, a trip to Mpongo Park and a night out with some local youth to Buccaneers among other activities.

Next year the institutions plan to launch an anchor project which will see a German contingent conducting workshops on action based learning to uplift and up skill the Facilitators at the colleges. Invitations may be extended to other public and private providers to benefit from the German expertise which will in turn benefit the students by ensuring they are prepared for the world of work.

MSC Business College welcomes the partnership and is very excited about the future projects and opportunities such a partnership will bring.

MSC has always been eager to differentiate themselves from the ‘fly-by-night’ colleges that can give – private colleges a bad name.  “Our ethos and the quality we deliver are very different from the sort of colleges that continue to spring up all over. Quality is a core value at MSC, which is demonstrated in our experienced staff, registered courses and course material.  It can also be seen by the level of our campuses, where furnishings and equipment for each college have to meet stringent requirements to ensure a professional, comfortable and safe environment for our students,” says Cobus Potgieter, Managing Director. He continues, “Compliance with external accrediting bodies has always been essential to ensure the students are aware of what they are getting. It is a guarantee for them that we are trusted and recognised.” MSC Business College is registered with the Department of Education and has accreditation and association with various professional bodies as well as the respective Setas.

In 1991, Cobus Potgieter founded MSC Training Centre, to address the lack of practical hands-on training in South Africa. The Private FET College has now evolved to the successful MSC Business College (MSC), with 22 campuses in South Africa that maintain the high standards of quality and excellence MSC has established a reputation for.

“The courses offered at MSC are business focused, aimed at equipping students to enter the workplace with a solid portfolio,” says Potgieter. “Every year, the National Skills Development Strategy is studied and new programmes are developed and introduced based on the needs of the market.”

The success of MSC Business College lies in the way it addresses the particular needs of the students and provides affordable, quality education. Registrations take place throughout the year and classes are designed to allow for numerous entry and exit points. “In addition, we offer payment plans which are specifically designed to allow for affordable deposits and monthly instalments without any interest being charged.”

“MSC stands for Mind, Skill, Character. That is exactly what we aim to instil and develop in all our students as they go on to have successful careers and make meaningful contributions to their families, communities and ultimately the economy of South Africa,” concludes Potgieter.

MSC Students/Staff and the Management of MSC KWT Campus collected personal items to stock individual ‘care bags’ for rape victims. The bags were purchased from MSC HO; they will be stored at the Victim Support Centre available to victims in need after a rape trauma.

MSC Students that have received their HIV Management and Counseling qualification from MSC have volunteered to counsel at the Victim Support Centre.

The center held its opening in August 2011.

OUR “mbona” LADY

This is a good story and is true!

 Every morning on arrival at our campus we would see a lady sitting on the corner selling mealies.  All day we would hear her shouting in her mother tongue (Mbona) meaning mealies. 

By the time it got to late afternoon and she still had not sold all the mbona she would start to shout that the prices were now half price.  By near end of the day she would shout buy one mbona and get 2 free.  The lady would ensure that by the time night fell she had sold all her mbona and had enough money in her pocket to buy food and take it home to her family.

We then decided that a person with such dedication and motivation needed more out of life.  We approached her to offer her a bursary in Marketing.  She accepted with a slight resistance only because she had never been given anything in life for free and found it very strange! Once she realised it was for real she was extremely happy and very grateful.

The lady, Noxolo Gcelu then started her course with us and has exceeded our expectations.  Her dedication to her studies has shown in her excellent results to date.

Noxolo has also become one of our “Orange Team” members which are a group who are specifically chosen each year to part of the King Williams Town CSI (Corporate Social Investment).  She chose of her own to be part of the CSI to give back.  We recently held our CSI Awards Ceremony to thank all involved for their help and she was one who received a certificate for her contribution.

“I am passionate about education and empowering the youth, and so starting a college was the natural path for me,” says Cobus Potgieter, Founder and Managing Director of MSC Business College. The first franchise was sold in 1993, and was opened in Kempton Park.

As the company grew over the years, so did the accolades. MSC Training Centre East London was awarded the FASA (Franchise Association of South Africa) ‘Franchise of the Year’ award for 3 years in a row. And in 1998, MSC Training Centre changed their name to MSC Private College with the aim of further differentiating the college from other public institutions.

In 2002, MSC Holdings (Pty) Ltd was formed and a year later was repositioned as MSC College. With two more awards from FASA for ‘Franchise of the Year’ awarded to MSC College Queenstown in 2007 and 2008, MSC’s standing amongst its rivals rose and became a formidable force.

“After 20 years in the industry, we felt it was time for a fresh look and a name which related directly to what we do,” says Potgieter. And so, in 2011, the new name, MSC Business College, was introduced.

MSC has always been eager to differentiate themselves from the ‘fly-by-night’ colleges that can give FET colleges a bad name.  “Our ethos and the quality we deliver are very different from the sort of colleges that continue to spring up all over. Quality is a core value at MSC, which is demonstrated in our experienced staff, registered courses and course material.  It can also be seen by level of our campuses, where furnishings and equipment for each college have to meet stringent requirements to ensure a professional, comfortable and safe environment for our students,” says Potgieter. He continues, “Compliance with external accrediting bodies has always been essential to ensure the students are aware of what they are getting. It is a guarantee for them that we are trusted and recognised.”

“The courses offered at MSC are business focused, aimed at equipping students to enter the workplace with a solid portfolio,” says Potgieter. Every year, the National Skills Development Strategy is studied and new programmes are developed and introduced based on the needs of the market. Head office staff includes specialists in each area, including IT, HR, Finance, Quality Assurance, and Marketing, to provide support and guidance to franchised campuses,” says Potgieter.

Potgieter says the campus life offered by MSC also makes the college stand out from others. “With extra murals such as karate, dancing, chess, debating offered at campuses, the colleges help develop social skills as well as discipline and commitment.”

The success of MSC Business College not only lies in the way it addresses the particular needs of the students and provides affordable, quality education. Registrations take place throughout the year and classes are designed to allow for numerous entry and exit points, thus enabling a short break in studies without compromising the students. “At other institutions they may have to redo or repeat subjects, while we have structured the operations to prevent this from occurring,” says Potgieter. “In addition, we offer payment plans which are specifically designed to allow for affordable deposits and monthly instalments without any interest being charged.”

“MSC stands for Mind, Skill, and Character. That is exactly what we aim to instil and develop in all our students as they go on to have successful careers,” concludes Potgieter.