Disciplines

Description

Business Strategy and Management is one of the four different disciplines offered in the BCom degree at AFDA. In the first 18 months of the course, students take part in all four disciplines. From the beginning of the second 18 months and onwards, students partake in two out of the four disciplines – they major in one discipline and sub-major in the other. Students work on a project each term, either as a team or individually, with the goal of turning that project into a business.

In Business Strategy and Management, students learn and practice how to operate project and team managing software; break down and allocate tasks; track the progress of their business projects with a software and provide updates to their teams and tutors/lecturers; create vision boards using a design software; create strategy presentations (which are presented regularly throughout the student’s three year journey); provide research to guide people in understanding what their business provides; analyse their competitors; analyse shortcomings in their business projects and invent and apply solutions; use a software designed for taking businesses from the ideation phase to launch; work with their own business related strengths and weaknesses; calculate what is required to complete tasks and how to input these calculations into management software. Each year onwards, students advance their understanding and ability in each skill, and each year more skills are added to the student’s business skill arsenal.

Students who wish to further their understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship after the completing the AFDA BCom degree have the opportunity to do so. The AFDA PGDI (Post Graduate Diploma in Innovation) is a 1 year programme available to students who have completed an undergraduate programme.

Description

Startup Finance is one of the four different disciplines offered in the BCom degree at AFDA. In the first 18 months of the course, students take part in all four disciplines. From the beginning of the second 18 months and onwards, students partake in two out of the four disciplines – they major in one discipline and sub-major in the other. Students work on a project each term, either as a team or individually, with the goal of turning that project into a business.

Money makes the world of business go round. In South Africa, 70%-80% of small businesses fail within their first five years of operating. The most common cause of these startups failing is due to poor financing. Although an accountant is useful in all financial departments, what’s crucial for any startup is someone who understands startup finance, regardless of their role in the business.

In Startup Finance, students learn and practice how to work with a finance template software, in which they calculate and input their expenses and, through observing potential competitors, identify a price at which they can offer their product and make a profit. Students also create a financial report, which is reviewed by their lecturers/tutors. Students furthermore identify and list revenues; calculate and present their cash flow; create income statements and balance sheets; and create a financial forecast which is used for critical business analysis information such as determining when and if a business will break even. Each year students advance their understanding and ability in each of these, and each year more skills are added to the student’s Startup Finance skill arsenal.

Students who wish to further their understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship after completion of the AFDA BCom degree have the opportunity to do so. The AFDA PGDI (Post Graduate Diploma in Innovation) is a 1 year programme at AFDA available to students who have completed an undergraduate programme.

Description

Marketing and Sales is one of the four different disciplines offered in the BCom degree at AFDA. In the first 18 months of the course, students take part in all four disciplines. From the beginning of the second 18 months and onwards, students partake in two out of the four disciplines – they major in one discipline and sub-major in the other. Students work on a project each term, either as a team or individually, with the goal of turning that project into a business.

In Marketing and Sales students learn and practice how to cReate concept statements; create sufficient descriptions of what their business offers; inform others as to how their business benefits the customer and the world around them; research their target market and present findings; brainstorm and create business names; analyse potential competitors’ branding and plan out how theirs will be different and disruptive; use design software to create a logo aligned with their brand’s strategy; define marketing strategy through their businesses’ objectives and create email marketing campaigns. Each year onwards, students advance their understanding and ability in each skill, and each year more skills are added to the student’s Marketing and Sales arsenal.

Students who wish to further their understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship after the AFDA Bcom degree have the opportunity to do so with the AFDA PGDI (Post Graduate Diploma in Innovation). The PGDI is a 1 year programme available to students who have completed an undergraduate programme.

Description

U(I)X (User Interface Experience) is one of the four different disciplines offered in the BCom degree at AFDA. In the first 18 months of the course students take part in all four disciplines. From the beginning of the second 18 months and onwards, students partake in two out of the four disciplines – they major in one discipline and sub-major in the other. Students work on a project each term, either as a team or individually, with the goal of turning that project into a business.

In U(I)X, students learn and practice how to use a collaborative design and meeting software; design website and application wireframes related to the user experience of their proposed business; use a graphics editing and user interface design app; and create a prototype app or website. Students also learn to navigate a software used for creating diagrams, which have a multitude of purposes in the running of a business, as well as learning to create a website based off of their company’s visual identity. Students continuously advance their understanding and ability in each of these areas each year. Throughout each skill that the student learns and practices, they are guided by their lecturers/tutors who they also present to for feedback when completing projects.

Students who wish to further their understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship after completing the AFDA Bcom degree have the opportunity to do so. The AFDA PGDI (Post Graduate Diploma in Innovation) is a 1 year programme at AFDA available to students who have completed an undergraduate programme.