Course Pack

SA and Mauritius November 2023

Briefing

Briefing for SA/Mauritius: 19 October 2023 19h00-20h00

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82236894608?pwd=bXdWcG80ZFJweUpnVGc5QzZ4cTdzdz09

Meeting ID: 822 3689 4608

Passcode: 555747

SA and Mauritius Study Tour BRIEFING Presentation.pptx

Overview

SA and Mauritius

Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has moved from a low-income, agricultural based economy to a middle-income economy. The major sectors that attract substantial global and local investment are finance, tourism, textile sugar, health care and communication technology. Despite some constraints such as rapid population growth, over dependence on sugar export and geographical location, Mauritius is one of the most striking economic development stories in Africa. Considered as one of the strongest economies in the Sub-Saharan Africa region and also one of the region’s highest levels of per capita income, from 1977 to 2009, the real GDP of Mauritius grew at an average rate of 5.1 per cent compared to a Sub-Sahara Africa average of 3.2 per cent, according to IMF (2010) report. It is also home to some of Africa’s high net worth individuals.

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Mauritius has been a member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), since 1995, which has a clear mission to promote sustainable, equitable economic growth and socio-economic
development. What makes Mauritius unique among other SADC members? The country has been ranked consecutively as the friendliest destination for doing business within the SADC zone and Africa
as a whole. The World Bank (2016) report on doing business ranked Mauritius 1st in Africa and 32 globally. The strategic combination of open trade policies, strong institutional framework, political
stability, favourable regulatory environment and a low corruption level could be the main fundamentals contributing significantly to the economic success story.

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As global leaders, it is vital to understand business and socio-economic culture of countries both on the African continent, such as Mauritius and the rest of the world. This course is designed for teaching and learning to be facilitated through field based learning which will expose students to a unique experience covering the following key issues:

• Review the history, social-cultural background, and political economy of Mauritius
• Overview of Mauritius’ economic performance
• South African corporate investments in Mauritius
• Mauritius economic success and challenges
• Degree of Mauritius’ interest in South Africa and the continent
• Increase of global investment in Mauritius
• Influence of Chinese investment in Mauritius
• Mauritius employees’ values and behaviours
• Assess the risks and opportunities of doing business in Mauritius
• The central role of politics in business
• The evolution of Mauritius firms and state-owned enterprises into modern corporations operating in the global economy
• The rapid rise of private enterprise and the specific challenges facing start-ups
• The special and evolving characteristic of Mauritius’ capital markets and related risks
• The emergence of an increasingly powerful middle class and its impact on the consumer market

Learning Outcomes

This course will provide students with exposure to different economies and cultures in foreign lands. The study tour is designed to expose the student to different organisations in the countries visited including overseas business schools, government agencies and businesses.

At the end this course, students will be able to:

Develop contemporary knowledge about business practices in Mauritius which will assist them to
appraise the basics and standard protocol of interactions with the Mauritius business environment;
Evaluate the progress and opportunities for Africa’s Agenda 2063 goals in SA and Mauritius
Critically assess the Mauritius economy and determine its strengths and weaknesses for doing
business;
Compare and contrast different cultures and the way of life of Mauritius in relation to South Africa;
Evaluate and analyse business models of selected example companies in Mauritius.

Addressing the Core Themes of the Tour

Curriculum tied to the context in South Africa

The study tour draws on various South African companies experience in various markets. Here the
extensive use of company site visits shows comparisons between the companies operations in South
Africa and the selected country.

Curriculum tied to context in African and other dynamic emerging market economies

The course identifies the opportunities for growth of the African continent as well as its challenges such as the slow-down of China and the associated drop in commodity prices. It maps these global issues to the level of individual African countries and major firms therein, thus enabling students to begin to address these issues at a management level.

The tour will involve studies with African Union Development Agency NEPAD to expose students to Energize Africa concept.Energize Africa is an initiative of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD. It is aimed at catalysing and harnessing youths’ creativity and innovativeness into Africa’s economic growth and development drive, whilst expanding income opportunities for the youth – through creation of jobs, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Energize Africa is designed to fast-track capacity mobilisation and policy alignment for programme delivery and transformation. Its focus is on national and sub-national levels in key economic sectors including technology, mining, tourism, e-commerce and finance services, agro- and food-industries, and automotive industries, among others.

The direct beneficiaries of this on-demand technical and professional capacity mobilisation of young professionals within the Continent and the diaspora are the public sector, education sector, health sector, start-ups in the private sector and in-country innovation hubs as well as specific demands from industrial and public service delivery sectors.

Sustainability

With the use of company and institution visits, the course addresses the optimality of overall resource
allocation in economies and its role in economic systems such as free markets and command
economies and mixtures thereof in the selected country.

Entrepreneurial action

The institution and company visits provide insight into innovation and entrepreneurial action and
(managed) risk-taking thus enabling students to make decisions at a management level.

Critical engagement

By focusing on examples of successful and unsuccessful business ventures in Africa and emerging
markets, the course enables the student to acquire a better perspective on foreseeable and
unforeseeable consequences of action and business decisions.

Course assesment and assignments

Essential Readings

Arbache, Jorge Saba & Page, John, 2008. “Hunting for Leopards : long run country Income dynamics in Africa,” Policy Research Working Paper Series 4715
Gulhati, R., and R. Nallari (1990). “Successful Stabilisation and Recovery in Mauritius”, EDI Development Policy Case Series. Washington, DCIMF (2010), Mauritius Article IV Consultation Staff Report, IMF, Washington, DC
Morisset, Bastos, and Rojid (2010).” Mauritius Response to the Economic Crisis”, World Bank note, Africa Region, Washington DC
Rojid, Seetanah, and Shalini 2009 “Are State Business Relations Important to Economic Growth: Evidence from Mauritius,” DFID/University of Mauritius working paper
Sachs and Warner (1995). ‘Economic Reform and the Process of Global Integration: Comments’.
Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, 1: 1-118
Sachs, J., and A. Warner (1997). ‘Sources of Slow Growth in African Economies’, Journal of African Economies, 6 (3): 335-76
Subramanian, Arvind (2009). ‘The Mauritian Success Story and its Lessons’, Research Paper No. 2009/36, UN WIDER
World Bank (2016), “Doing Business: Measuring regulatory quality and efficiency” Washington, DC
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/mauritius/~/media/giawb/doing%20business/documents/profiles/country/MUS.pdf
Bräutigam, D. (2003). Close Encounters: Chinese business networks as industrial catalysts in Sub‐Saharan Africa. African Affairs, 102(408), 447-467
Bräutigam, D., Rakner, L., & Taylor, S. (2002). Business associations and growth coalitions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 40(04), 519- 547
Frankel, J. (2014). Mauritius: African success story African Successes: Sustainable Growth, Volume 4: University of Chicago Press
Nowbutsing, B. M., & Odit, M. (2011). Stock market development and economic growth: The case of
Mauritius. International Business & Economics Research Journal (IBER), 8(2), 77-88
Evidence from Mauritius. Retrieved from Rossouw, G. (2005). Business ethics and corporate governance in Africa. Business & Society, 44(1), 94-106
Rojid, S., Seetanah, B., & Shalini, R. (2010). Are State Business Relations important to Economic Growth?

Purpose

The purpose of this assignment is for you to think quick on your feet. It’s fun and interesting. You will be allocated a syndicate group and will need to work as a team. The purpose of this assignment requires you to think out of the box and familiarise yourself with the environment. As a suggestion, download maps, know the history of the country, all online attractions and all modes of transport. This will be assessed through an Amazing race activity where you will need to create a portfolio of evidence so share the photos of what you saw and did along your journey.

Mark allocation:

25% (Criterion will be provided on the day of the field-based assignment/amazing race)

Deadlines

Assessment	Weighting (%)	Submission Date
Individual assignment	75%
Amazing Race	25%

Tour Schedule

This schedule is subject to change without prior notice and is to be read in conjunction with your travel itinerary.

Pre Tour Briefing (South Africa/Zoom)

Briefing for SA/Mauritius: 19 October 2023 19h00-20h00

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82236894608?pwd=bXdWcG80ZFJweUpnVGc5QzZ4cTdzdz09

Meeting ID: 822 3689 4608

Passcode: 555747

Destination 1

Day 1	Date: Thursday 16 November 2023
Time	Activity
07h30 – 08h00	Tea/Coffee/Attendance register/Board bus
08h00- 09h00	Leave WBS
09h00-12h00	Visit Gauteng provincial government-sponsored agro-processing facility
12h00-13h00	Lunch – Cradle Restaurant
13h30-15h30	Hemp Farm Project Tour cannabis plantation
16h00 – 17h00	Drive back to WBS
Day 2	Date: Monday, Friday 17 November 2023
07h30 – 08h00	Tea/Coffee/Attendance register/Board bus
08h00- 09h00	Leave WBS
09h00-11h30	L’oreal South Africa (TBA)
12h00-13h30	Lunch at 43 5th Street Wineberg
14h00-16h00	Spice factory Midrand
16h00-17h00	Drive back to WBS

Destination 2

Day 1	Date: Monday, 20 November 2023
Time	Activity
8h00	Arrival at OR Tambo Airport
09h45	Departure from OR Tambo Airport on SAA
15h45	Arrival at Mauritius
16h30	Pick up from Mauritius Airport to Victoria Beachcomber Hotel & Spa, Mauritius.
18h00	Dinner
Day 2	Date: Tuesday, 21 Nov 2023
Time	Activity
08h30-09h45	Courtesy Visit at the High Commission
10h00 – 12h00	ABSA Mauritius business visit Ms Varoun Jeewooth Head of Leadership, Learning & Talent *Absa 4*th floor Absa house, Wall Street Ebene City Mauritius
13h00-14h00	Lunch
13h00 -14h00	Business Mauritius Mr Kevin Ramkaloan CEO Ebene
14h15-16h00	University of Mauritius Reduit
18h00-20h00	Dinner
Day 3	Date: Wednesday, 22 Nov 2023
Time	Activity
10h00-12h00	Visit at Domaine St Aubin
12h00-13h00	Lunch at the Restaurant St Aubin
13h30-15h00	Visit Eruption Business Eruption: Natacha Ramsamy 8 Mere Barthelemy Street Port Louis
15h00-16h00	Economic Development Board Port Louis
18h00-20h00	Leisure evening with Dinner
Day 4	Thursday, 23 Nov 2023
Time	Activity
10h00 -12h00	SME Mauritius Coromandel
12h00-13h00	Lunch
14h00-17h00	CMT Textile Factory Visit Pointe aux Sables
18h00-20h00	Dinner
Day 5	Friday, 24 Nov 2023
Time	Activity
08h00-16h30	Full day Catamaran cruise to Ilot Gabriel
18h00-21h00	Dinner
Day 6	Sat, 25 Nov,2023
Time	Activity
08h00-09h30	Breakfast
10h00-12h00	Amazing race
13h00-14h00	Lunch
14h00- late	Free
Day 7	Sun, 26 Nov
Time	Activity
08h00-11h00	Breakfast
12h00-13h00	Transferred from your hotel to Mauritius Airport
16:40	Depart Mauritius airport
18:55	Arrival at Johannesburg

Destination 3

N/A

Destination 4

Itinerary

Additional Info and Contact Details

Additional Information

Don’t forget your documents and chargers. Obtain the relevant adaptor when travelling outside South Africa.

Weather: https://www.maurinet.com/about_mauritius/geography_climate
Travel Tips: https://www.flightcentre.co.za/blog/travel-in-mauritius-a-guide-for-first-timers
Maps: https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/google_map_Port_Louis.htm

Dress Code

Kindly bring formal wear and business cards for company visits. The following dress code applies:

Conservative suits for men with subtle colours are the norm;
Women should avoid high heels and short-sleeved blouses;
Both men and women should wear subtle, neutral colours;
Casual dress should be conservative as well;
Men and women can wear jeans. However, jeans are not acceptable for business meetings.

Emergency Contacts

Sandown Travel

Ursuala Tadford Craig

Email: ursula@sandowntravel.co.za

Tel: 011-506- 5600

Emergency after hours: +82-654-0664

Hotel

4* BEACHCOMBER VICTORIA – POINTE AUX PIMENTS – NORTH WEST COAST
Address: Coastal Road, Pointe Aux Piments 21304, Mauritius
Phone: +230 204 2000

Lead Academics

Ayanda Magida, a lecturer in the Chair of Digital Business (BCX) and Programme Director for the Postgraduate Diploma in Management in the field of Digital Business at Wits Business School, holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences (Cum laude), a Master’s in Social Sciences from the University of Pretoria, and is currently a PhD candidate in the Chair of Digital Business. Her research focuses on the digital divide and she has experience in qualitative and quantitative research, systematic reviews, teaching research methodologies and evidence-based practices, program evaluation, and implementation science. Her broad research interests include research methodologies, gender, inequality, digital divide, inclusion, and digital transformation. In the Chair, she works on the economic and social impact of digitalization, specifically focusing on the future of work, digital economy platforms, digital divide, automation, AI, and robots on jobs in South Africa in light of the anticipated Digital/Disruption/4th Industrial Revolution. In 2019, she was listed on the Mail and Guardian’s list of young South Africans in the education category.

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Dr. Jacques Totowa is a Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Wits Business School, the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Dr Totowa’s research interests are centred on corporate reporting, Impression management in the narratives section of financial reports, corporate governance, the relationship between accounting reporting and firms’ market performance, earnings management, and the determinants of a firm’s market performance. Dr Jacques Totowa boasts of extensive experience in the mining industry. He has worked as a finance coordinator with a multinational gold mining corporation with responsibility for China, Colombia, the DRC and the Solomon Island. This has exposed Dr Totowa to the structuring of multibillion dollars gold mining projects. Dr Totowa is a research associate and consultant at the African Review of Economic and Finance consult. He is also a reviewer for AREF journals and the accounting research journal in Australia

Company visits and activities

Visits

Student Commitments

Learning Contract and Student Commitments

Learning Contract

Please note, all visits and events on the global study tour are MANDATORY. Please refer to the standing orders regarding the tours. As a student you should review the Learning Contract and ensure you are fully aware of the methods and implications of the assessment approach as mark allocations cannot be changed retrospectively. If you have any concerns about the assessment you should raise this with your tour leader at the start of the course.

The Importance of Preparation for the Study Tour

The above readings should be read before departure. Students should also research on the companies that will be visited. The scope of this course covers a wide range of topics, thus a variety of readings have been carefully selected to provide different perspectives. It is essential that students focus on these readings and embark on company research. Appended with the readings are the links for ease of access. However, should you encounter any problems with the links provided consult the WITS library e-journals catalogue or consult the WBS Librarian.

Teaching Methods

Teaching emphasis in the MBA Global Study Tour is experiential and involves on-site action learning. The tour itself would entail visits to one or more destinations to provide broader international learning exposure for the student. Students should keep a learning log on insights that they gain from each business or organisation that they visit, and these logs are used for debrief sessions during the tour as well as to compile a post-study tour assignment on what they have learnt.

Acknowledgement of Limitation of Liability

Legal Declaration of Indemnity, Undertaking and Consent

The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (hereafter referred to as ‘the University’) has insured itself for its liability arising from the acts and omissions of persons acting on its behalf, and that its registered students, staff and individuals who are subject to the University’s rules, regulations, policies, procedures and standing orders as amended from time to time are insured during the course and scope of their registered courses and/or within the scope of University’s business. This is subject to the proviso that the University’s maximum liability will be limited, whether for a single or multiple events, to the extent that is covered thereof;
When the University arranges for me to travel to locations which are outside of the University’s precincts, and when traveling in vehicles which do not belong to the University’s and/or are not driven by University staff, I will enjoy only such cover as referred to in Section 1 above, provided that I depart and travel from the University’s precincts and return to it from an excursion arrange by the University, on a route agreed upon in advance by the University;
In cases where no fault can be attributed to the University, I hereby indemnify, absolve and hold harmless the University, its officials, employees, students and invitees in respect of any damage the property, death or bodily injury to/of myself and/or third parties, whether on/off the University precincts, or whilst engaged in any related activity to the University abroad; and
I understand that I attend and participate in the WBS Global Study Tour in various designated countries around the world during specified periods at my own risk where the event falls outside the cover provided to or by the University.
I acknowledge that I have read and understood the contents of this indemnity in every respect.

Standing Orders for Wits Business School Study Tours

This document is applicable to all modes of delivery of the Global Study Tour from 2017 onward.

Assessment Policy
All assignments, including the attendance of the Amazing Race and all scheduled visits to businesses, other organisations and cultural activities, is compulsory.

Failure to comply with this policy will result in an automatic failure off this course. A record of attendance at each prescribed tour activity will be kept by the Tour Leader and will be submitted to the International Office as a formal record for student assessment. Should a student fail (including as a result of non-attendance and failure to participate), the tour will have to be repeated.

A candidate who has not completed all the requirements for this tour by the end of the minimum period of study and who is permitted in terms of Senate Standing Orders to continue will be required to register again for this tour at the beginning of the following academic year and pay the relevant fee.

Registration for the Global Study Tour
A candidate is required to register and pay in advance for the Study Tour in order to be admitted to complete the course.

If a candidate wishes to amend his/her selection of destination, a prescribed period of time will be permitted as indicated by the Global Study Tour Coordinator. However, no changes to selection of destination will be entertained once confirmed.

International Applicants
Applications from international exchange and immersion students are welcome. All international students need to conform with the University’s requirements and the South African legislation that pertains to such students.

Credits towards MBA or MM to other degrees
Students may be granted credits for this tour at international partner schools however please note that the granting of credits is based on the credit weighting exchange between the WBS MBA and other international programmes.

Pass mark for this course
In order to pass the study tour, a student must obtain a minimum of 50% as a final mark subject to the subminimum rule.

Fees
Students must register for the Global Business Study Tour (BUSA 7442A) in order to pay the travel component cost for the study tour. Students will be advised as to the Rand value that has to be paid for the study tour of their choice. The deadline for the choice of study tour and payments will be communicated to students by the School’s International Office. Failure to pay the full fee for the Global Study Tour in advance or failure to attend the tour for whatever reason will still hold the student liable for the full amount as indicated for the selected tour package. Please note that fees may not involve the same costing as certain travel destinations are cheaper than others. Also note that whenever indicated students will be responsible for their own transport and cost of meals and incidentals on each tour. Tour leaders do not carry additional funds to allow for students who do not make personal provision for their own expenses.

Allocation of Marks
The mark composition for each assignment will comprise a combination of marks awarded for assignment projects and field work, both individual and syndicate work. The mark allocation for the course is detailed in the course pack.

Syndicates may apply to have non-performing members excluded from the syndicate mark for their assignment, or have a portion of the total mark allocated to the non-performing student.

Publication of Final Course Results
The results of the global study tour will be published by the Faculty Office as soon as possible, normally within four weeks from assignment submission.

Disputes and Grievances
Any disputes or grievances that arise as a result of the application of, or failure to apply, the provisions of these Standing Orders should be managed within the Faculty’s existing appeals and grievance procedure. Problems should always be resolved as close to the source as possible. The grievance procedure policy and applicable forms are available from the Faculty Office.

Code of Conduct
All students will abide by the daily dress code as indicated by the Tour Leader depending on the daily schedule of events and places visited.

Students are also advised that whilst they are encouraged to enjoy the tour, they are reminded that they are participating in a Wits Study Tour programme and are not traveling for their own leisure purposes. As such, the prime focus is on teaching and learning and at all times students will need to participate in all prescribed activities and field visits.

Students are advised to heed the guidance and instruction of the designated Tour Leader on each trip. In addition, students are advised to serve as professional ambassadors of Wits University and the Wits Business School at all times whilst on tour. Students are also advised to download a copy of the Wits Student Code of Conduct to familiarise themselves with the policy.

During visits, students are to ensure that all mobile phones are switched off.
Students are to be punctual for all visits, failure to attend a visit without a valid reason will render your attendance as incomplete.

Failure to adhere to the above could result in a disciplinary action being lodged against the student.

Recording of Global Study Tour Activities
Business visit sessions may only be recorded (by audio, images or video) with the express written permission of that organisation. Students will be required to agree in writing that:

- recordings will only be used for purposes of their own private study and revision;
- recordings will not be copied, shared, communicated, published or distributed in any format whatsoever and using any medium whatsoever, unless requested to do so by the lecturer;
- unedited copies recordings will be provided to the lecturer if requested to do so; and
- Copyright of all recordings remain the property of the University.

It is noted that infringement of any of these conditions may result in disciplinary action being taken against the student.

Choose one of the following assignments
1		Provide a PEST ANALYSIS of a South African company entering Mauritius.
	OR
2	Provide a country risk profile for a company of your choice.
	OR
3	Formulate a Business plan for a South African idea that could be sold in Mauritius.
	OR
4	Discuss what you have learnt or gained from the trip:
a.			Discuss what you have learnt from the amazing race. What was new or different from what you have experienced before? Please include a picture to demonstrate this.
b.			Thoroughly discuss each business meeting. Give some background information about the company and environment that it operates in and highlight your key learning points from each meeting (at least 3 per meeting)
c.			Please discuss any other key learning points that you gained from going on this trip. This can be anything you learnt either about yourself, the country, the people, your fellow travellers or anything not covered in the two tasks above.

Criterion	Mark
Application to the integration of theories developed and learnt throughout the MBA programme	30
Application of the theory to the relevant case study selected	30
Research and use of relevant data to complement situation analysis	30
Presentation: Referencing, style, etc.	10
TOTAL	100