Video Recording
Session Summary:
On Tuesday 20 July at 5:30 pm CAT. Professor Benjamin Anderson, CEO/Director of The Da Vinci Institute presented and lead the discussions related to “The Fifth Industrial Revolution – can the dance save us from our own demise?” Over the past few centuries, Homo Sapiens made several attempts to lure colleagues, co-workers, and innocent citizens to participate in what has been defined as the Industrial Revolutions. To a large degree, these revolutions impacted with great effect on the biodiversity (including people) of the world. Things have moved forward and backward, resulting in, amongst others eco-systemic dissonance. The Fifth Industrial Revolution (5IR) needs to consider whether a dance between technology and people could win the world some time to reflect, rethink and reset the way we intend to show up. If we are interested in observing the status quo on current megatrends we may find innovative ways to facilitate a more sustainable tomorrow.
Presented by Prof Benjamin Anderson
CEO/Director of The Da Vinci Institute
Ben enrolled for his undergraduate studies at the beginning of 1979, at the University of the Free State. After completing his Bachelors degrees in Philosophy, Psychology and Theology he continued with post graduate studies in both Theology and Psychology, concluding a Masters degree in Psychology during 1989. During this period he worked part time to sustain his academic development journey. He formally started his career as a registered Psychologist during 1990 and became involved in student and academic development matters at the University of the Free State.
During the mid-ninety’s he became involved in community related activities in the Free State region, involving the development of working adults in a post-apartheid system. These engagements with both public and private sector organisations as well as labour unions resulted in him registering for a PhD focusing on the learning development needs of working adults in South Africa. One of the outcomes of his PhD was the development of a Bachelors degree in Managerial Leadership for working adult learners. As a result of this development, the University of the Free State agreed to establish a Business School which would offer, amongst other, a Bachelors degree in Managerial Leadership (BML) and a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA). Ben joined the Business School as one of the founding members in 1999. He was appointed as an Associate Professor at the University of the Free State at beginning of 2000 and awarded his PhD soon thereafter.
He joined the FirstRand Group during 2000 as the Chief Learning Officer for FNB, tasked to establish a for profit learning entity within the FirstRand group of companies, based on the work done at the University of the Free State. For the next 5 years he had extensive exposure to business related activities as experienced within a corporative context. Amongst other milestones, FNB Learning was registered as an accredited education and training provider.
During 2005 Ben joined forces with Prof Roy Marcus to establish the Da Vinci Institute, a registered private higher education provider. He was accountable for the design, development and registration of a Certificate in the Management of Technology and Innovation, a Diploma in the Management of Technology and Innovation, a Bachelors of Commerce (Business Management), a Masters in the Management of Technology and Innovation and a PhD in the Management of Technology and Innovation. Ben has delivered several conference papers on managerial leadership development, at both international and national conferences. He has been involved as Chief Executive officer for the Da Vinci Institute since its formal registration and accreditation in 2005.
The Da Vinci Institute for Technology Management (PTY) Ltd (DaVinci) is registered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) as a Private Higher Education provider under the Higher Education Act 1997, registration no. 2004/ HE07/003. The
Institute offers higher education qualifications in the distance mode of delivery, accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
The Institute’s strategic intent is to strengthen the growth of agile, aligned and engaged leaders, who co-create innovative ecosystems and sustainable transformational societies. To align with this strategic intent, Da Vinci facilitates the holistic development of diverse leaders, incorporating excellence in the management of technology, innovation, people and systemic thinking in all offerings. Through its engagement with an approach to knowledge
production called Mode 2, Da Vinci is focused on the creation of knowledge that is trans-disciplinary in nature, socially relevant, actively promotes diversity and heterogeneity, and of which the intent is to apply situated learning, problem probing and decision making, to solve work-based challenges, and contribute towards the professional development of the people involved.
Da Vinci prepares entrepreneurs, prospective managers and business leaders to take control of their working environments, by integrating a framework into its programmes called the TIPSTM Managerial Leadership Framework (This looks at the Management of Technology, Innovation and People in a Systemic way) that contributes to the overarching field of Business Leadership and promotes agility, alignment and engagement of people at work. By facilitating a true mode 2 learning experience for our students and sponsors alike, The Institute’s approach can meet ever-changing organisational performance needs.
