Race and Business Ethics in South Africa

In Race and Business Ethics in South Africa, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the historical and contemporary experience of racial minorities from a global perspective. Business leaders, community leaders, and students are seeking knowledge about the ways corporations and institutions have participated in historical and structural racism. Internal and external stakeholders are asking difficult questions about corporate social responsibility in light of these troubling histories.

While in South Africa, you'll gain an awareness of the historical dimensions of corporate social responsibility and learn more about the intellectual, social, and economic processes of racialization. Furthermore, you'll begin to build an understanding of the questions involved in determining what the concept of justice may be for a given society: how it contributes to flourishing, how it serves as a constraint to behavior, and what it means for a society to operate in its absence. Corporate leaders now and in the future must confront the internal contradictions of a system seemingly predicated on inequality -- and one in which Black people are overrepresented at the bottom of all social well-being metrics. The question is: can values acquisition and innovation within capitalism lead to more positive outcomes for racialized minorities and a renewal of African and U.S. economies on more just grounds?

A photo slide show of the location put together by Dr. Paul Harper is available to view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCEl4bf21-4&ab_channel=PaulT.HarperPhD

Participants will be hosted by the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), an AACSB-accredited affiliate of the University of Pretoria and one of the top business schools in the nation.

Please be advised that this is a six-week course with travel and virtual classroom components:

May 1, 2024: Departure for South Africa (recommended)
May 2-13: On-site activities in Johannesburg, South Africa
May 16 - June 13: Class will take place virtually (Zoom) each Thursday from 6:30-9pm Eastern

What You'll Accomplish:

Explore South African history with visits to the Apartheid Museum, Mandela House, and Constitution Hill;
Learn about the modern business culture of South Africa through corporate visits to the headquarters of African and U.S. firms;
Hear a guest lecture from Dr. Wendy Orr, a former healthcare worker and human rights activist in the Apartheid era;
Immerse yourself in the vibrant cultural landscape of Johannesburg through arts and entertainment events;
Enjoy an overnight safari excursion at Pilanesburg!

Johannesburg is among the top 30 most populous cities in the world and the economic engine of South Africa. The capital of Gauteng province, its modern history began as a gold and diamond mining center. The city underwent rapid expansion in the early decades of the 20th century; the disparities between its wealthy center and impoverished townships came to define apartheid in South Africa. It later became a major site of Black African resistance to that system. Today, Joburg is home to many of South Africa's major corporations and its largest stock exchange, with a diverse economy encompassing heavy industry, banking, IT, real estate, and health care.

Where You'll Live:

Housing will be provided for participants in Sandton, a suburban neighborhood that is home to GIBS as well as the headquarters of many major South African corporations. You'll have easy access to shopping and restaurants in nearby Nelson Mandela Square; most activities will be in walking distance of the group's accommodations.
Participants will be placed in hotel or dormitory-style housing. No kitchen facilities will be available. Some meals will be provided for the group and are included in the program fees.

What You'll Study:

Participants will be enrolled in BUSENV1757, a 3-credit summer course that is open to all Pitt undergraduates regardless of major or school. The course fulfills the following requirements:

Satisfies CBA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion course requirement
Satisfies a portion of the elective requirements for the CBA major in Human Resources Management
Satisfies a portion of the elective requirements for the CBA Certificate Program in Leadership & Ethics
Satisfies a portion of the CBA Humanities course elective requirement

Race & Business Ethics (BUSENV1757)

The Race and Business Ethics course is designed to give students the confidence and ability to address pressing social issues that are affecting corporate decision-making. Corporate leaders are making heavy investments in training and leadership programming to build a deeper understanding of racial injustice with the hope of bringing about a more fair and equitable society. The pressure on leaders to envision social issues as a part of corporate strategy comes from internal and external stakeholders and is consistent with the rise of important business movements that include sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Topics addressed in the course include African-American entrepreneurship, white racial identity, theories of justice, and structural racism, among others.

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts:

Dr. Philip Hnatkovich

Hi I'm Phil Hnatkovich and I'm a Global Experiences Manager in the College of Business Administration. I've worked in higher education for nearly two decades, both as a lecturer and as a study abroad manager. I came to the field of international education after years of international study, beginning with language and cultural studies in Acadie, then historical research in French, Cornish, and English port communities and pirate havens, and finally as a co-founder of an international digital educational program aimed at transcribing historical documents from the 17th century. I'm thrilled to help students find their own paths from travel to professional opportunity!

E-mail:

phil.hnatkovich@pitt.edu

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Your In-Country Contacts:

Dr. Paul Harper

Dr. Paul T. Harper is Clinical Associate Professor of Business Administration as well as the Associate Dean of Inclusion, Engagement & International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business. Dr. Harper has developed a research agenda around racial justice where he is interested in understanding the social policies and economic forces that continue to challenge the flourishing of US domestic minority professionals and entrepreneurs. In addition to his work on race, Dr. Harper has become widely known throughout the US and abroad for his work in building partnerships with burgeoning Israeli businesses and other technologically progressive countries through academic and professional engagement.

E-mail:

ptharper@katz.pitt.edu

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Dr. Jennifer Petrie

Dr. Jennifer Petrie is the Assistant Director of the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership in the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business and College of Business Administration. Jennifer does research in ethics education, service learning, international education policy, and diversity and leadership.

E-mail:

jlpetrie@business.pitt.edu

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!

Log in to Pathways or use the Navigate app.
Select Appointments > Schedule an Appointment
Select Pitt Global as the Care Unit.
Select Study Abroad Virtual Advising as the Location
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Select my name and find a time that works for you!

Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me!

Items Billed by Pitt
	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition	$2,814	$3,014
Program Fee	$2,686	$2,686
Study Abroad Fee	$300	$300
Total Billed by Pitt	$5,800	$6,000

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs
Airfare		~$2,000
Personal Expenses		~$250-$500

Scholarship Opportunities

InterCultural Project Scholarship Competition: The first 15 students to submit a complete Race & Ethics program application by December 15, 2023 will receive an automatic $1,000 scholarship courtesy of InterCultural Project. Note that this award is conditional upon acceptance into the Race & Ethics program in January 2024 and is only applicable to this program. Awardees must meet all requirements for study abroad set forth by the Pitt Global Experiences Office.
Nationality Room Scholarships: Program applicants are eligible for two $5,000 scholarships awarded annually by the Pitt African Heritage Room Committee: the Wendell L. Wray Memorial Award and the in Memory of Ms. Betty J. Tilman Award. This year, students in the Race & Business Ethics program are also eligible for additional $1,000 scholarship awards offered by the African Heritage Room Committee. The deadline for all of these scholarships is December 1, 2023 and information on how to apply may be found here.
The College of Business Administration Global Experiences Scholarship: Applicants may apply via PittFund$Me and additional information on the requirements and process are available here.

What's Included:

As a part of your Race & Ethics in South Africa fee, the following are included in the program:

Tuition for 3 credits
Housing
Some meals
Health Insurance
Airport Transfers
On-Site Transportation
Excursions

Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad. Visit our Budgeting page for more information.

When You'll Go:

This is a six-week course with travel and virtual components:

May 1, 2024: Departure for South Africa (recommended)
May 2-13: On-site activities in Johannesburg, South Africa
May 16 - June 13: Class will take place virtually (Zoom) each Thursday from 6:30-9pm Eastern

What Else You Need to Know:

Scholarship Opportunities

InterCultural Project Scholarship Competition: The first 15 students to submit a complete Race & Ethics program application by December 15, 2023 will receive an automatic $1,000 scholarship courtesy of InterCultural Project. Note that this award is conditional upon acceptance into the Race & Ethics program in January 2024 and is only applicable to this program. Awardees must meet all requirements for study abroad set forth by the Pitt Global Experiences Office.
Nationality Room Scholarships: Program applicants are eligible for two $5,000 scholarships awarded annually by the Pitt African Heritage Room Committee: the Wendell L. Wray Memorial Award and the in Memory of Ms. Betty J. Tilman Award. This year, students in the Race & Business Ethics program are also eligible for additional $1,000 scholarship awards offered by the African Heritage Room Committee. The deadline for all of these scholarships is December 1, 2023 and information on how to apply may be found here.
The College of Business Administration Global Experiences Scholarship: Applicants may apply via PittFund$Me and additional information on the requirements and process are available here.