Museums programme to fill vacuum in leaderships skills
Students who want to learn how to run a museum can now do so, thanks to a new museums leadership programme aimed at people who are already working in a museum or related field. The programme is the brainchild of Professor Jack Lohman, CEO of Iziko Museums of Cape Town, who approached the UCT Graduate School of Business to develop the Museums Leadership Development Programme.
A five week modular based course will address the leadership vacuum in the museums industry and in particular address the lack of leaders from previously disadvantaged groups. The first of its kind in South Africa, the programme will straddle academic and business skills applications and will also address the role of museums in a rapidly changing society. "The leadership development programme will teach future museum leaders how to use a range of specific business and entrepreneurial tools to their best advantage," said Lohman. "Museums need to think outwardly to attract the public and to become more business focused and encourage self funding to survive.
"The programme will enable them to achieve excellence, focus resources, deliver high quality services and meet the challenges which museums face in this era of constant transformation." Programme modules will make use of philosophical discussions and practical training on site at of one of the fifteen Iziko Museums in the Western Cape. There will be a strong focus on group work and self-awareness, and areas to be discussed include understanding motivation, team building and managing behaviour.
It is expected that the first intake for the museum leadership development programme will be in November.
Inquries
Contact: Evelyn Holtzhausen / Christine Skinner
Tel: (021) 462 0416
Fax: (021) 462 0427
Email: christine@hwb.co.za
