IBUS 6090: Innovating for Impact in South Africa
Graduate Global Enrichment in South AfricaProgram Dates:
-Applications open for selection by lottery noon April 17, 2025 to noon May 1, 2025
Class Sessions: Thursdays 3:45 - 5:25 pm, 2025 Fall Semester
Overseas Program: Sunday, January 4, 2026 - Friday, January 16, 2026; dates subject to change
IBUS 3090: Innovating for Impact in South Africa
Discover how business can be a force for good in this dynamic course on social entrepreneurship!
Program Details
Discover how business can be a force for good in this dynamic course on social entrepreneurship! In this course you'll explore how organizations drive meaningful social and environmental change while remaining financially sustainable. Concluding with a 2-week experience in South Africa, you will dive into the country’s vibrant social entrepreneurship ecosystem. From meeting visionary entrepreneurs and impact investors to visiting cutting-edge social enterprises and incubators, you’ll gain firsthand insight into how innovation and purpose are reshaping economies—and leave equipped to lead with impact in an ever-evolving business landscape
This course offers Carlson students the chance to immerse themselves in South Africa’s vibrant social entrepreneurship ecosystem, where businesses are actively addressing critical issues like poverty, inequality, environmental sustainability, and access to education and healthcare. Engaging with South African organizations that tackle these challenges will resonate deeply with students, offering them firsthand experience and unique perspectives into how businesses can balance purpose with profit. South Africa’s urban centers, including Johannesburg and Cape Town, are dynamic learning environments offering unmatched opportunities for engagement with social enterprises, NGOs, and businesses that innovate for social good.
The program hotel(s) will be conveniently located to program activities. Hotel specifics will be provided to participants in the program orientation. Because networking and community-building are essential components of the program, the expectation is that students will share a room with another program participant. If there are other accommodations that would support a student's access and inclusion on the program, there is an opportunity to request such preferences in the Housing Request Form after confirmation in the program. Guests are not permitted during the program. Breakfast will be provided daily at the hotels. A welcome dinner and closing dinner are also included in the program fee.
- 4 credits
- A-F grading
- FT MBA students
U.S. citizens will need a valid passport to travel to South Africa. If you already have a passport, you need to check the expiration date and confirm that it is more than seven months after the program ends. If you do not have a passport, or your passport needs to be renewed, you will need to apply for one immediately upon confirmation.
A visa is a document that proves that travel into a particular country has been approved by their governing body. U.S. citizens do not need a visa for up to 90 days for tourism. Non-U.S. passport holders should check with the South African consulate regarding visa requirements and fees. A consulate is a foreign government's official place of residence and representation in a foreign country. While consulates provide passports, birth registration, and many other services, they also have consular sections which issue visas for foreign citizens to visit, study, and work in their country. If you carry a passport other than a U.S. passport and are required to carry a visa into South Africa, you will be responsible for securing your visa; you will work closely with the Program Manager (Mary Krebs) to make sure you have any University-specific documentation that you need.
To apply, please visit the Apply page. Students will be charged a $50 application fee. The application cycle starts on April 17, 2025 at 12:00 pm (noon) and the priority deadline is 12:00 pm (noon) on May 1, 2025. Applications for programs that do not fill by the priority deadline will be accepted on a rolling basis until full. Applications to competitive programs will be selected via lottery. Students will be informed of their application decision by noon on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Most financial aid may be applied to study abroad. University of Minnesota students are eligible for education abroad scholarships. Please see Financial Aid and Scholarships for more information.
Up to 10 Carlson Full Time MBA students
Classes are Thursdays 3:45-5:25pm, 2025 Fall Semester. This course will be taught by Morgan Kerfeld, Associate Director of the Gary S. Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship. The pre-departure classes are a fundamental component of the curriculum. These pre-departure classes are partly discussion-based given the broad range of diverse and complex challenges faced in international business, and therefore the quality of the student experience is dependent upon all students attending and participating in the pre-departure classes.
In order to be eligible to participate in the international portion of this class, students must maintain satisfactory academic performance as determined by the instructor. If your academic performance prevents you from participating in the international component of the course, you will not receive a refund of the program fee. Please bring any concerns about this directly to the Program Manager (Mary Krebs).
The program starts with a cultural activity and welcome dinner. The program includes guest lectures, company visits, and cultural activities. Included in the program is time for a small amount of independent exploration.
Please contact Program Manager, Mary Krebs, if you have additional questions about the schedule.
Cost
Fees are based on estimates and may change due to international economic factors and all other listed costs are subject to change prior to departure. This information applies to 2025-2026 programs.
| 2025-2026 Tuition for 4 academic credits (included in the tuition plateau unless you are not enrolled full-time in your degree program) | $0 |
| Program Fee (including group lodging, program events, regional transportation*, breakfast daily, two group meals, and international health insurance**) | Estimated $4,112 to be approved for 2026 |
| International airfare to and from Minnesota to South Africa | Estimated $2,145 |
| Hotel Accommodation (included in Program Fee, above) | $0 |
| Passport and Photos*** | $165 |
| Textbooks | $0 |
| Daily Living Expenses (local transportation, incidentals, required international data and calling, laundry, etc.) | $400 |
| Meals (lunch and dinners not included in Program Fee) | $300 |
| Total Estimate | Estimated $7,122 pending fee approval |
| *Does not include estimated $25-50 baggage fee for regional flight | |
| ** Students should maintain their U.S.-based health insurance plan while abroad. | |
| *** Costs are estimated for U.S. passport holders only. Non-U.S. passport holders should check with the South African consulate regarding the visa application process and costs. |