Articles / Leadership Course UJ: University of Johannesburg Executive Education
Development, Training & CoachingExplore leadership courses at University of Johannesburg. Discover executive development, coaching programmes, and emerging leaders training at UJ.
Written by Laura Bouttell • Thu 26th August 2027
Leadership courses at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) provide South African professionals with executive development rooted in African business realities. Through the College of Business and Economics and Johannesburg Business School, UJ offers programmes ranging from emerging leader development to advanced executive coaching at NQF Level 9. This comprehensive portfolio addresses leadership needs across career stages whilst maintaining the academic rigour expected from one of South Africa's leading metropolitan universities.
For Gauteng-based professionals and those throughout South Africa, UJ leadership courses combine theoretical foundation with practical application relevant to the continent's largest economy.
The University of Johannesburg structures leadership development across multiple levels:
Core programme offerings:
| Programme | NQF Level | Target Audience | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Leadership Development | CEP Level | Executive leaders | Part-time |
| Senior Leadership Development | SLP Level | Senior managers | Part-time |
| Executive Leadership Coaching | Level 9 (82 credits) | Coach practitioners | Part-time |
| Emerging Leaders Programme | Internal | UJ staff | 6 months |
Department responsibility: The Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management within the College of Business and Economics administers most leadership programmes, ensuring psychological foundations underpin development approaches.
UJ distinguishes between executive and senior leadership tracks:
Executive Leadership Development (Programme Code: PD6EXL): This Continuous Education Programme provides personal and professional leadership skills for executive leaders, equipping them to function effectively at required work levels within organisational contexts.
Senior Leadership Development: This Short Learning Programme addresses personal and professional leadership skills for senior leaders, ensuring effective and efficient functioning at appropriate organisational levels.
Key distinction: Executive programmes target C-suite and executive committee members; senior programmes serve the tier immediately below, preparing for executive transition.
The Executive Leadership Development Programme targets specific professionals:
Entry requirements:
Programme purpose: To provide personal and professional leadership skills for executive leaders so that they are equipped to effectively and efficiently function at their required level of work within their organisational context.
Development areas include:
Delivery approach:
The part-time format accommodates working executives, combining intensive sessions with practical application between modules.
UJ's Executive Leadership Coaching programme represents advanced professional development:
Programme specifications: - NQF Level: 9 (postgraduate level) - Credits: 82 credits - Programme Code: S3I01Q - Delivery: Part-time - Department: Industrial Psychology and People Management
This significant credit weighting indicates substantial depth beyond typical short courses.
Admission requires demonstrated academic and professional foundation:
Academic requirements: - Relevant Honours degree (NQF 8) required - Acceptable disciplines include: - Psychology - Industrial/Organisational Psychology - Human Resources Management - Leadership - Management - Any degree focused on human behaviour or leadership/management
Purpose statement: "To develop at an advanced level the applied competence in professional executive leadership coaching."
| Institution | Level | Credits | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| UJ Executive Leadership Coaching | NQF 9 | 82 | Executive coaching |
| Typical ICF programmes | Varies | Variable | General coaching |
| University certificates | NQF 7-8 | 15-30 | Foundation coaching |
| Master's programmes | NQF 9 | 180 | Research-based |
UJ's offering occupies a distinctive space—substantial credit weight without full Master's commitment.
The Senior Leadership Development Programme serves different needs:
Target participants: - Senior management leadership positions - Nominated by workplace or client - One tier below executive level - Preparing for potential executive advancement
Programme purpose: "To provide personal and professional leadership skills for senior leaders so that they are equipped to effectively and efficiently function at their required level of work within the organisational context."
Key differences:
| Factor | Senior Programme | Executive Programme |
|---|---|---|
| Career stage | Senior management | Executive/C-suite |
| Strategic scope | Functional/divisional | Enterprise-wide |
| Development focus | Preparation for executive | Performance at executive |
| Nomination basis | Advancement potential | Current role demands |
Both programmes emphasise workplace nomination rather than individual application, indicating organisational investment in participant development.
Developed from Leadership Development Task Team recommendations, this programme serves internal UJ staff:
Programme characteristics: - Duration: 6 months - Target: UJ employees - Focus: Basic understanding of masterful leadership - Framework: Three-dimensional leadership universe
The programme's conceptual framework encompasses:
1. Me (Self-Leadership): Personal development and individual effectiveness foundations.
2. We (Team Leadership): Interpersonal dynamics and collective performance.
3. World (Organisational/Societal Leadership): Broader context and systemic perspective.
This framework positions individual development within progressively wider spheres of influence—a common approach in contemporary leadership development.
Johannesburg Business School provides additional executive education:
JBS positioning: "At Johannesburg Business School, we are dedicated to delivering cutting-edge education that equips students with relevant knowledge and skills, with an innovative teaching approach rooted in the authentic African context."
Notable short programmes:
| Factor | College of Business and Economics | Johannesburg Business School |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Industrial Psychology base | Business school approach |
| Programme type | CEP and SLP programmes | Executive education courses |
| Delivery | Part-time continuous | Short intensive formats |
| Framework | Psychological foundations | Business practice orientation |
Both serve leadership development; approach and emphasis differ.
The Department of Education Leadership and Management provides sector-specific development:
Programme levels: - ACE Leadership course - Honours level - Masters level
Departmental strength: "The strength of the Department lies in the teaching of the ACE Leadership course, Honours and Masters levels where there is concentration of modules that enable students to delve into issues, theories, practices and case studies that will prepare them for leadership positions in schools and the educational sector."
Target audiences: - School principals and aspiring principals - Educational administrators - Department heads in educational institutions - Policy makers in education sector - Educational system leaders
UJ's programmes reflect continental context:
African orientation elements: - Business examples from African organisations - Recognition of diverse stakeholder environments - Ubuntu and communal leadership concepts - Emerging market leadership challenges - Post-colonial institutional navigation
Johannesburg advantage: Location in Africa's most economically developed city provides access to continental headquarters and pan-African business networks.
Leadership approaches developed in Western contexts may not transfer directly:
Distinctive African leadership considerations:
Application pathway:
Organisational decision factors:
| Factor | University of Johannesburg | Wits Business School | UCT GSB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global ranking | Regional focus | Top 100 Executive Ed | Top-ranked African |
| Location | Multiple Johannesburg campuses | Parktown | Cape Town |
| Orientation | Metropolitan university | Research university | Research university |
| Accessibility | Broader access focus | Selective | Highly selective |
| Specialisation | Industrial Psychology base | Business School | Business School |
Each institution serves different market segments and needs.
UJ advantages:
UJ offers Executive Leadership Development (for executives), Senior Leadership Development (for senior managers), Executive Leadership Coaching (NQF Level 9, 82 credits), and the internal Emerging Leaders Programme. The Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management administers most programmes through the College of Business and Economics. Johannesburg Business School offers additional executive education options.
The Executive Leadership Coaching programme requires a relevant Honours degree (NQF 8) in Psychology, Industrial/Organisational Psychology, Human Resources Management, Leadership, Management, or any discipline focused on human behaviour or leadership/management. The programme is worth 82 credits at NQF Level 9, making it a substantial postgraduate qualification.
The UJ Emerging Leaders Programme runs for six months and is designed for UJ staff. The programme develops basic understanding of masterful leadership through a three-dimensional framework covering Me (self-leadership), We (team leadership), and World (organisational/societal leadership).
Yes, most UJ leadership programmes require nomination by the client or workplace rather than individual application. Candidates must already be in executive or senior management leadership positions appropriate to the programme level. This nomination requirement ensures organisational commitment to participant development and post-programme application.
Executive Leadership Development targets executives already in C-suite or executive committee roles, whilst Senior Leadership Development serves senior managers one tier below. Both provide personal and professional leadership skills, but Executive programmes address enterprise-level strategic functioning whilst Senior programmes prepare participants for potential executive advancement.
Johannesburg Business School offers executive education with explicit focus on the "authentic African context" and innovative teaching approaches. JBS provides short programmes like "Management Consulting for the 4IR" and "The Storytelling Leader," complementing the longer continuous education programmes offered through the College of Business and Economics.
Yes, the Department of Education Leadership and Management offers specialised programmes including the ACE Leadership course, Honours, and Masters levels. These prepare participants for leadership positions in schools and the educational sector, covering relevant theories, practices, and case studies for educational contexts.
The University of Johannesburg provides comprehensive leadership development addressing South African and African professional needs. From emerging leader foundations to advanced executive coaching qualifications, UJ's portfolio serves multiple career stages and organisational requirements.
The Industrial Psychology foundation distinguishes UJ from pure business school approaches, bringing behavioural science rigour to leadership development. The nomination requirement ensures participants engage with organisational support, increasing likelihood of post-programme application.
For South African professionals seeking leadership development with academic credibility and African relevance, UJ merits serious consideration. The range of programmes, from short learning programmes to substantial NQF Level 9 qualifications, enables matching development investment to individual circumstances and organisational needs.
The university's metropolitan mission—serving the broader Johannesburg professional community—creates accessibility often absent from more selective institutions. This accessibility, combined with programme quality, positions UJ as a significant player in South African executive education.