Henley Business School Africa, part of the University of Reading, UK, has joined the Future of Management Education (FOME) Alliance, bringing the total number of members to 14. The Alliance unites leading business schools from North America, Asia, Europe, and, with the addition of Henley Africa, to develop and deliver immersive and highly engaging online and hybrid business education experiences.
“We are pleased to welcome Henley Business School Africa to the FOME Alliance,” said Harald Øverby, Chair of the FOME Alliance and Special Advisor for AI and Technology at BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo. “Their membership further strengthens our collective commitment to developing innovative, internationally focused degree programmes. Together, we provide students with the flexibility to shape their studies and the opportunity to engage with leading faculty and researchers across our global network.”
Founded in 2018, the FOME Alliance is a leader in online management education. By pooling expertise across its network, FOME delivers flexible, engaging programmes that meet the needs of today’s busy and often on-the-go learners. The Alliance tests new technologies, shares best practices, and drives research to ensure innovation in online business education. Its evidence-based approach keeps FOME at the forefront of EdTech and global management learning.
The founders of FOME envisioned an alliance that would unite leading business schools around a shared digital platform, one that would give them access to high-quality online courses taught by some of the world’s most renowned academic experts. Recognising the substantial investment required for digital course development and advanced technologies, they established a collaborative model that distributes costs equitably among members. Founders also wanted to create a supportive space where course designers could share best practices, test learning technologies, and create engaging and effective learning experiences.
“Bringing Henley Africa into the FOME family makes perfect sense,” said Steve Muylle, Deputy Chair of the FOME Alliance and Professor at Vlerick Business School in Brussels. “Henley Africa brings a distinctive perspective and deep regional expertise that will enrich our international network and enhance the learning opportunities we provide to students and executives worldwide.”
Henley Africa, ranked in the top 100 and top 25 in MBA and executive education, respectively, by The Financial Times, has a long history of success in educating future leaders in Africa. From its campus in Johannesburg, Henley Africa offers a variety of programmes and short courses for managers and business leaders at all levels of experience. In addition to its flagship Executive MBA programme offered in two formats (global and flexible), Henley Africa offers undergraduate options, including a one-year Work Readiness Programme for recent high school graduates, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management practice, and a Doctorate in Business Administration.
Henley Africa is also actively engaged in a broad range of research relevant to the African context, including around artificial intelligence (AI), digital learning, Virtual Reality (VR), and immersive learning. The school's research aims to transform perspectives, encourage debate, and provide real-world solutions to pressing issues in African business and society, ensuring accessibility to a wide audience.
"Joining FOME is a pivotal step toward our goal of becoming the number one AI business school in Africa by 2030,” said Jon Foster-Pedley, Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global Engagement (Sub-Saharan Africa) at the University of Reading and Dean of Henley Africa. “This alliance gives us an unparalleled opportunity to learn, share, and co-create the future of management education alongside top-tier global institutions. We'll be leveraging the full power of AI, online, and digital learning, ensuring that our students, delegates, and staff receive a world-class education that is innovative, relevant, and prepares them to lead in the age of AI.
“As such, this ties into our mission to build the people, who build the businesses, that build Africa.”
All of Henley Africa’s programmes are offered part-time to ensure that students can work while they study, and many of its programmes can be customised to address the specific needs of corporate clients. The school is committed to advancing sustainability and correcting historic economic imbalances. Henley Africa is proud to hold Level 1 status (the highest possible) for two consecutive years as part of South Africa’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment legislation.
"As the first African business school in this prestigious alliance, we're not just another member – we are a voice for the continent,” said Jonathan Stock, Head of Innovation at Henley Africa. “Henley Africa will bring a vital African perspective to the global stage and share our expertise in integrating technologies like VR and AI into the learning experience. We have already hit the ground running, joining key task forces on Teaching & Learning, EdTech, and AI to ensure our insights contribute directly to keeping business education around the world current, relevant, and impactful."