Boston City Campus hosts the first US-based Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) conference on African soil
5–7 November 2026 | STIAS, Stellenbosch
The story
For the first time, the US-based Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) is bringing its Region 8 Conference to Africa, hosted by Boston City Campus. Region 8 represents member institutions spanning Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Oceania, and parts of Asia, making it one of the organisation’s most diverse and globally connected regions. This event will host more than 150 deans, academics and industry leaders from four continents will tackle one theme: The AI Revolution: Reshaping Business, Reinventing Education and Transforming Our World.
Why business should care
Nearly nine in ten university students already use AI in their studies, but institutions are adapting far more slowly. For South African employers, that gap shows up in the hiring pipeline. According to Statistics South Africa’s Q2 2026 QLFS data, graduate unemployment remains high as it increased by approximately 345 000 to 8.5 million, while employment declined marginally by 16 000 to approximately 16.7 million.
Despite the high unemployment rate, businesses struggle to find people with AI literacy, digital skills and critical thinking. If business schools keep teaching skills that are already being automated, business pays the price.
Boston City Campus spokespeople address these themes:
- The future of work: What does it mean to be work-ready in an AI-first world?
Ari Katz (CEO) can explore how AI is reshaping the workplace, redefining employer expectations and changing what it means to be career-ready. He can discuss why AI literacy, critical thinking and sound judgement are becoming essential graduate competencies. Graduates need to do more than simply use AI; they must know how to question, interpret, challenge and apply its outputs responsibly.
- The value of a qualification in the AI era.
Dr Rob Stegmann (Head of Institution, CHE Accreditation Committee) can address academic integrity, authentic assessment and how institutions demonstrate that graduates have genuinely acquired the knowledge and competencies their qualifications represent.
- The changing role of the educator.
Matthew de Roos (Head of Strategic Planning and Operations) can share how AI is transforming teaching and academic work, and why educators themselves need to adapt, reskill and embrace new ways of facilitating learning.
Why Boston City Campus?
Boston City Campus was the first private higher education provider in South Africa to earn ACBSP accreditation for selected business programmes, and the first DHET-registered private institution admitted to the Association of African Universities (AAU). It is also accredited by the UK’s British Accreditation Council (BAC) and has more than 50 Support Centres nationwide.
About Boston City Campus
Boston City Campus is a leading private higher education institution in South Africa, offering accredited qualifications from higher certificate to MBA. Founded in 1991, Boston delivers its higher education programmes through an Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) model, supported by over 50 Support Centres across all nine provinces in South Africa. It holds international accreditation from the ACBSP (US) and BAC (UK) and is a member of the Association of African Universities (AAU). Boston City Campus is registered with the DHET as a private higher education institution under the Higher Education Act, 1997 (Act No. 101 of 1997). Registration Certificate No. 2003/HE07/002.
