The Community Individual Development Trust (CIDT), pioneers of the free university education movement in South Africa, has acquired a 26% percent shareholding in Mortimer Harvey. The agency will also have a key role in the CIDT’s Maharishi Institute with the establishment of the Mortimer Harvey Design Incubator as an integral part of the Institute’s curriculum.
In terms of this relationship all of the agency’s excess computer equipment will be reinstalled at the Maharishi campus in central Johannesburg with the aim of fostering creative talent that will be managed and facilitated by the agency’s own staff in their own time, in partnership with industry tertiary institutions. In addition, Mortimer Harvey will be supporting the Maharishi “Learn and Earn” model by outsourcing services where applicable.
Dr. Taddy Blecher, CEO of CIDT says he is both excited and encouraged by the partnership between CIDT, the Maharashi Institute and Mortimer Harvey. “The agency has set an excellent example of how the private sector can play a meaningful role to educate, train and participate in the future well being of our youth.’
“The vision of the Maharishi Institute is to provide free tertiary education, showcasing South Africa as a leading innovator in education provision, and supporting the worldwide movement of Consciousness-Based Education becomes reality. The Institute is a special place where talented people have dedicated their lives to providing the financial, technological, and infrastructural assistance to students who, otherwise, would never be able to achieve their true potential. It is the gateway, a nurturing haven,
where South Africa’s youth can learn, grow, gain experience and become economically participative members of society.’
“The principles on which it was founded goes way beyond just education – it supports the students’ intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth, what we refer to as the ‘Stepping Stones’ approach to educational and economic freedom” says Blecher.
CEO of Mortimer Harvey, Dave Mortimer says the BBBEE deal, believed to be a real first for the industry, is a proud moment for the agency. “It should be obvious why we are so excited about this partnership. As a 21-year old independent agency we celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship, which is why – for us, this is the real deal – authentic BBBEE as it should be.”
Gerald Harvey, Chief Creative Officer at Mortimer Harvey says he is greatly pleased with the agency’s investment in CIDT and the Maharashi Institute. “We are determined to use this alliance to make a meaningful contribution to education in South Africa, and to the youth, who are, and have been, deprived of opportunities that most take for granted. This is a real opportunity for us to be part of a lasting and meaningful legacy.”
Mortimer Harvey recently celebrated its 21st birthday at its home in Paulshof. The event provided great excitement and cause for celebration as the agency welcomed clients and long standing friends, past, present and future to raise a glass to a truly independent South African success in the advertising and communication arena.
END
For further information please contact:
Jacques Verster at Mortimer Harvey
Tel: 011 996 2833
Cell: 083 276 9009
E-mail: [email protected]
EDITOR’S NOTES
About the Maharashi Institute
Located in downtown Johannesburg, you’ll find an unassuming building that, from the outside, looks a little ordinary. However, inside its walls some extraordinary work is being done.
Established in 2007 by CIDA, pioneers of the free university education movement, the Maharishi Institute is where it all happens and where the vision of providing free tertiary education, showcasing South Africa as a leading innovator in education provision, and supporting the worldwide movement of Consciousness-Based Education becomes reality.
It’s a special place where talented people have dedicated their lives to providing the financial, technological, and infrastructural assistance to students who, otherwise, would never be able to achieve their true potential. It is the gateway, a nurturing haven, where our youth can learn, grow, gain experience and become economically participative members of our society.
But what makes Maharishi unique is its holistic approach. The principles on which the Instutute was founded goes way beyond just education – it supports the students’ intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth, which is why we call it the Stepping Stones approach to educational and economic freedom.
The first stepping stone is education. Once students have passed the bridging years, they can obtain the following:
- Skills-based certificates through partner organisations that are registered with relevant SETAs.
- Bachelors of Management specialising in Nature Conservation and Sustainable Living at Meru–an eco-village facility in Ezemvelo Nature Reserve.
- Business degrees and Masters of Business Administration through the Maharishi University of Management (M.U.M.) based in Iowa, USA (distance education).
- South African Qualifications Authority-accredited courses through the South African Institute of Management (S.A.I.M).
- Entrepreneurial knowledge and skills offered by the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute.
- Bachelors Degrees and MBAs via distance learning from Regenesys Business School.
- World-class training in information technology through the Microsoft Academy
When you consider some of the desperate personal circumstances these children have come from the successful results achieved have been phenomenal. Behind the success is an interesting concept and the second stepping stone.
Maharishi, which means ‘great teacher’ or ‘great seer’ is named after Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the genius who brought the world Consciousness-Based-Education.
Simply put, Consciousness-Based Education has its main focus on the student. While conceding that knowledge is important, CBE is about connecting whatever a student is learning, with how it relates to them as a person, and why it’s useful in the world.
One of the key methodologies used in CBE is the Transcendental Meditation technique that improves the cognitive functioning of the brain and increases creativity and intelligence.
Does it work? The results speak for themselves. In one South African study of 9 000 students, the pass-rates at school increased on average 25% over a 3-year period on over 100 000 school marks, compared to a control-group of 12,000 students whose pass-rates fell 1%.
The third stepping stone is the ‘Learn and Earn’ module. To ensure the sustainability of a project of this magnitude, and provide all-important work experience, they opened a call centre – ‘Invincible Outsourcing’. What this did was enable them to combine the three business models of tertiary and vocational education, technology training, and entrepreneurship in one business offering.
Once a student is accepted, he or she receives a bursary to study. When they get into 2nd or 3rd year they are required to work in the call centre, which not only gives them the opportunity to gain valuable work place experience while earning money. Some is allocated to them so they can cover some of their living costs but – and here’s the innovation – the remainder is used to pay off their bursary and, in reality, provide a loan for another student. In this way they are able to focus on their studies more, lead a life of greater dignity during their study years and increase their chances of entering employment on completion.
What this did was enable them to combine the three business models of tertiary and vocational education, technology training, and entrepreneurship in one business offering.
About Mortimer Harvey
Mortimer Harvey is a Johannesburg-based, full-service and results-driven, integrated communications agency that delivers hard-working advertising and communication solutions. Delivering TRUE 360° solutions to our clients through our team of in-house industry specialists in all fields, including:
TTL Advertising
Shopper/Customer Marketing
Direct Communications
Digital and Interactive
Experiential Marketing and Events
Video, TV and Radio Production
Public Relations, Communications and Media Management
For further details, visit www.mortimerharvey.co.za
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