THE GIBARAN LEARNING GROUP
editThe Gibaran Learning Group[1] is a South Australian based higher education group specialising in international undergraduate, postgraduate and research qualifications.
With a focus on action based learning and action research, the group achieves successful managerial and executive development programs that are applicable to diverse business environments.
Specialiased courses include a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) including a 12month MBA[2], Master of Management (MMgt), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and Doctor of Philosophy in Management (PhD).
The Group consists of four private higher education providers – Gibaran Graduate School of Business (GGSB), Entrepreneurship Institute Australia (EIA), Tourism Institute Australia (TIA) and the Australian Institute of Business Administration (AIBA).
The institutes of the Gibaran Learning Group offer higher education business courses through Accredited Teaching Centres worldwide, via distance learning or in person through the Adelaide based campus. Personally tailored corporate programmes are also developed.
Qualifications are accredited within the internationally recognised Australian Qualifications Framework.
BACKGROUND
editThe origins of the Gibaran Learning Group lie in a successful South Australian-based management consultancy which was founded more than 20 years ago by Dr Selva Abraham. Using the globally accepted action learning and action research methodology, the consultancy became well-known for developing leading executives in the Asia Pacific region.
The process of action learning is defined as the method through which individuals reflect on group behaviour with the intention of getting things done. It is a process of questioning and understanding in order to determine action, hence action learning[1]. The group has several researchers who contribute to the publications of the Action Research Action Learning Journal (ARAL) and will soon be publishing an online peer reviewed journal, the Gibaran Journal of Applied Management. GLG academics and other researchers in the applied management fields are invited to submit articles to the Journal for publication. The Gibaran Learning Group has been undertaking management research in the action research and action learning process, entrepreneurial management, tourism and hospitality management, change management and indigenous management.
Management development is also a focus for action learning through training and development programmes which aim to develop empathetic, positive, empowered, supportive and reflective leaders. The essence of action learning focusses on individual development for future action[2]
Through time, investment and commitment to the highest quality levels, the consultancy grew to become what is now Gibaran Graduate School of Business (GGSB) — the flagship institution of the Group most famously known for being the:
-first private provider in Australia to be granted the rights to confer a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management qualification;
-first (and still the only) private provider in Australia to be granted the rights to confer a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) and Master of Management (Masters by research) qualification; and
-first private provider in South Australia to be granted the rights to confer the Master of Business Administration (MBA) qualification and just the second in Australia.
While GGSB continued to grow in South Australia, in early 2001 the Group decided to take Australian education to the world. As a result three new specialised institutions were born, Entrepreneurship Institute Australia (EIA), Tourism Institute Australia (TIA), Australian Institute of Business Administration (AIBA) – with the aim of specialising in the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through coursework.
The Group has now cemented its position as leaders in business higher education, with several Accredited Teaching Centres in more than 10 countries. Gibaran Learning group is located in Adelaide, South Australia. South Australia is an affordable, safe and friendly place in which to live, work and learn. It has a strong sense of heritage and traditional values, yet it also has a vibrant international and cosmopolitan character, attracting many leading industries, including automotive, food, wine, IT and defence.