U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce, Marcus Jadotte visited the MSA campus and participated in two key campus events in March.
He was the inaugural speaker at MSA’s first “I Want To Be a LEADER” student speaker series and inspired students with his personal and professional journey and emphasised their importance as leaders on a global stage. His presence at the first showcase set the tone for future events, which is aimed at motivating students with a powerful line-up of global leaders. Student leaders were excited to have access to such a high calibre international guest. During his time on campus, he viewed the world-class campus facilities and was updated by campus executives on its current status and plans for the future.
Another key event attended by Jadotte was “Beyond the Skills Gap,” a panel discussion which focused on the role of governments, private sector and educational institutions in addressing the global and particularly the South African skills gap. MSA CEO Esther Benjamin moderated the dynamic panel of leaders who shared their insights from the fields of engineering, healthcare, banking and finance.
“I am very impressed with the work being done by Monash South Africa to provide high-quality, international education to its students, “ said Jadotte. “The practical skills training required for young people to become successful global leaders us visible throughout the curriculum. I look forward to hearing about the students’ achievements and the school’s continued advancement.”
Benjamin added, “Our students were honored to meet a leader who is influential on the global stage. It was a privilege to host Assistant Secretary Jadotte and to introduce him to all facets of our campus. The visit reaffirmed our vision for developing students who participate in a global classroom, learning from global leaders and developing the wide range of skills and knowledge needed for the global marketplace.”
Jadotte serves as the primary liaison with U.S. industry and trade associations and advises the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Under Secretary on trade and investment policy, and issues impacting the global competitiveness of U.S. businesses. He also heads the division that conducts research and analysis on manufacturing, services, travel and tourism, textiles and apparel, global trade, investment, and economic trends that impact the mission of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration. In 2014, Savoy Magazine named Jadotte as one of the “top 100 black leaders in corporate America”. Jadotte’s visit to South Africa kicked off an education trade mission to South Africa, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire.