Setbacks – Tshepang Lesufi will tell you – are not final destinations. They are the fire that refines your drive. For the University of the Free State Accounting student, that conviction has now carried him to a stage that few South African undergraduates ever reach.

Lesufi has been selected as one of the final 16 candidates for the ISCA Global Talent Programme, a highly competitive initiative run by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants. He is the only candidate representing the University of the Free State in this year's cohort, competing alongside some of the most exceptional young accounting professionals in the world.

"Hearing that I had made the final 16 was an incredibly surreal moment," says Lesufi. "It felt like a powerful validation of resilience. Having faced academic and personal hurdles earlier in my university journey, receiving that official confirmation was a reminder that setbacks are not final destinations – they are simply the fire that refines your drive."

A global benchmark, a local standard

The ISCA Global Talent Programme draws candidates from across the world, placing them in Singapore – one of the foremost financial hubs on the planet – to engage with global business thinking, cross-border collaboration, and the leading edge of the accounting profession.

For Lesufi, Singapore was as compelling as the programme itself. "Singapore is a hyper-dynamic, world-class financial hub, and the chance to learn directly from its ecosystem was something I knew I had to pursue," he says.

Dr Carla Serfontein, Director of the School of Accountancy at the University of the Free State, said the achievement is a powerful affirmation of the school's values.

"Tshepang's selection is a powerful affirmation of the academic excellence and professional rigour that define the School of Accountancy," says Dr Serfontein. "Competing successfully at this level not only requires strong technical knowledge, but also critical thinking, adaptability, professionalism, and ethical leadership. These are capabilities intentionally developed through our programmes."

For Dr Serfontein, the achievement is also a direct expression of the school's guiding philosophy. "His achievement reflects our commitment to creating value through excellence – developing graduates who are equipped not only to succeed professionally, but to make a meaningful impact in the environments they serve."

Built for the world

Lesufi credits the School of Accountancy with preparing him not only academically but also strategically. He points to the school's active ecosystem – Business Acumen Days, industry visits, and direct corporate networking – as experiences that pushed him well beyond the lecture room and into the profession.

"The curriculum is intensely rigorous," he says. "It doesn't just require memorisation; it demands deep analytical thinking, problem-solving, and an understanding of global financial frameworks. This standard of excellence has given me the technical confidence to engage with international peers and industry leaders in a financial hub like Singapore."

Outside the classroom, Lesufi served as International Affairs Manager for Commercio, the faculty's student organisation, where he gained first-hand experience in cross-cultural communication, strategy, and stakeholder management.

"The University of the Free State didn't just teach me accounting; it cultivated the adaptability, leadership, and global mindset necessary to step onto a stage of this scale.”

Beyond borders

Dr Serfontein maintains that international opportunities of this nature align directly with the school's vision of impact for value and value for impact. In her view, the next generation of business leaders must be prepared to create sustainable value in an interconnected world, lead with competence, responsibility, and integrity, broaden their horizons, and strengthen global citizenship that underpins responsible, sustainable futures.

For Lesufi, the personal stakes are equally clear. The selection, he says, proves something he has carried as a conviction throughout his studies.

"It proves that as an undergraduate student from the University of the Free State, I can stand toe-to-toe with global talent and corporate leaders. It is a launchpad for the international career I am building."