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ACCA Accredits UFS Accountancy Programmes

06 May 2020 | Story Nitha Ramnath

The quality of the following University of the Free State (UFS) Accountancy programmes is internationally recognised, as it has been accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) after a thorough review of the modules offered:

• Bachelor of Accountancy (BAcc)

• Bachelor of Commerce Honours in Accounting (BComHons in Accounting)

• Postgraduate Diploma in General Accounting (PGDip [General Accountancy])

The implications of this accreditation are that graduates of these programmes will be eligible for direct admission to the Strategic Professional level (i.e. the highest level) of the ACCA qualification structure – a level aimed at preparing students for future leadership positions. Graduates of the BCom Accounting (BCom [Accounting]) programme will receive exemption from all of the ACCA’s ‘applied knowledge’ examinations as well as many of its ‘applied skills’ examinations.

According to the ACCA website: “We’re a thriving global community of 219 000 members and 527 000 students based in 179 countries that upholds the highest professional and ethical values.”

Internationally recognised accreditation

Haneke van Zyl, the Programme Director: General Accountancy and Research at the UFS, commented: “As this designation is internationally recognised, the ACCA accreditation of our programmes is vital in the School of Accountancy’s quest to acknowledge our diverse student body and to provide a wide range of opportunities to our Accounting students. We believe that each of our students should be empowered to become the best versions of themselves – and this accreditation will open more doors for them.”

As a result of this accreditation, ACCA will also actively assist UFS graduates of the aforementioned programmes to pursue ACCA membership through programmes such as ‘Accelerate’, which subsidises the various fees payable by aspirant members of ACCA.

Prof Frans Prinsloo, the Director of the School of Accountancy at the UFS, added: “We are very proud of the quality of our programmes – which are now accredited by all the leading professional bodies that operate in South Africa, i.e. the SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), the SA Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and most recently, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). This is testament not only to the quality of the school’s curricula and teaching and learning resources, but vitally important also to the calibre of academic staff – who are not only highly qualified and experienced in facilitating teaching and learning, but also committed to their students’ success.”

Van Zyl added: “We have drawn on the curriculum structures of these leading professional bodies to inform our curricula – thereby ensuring the continued relevance of our graduates in the fast changing world of work that is being transformed by the 4th Industrial Revolution. Far from becoming obsolete in this environment, appropriately qualified accountants will become key providers of credible information for organisational decision-making – a function without which no organisation can be successful and thrive.”

Prof Prinsloo acknowledged the hard work of the colleagues in developing all the required documents needed to obtain the ACCA accreditation: “The accreditation is the result of a combined effort by the colleagues from the School of Accountancy, guided by the responsible programme director, Mrs Haneke van Zyl. It is testament to the hard work and effort that the lecturers involved in the programmes have put in.”

News Archive

Many changes for Shimlas, says new captain

2016-01-25

Description: 2016 Shimla Neil Claassen Tags: 2016 Shimla Neil Claassen
The versatile forward, Neil Claassen, will lead the Shimlas onto the field in the 2016 Varsity Cup. Photo: Johan Roux.

The University of the Free State (UFS) has a new group of rugby players, a new head coach, and a new captain.

This is how the Shimla skipper, Neil Claassen, summed up his team's approach to the 2016 Varsity Cup.

Although the UFS will start the tournament as defending champions, the 23-year-old Claassen believes that much has changed since 2015.

One of which is his appointment. The flanker, who can play lock as well, was recently appointed as Varsity Cup captain in his third series.

The former Springbok flanker, Hendro Scholtz, took over as head coach from Franco Smith, who is now the Cheetahs trainer. Mac Masina, former centre for the Lions, is a new assistant coach.

New year with more pressure

Because of all the changes, Claassen feels that the Shimlas will need a different approach to the 2016 tournament.

“There will definitely be more attention on us (as champions). However, the guys in the camp see it as a new year,” he said.

“There is pressure, but we don't focus on that too much.”

Previous leaders set example

According to Claassen, he has never before led a team for which he played.

“I didn't expect to be captain,” the former pupil of Paarl Gymnasium said.

“This is something new. I have played with good leaders like AJ (Coertzen) and Oupa (Mohoje) before, and will take forward what I have learned from them.”

He also believes that there are several senior players, such as the vice-captain, Pieter-Steyn de Wet, who will assist him in his leadership role.

Back from injury

Claassen has played Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup, U21 and U19 rugby for the Free State.

However, a knee injury kept him out of action for nine months and he missed the last three Varsity Cup matches of 2015.

He returned for a training match against the University of Johannesburg in Kroonstad on 23 January 2016. The Shimlas also played a warm-up match against the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Bethlehem on 16 January 2016.

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