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06 April 2023 | Story Kekeletso Takang | Photo Quinter Onyango
UFS Academic tutors
UFS academic trainees thrilled at passing the January 2023 ITC exam.

An important milestone in the journey to becoming a chartered accountant in South Africa begins with passing the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) examination of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). The examination is written after obtaining an accredited postgraduate qualification in accountancy. This milestone was reached by virtually all (98%) BAccHons/PGDip (Chartered Accountancy) graduates from the class of 2022 at the University of the Free State (UFS). Results announced by SAICA on 31 March 2023 further indicate that UFS graduates obtained an overall pass rate of 93%, exceeding the national pass rate of 75%. 

“These results confirm the ‘quality’ and ‘excellence’ of the Chartered Accountancy academic programme offered by the UFS and attest to the effectiveness of the learning and teaching approaches adopted by the School of Accountancy, and the commitment of the school’s staff to their students’ success,” said Prof Frans Prinsloo, Director of the School of Accountancy.

Voices of the future

Bakang Moraladi, an academic trainee in the School of Accountancy who took and passed the January 2023 ITC exam, believes the open-door policy followed by the academic staff made it possible for him to establish a support structure. “The staff in the UFS School of Accountancy really goes all out to ensure that what I regard as the toughest academic year (CTA/PGCA) goes smoothly. Despite very hectic schedules, staff in the School of Accountancy still find time to provide mentorship to students to ensure that they are equipped with the right knowledge and skills before sitting for the ITC. I had the privilege of having the Director of the School of Accountancy as a mentor. Although I had a mentor dedicated to me, the staff members in the School of Accountancy literally had their doors open to offer guidance whenever necessary,” he says.

Kyle Horak, a graduate of the class of 2022 and also an academic trainee in the School of Accountancy, attributes a big part of his success to the support provided by the academic staff. “I would not have been able to do it without the UFS. The support they provide is tremendous. At the beginning of the PGCA year, it feels as if the lecturers are ‘out to get you’ with all the submissions and the impossible tests, but as time goes on, you start to notice that there is method to the madness, and due to the work done by the lecturers, the ITC examination becomes manageable.” He passed the ITC exam with a final mark of more than 75%, making him part of a select group of only 65 candidates (from the more than 3 000 candidates who wrote the examination).
Other academic trainees employed by the School of Accountancy who passed this exam, are Courteney Crew, Phiwe Ndwebi, Somila Joka, Bokang Makatsa, Jubilee Mushonga, and Jeandre Strauss.

Integrated approach

The School of Accountancy attributes these results to a myriad of factors. For example, the school employs an award-winning learning and teaching approach that is student-centred, combining the efforts of academic and support staff to achieve student success. In addition, learner tracking and monitoring is facilitated through its Thuthuka and Intrabas units, in addition to peer-to-peer mentoring structures where students can learn from and support each other. While focus is placed on students’ academic performance, they are afforded a balanced approach that includes informal social events that assists in breaking down barriers between lecturers and students. 

One such student who benefited from this teaching approach is Ruwardo Wemmert, a UFS graduate who was placed fourth in the January 2023 ITC exams of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia (ICAN), where the two UFS graduates from the class of 2022 who wrote the ICAN ITC examination, passed. 

Journey to success

The ITC serves as the first of two SAICA qualifying examinations, assessing candidates’ technical competence acquired through the academic programme, by requiring the candidate to analyse and evaluate specific scenarios presented. 

“Success in the ITC means I am only one more professional exam away from being a CA(SA). Over and above the support provided by the School of Accountancy team, Thuthuka supported me in every dimension. Next up for me is successfully completing my 3 600 hours of practical training and then obtaining that four-letter designation: CA(SA).  I will be a change maker – I have a lot to give to society, and my goal is to be the ultimate difference maker.” These are the words of Somila Joka, one of the 2022 graduates and academic trainees in the School of Accountancy.

News Archive

South African universities: Political flashpoints or centres of academic excellence?
2009-02-11

Joint statement by the Convocation of the University of the Free State (UFS) and The South African Academy for Science and Arts

Are South African universities political flashpoints or centres of academic excellence? This is the theme of an international symposium that will be presented on 26 and 27 February 2009 by the Convocation of the University of the Free State (UFS) in collaboration with The South African Academy for Science and Arts on the Main Campus of the UFS in Bloemfontein.

Several renowned speakers such as Prof. Fernand de Varennes (of the Murdoch Law School, Perth, Australia), Prof. Stef Coetzee (former rector of the UFS and presently the executive director of the Afrikaanse Handelsinstituut (AHI)) and Dr Franklin Sonn (chancellor of the UFS) will take part in the discussion. Matters like diversity, transformation and conflict management, alienation, tolerance, conciliation and solutions will be debated. Members of the Convocation and the Academy are invited to attend and take part in the discussion.

The symposium commences on Thursday, 26 February 2009 at 19:00 in the Centenary Complex with a reception and opening address by Dr Sonn. On Friday, 27 February 2009 from 08:00 the discussion of the theme takes place in the Senate Hall, CR Swart Building. The proceedings are expected to last until 17:00.

A complete list of the speakers and the titles of their addresses are available on request.  

Due to limited seating interested persons are advised to confirm their attendance with Ms Kathy Verwey at 051 401 9343 / verweyke.stg@ufs.ac.za .

Full programme

SA Universities:  Political Flashpoints or Centres of Academic  Excellence? – 26-27 February 2009

P R O G R A M
Chairperson: Judge Joos Hefer
Sponsors: The Centre for Financial Planning Law UFS
The Kovsie Alumni Trust

Thursday 26 February

19:00                           Welcome: Judge  Joos Hefer (President Convocation UFS)
19:10                           Welcome:  Prof. Theuns Verschoor (Acting Rector UFS)
19:20 - 19:50               Dr. Franklin Sonn (Chancellor UFS)
19:50 - 20:20               Mr. Dave Steward (Executive Director, F.W. de Klerk Foundation)
20:25                           Reception

Friday 27 February

08:30 - 09:10               Prof. Fernand de Varennes (Murdoch School of Law)
09:10 - 09:20               Discussion
09:20 - 09:50               Prof. Stef Coetzee (Former UFS Rector)
09:50 - 10:00               Discussion
10:00 - 10:20               Interval
10:20 - 10:50               Prof. Annette Combrink (Rector, NWU, Potch-campus)
10:50 - 11:00               Discussion
11:00 - 11:30               Prof. Pieter Kapp (President, Convocation, US)
11:30 - 11:40               Discussion
11:40 - 12:10               Mr. Sean Moodley (CEO, Desmond Tutu Diversity Trust)
12:10 - 12:20               Discussion
12:20 - 12:50               Dr. Dirk Hermann (Deputy Executive Head: Development, Solidarity)
12:50 - 13:00               Discussion
13:00 - 14:00               Lunch
14:00 - 14:30               Prof. Marlene  Verhoef (Director Institutional Language Directorate NWU)
14:30 - 14:40               Discussion
14:40 - 15:10               Dr. Danny Titus (Executive Director: Culture ATKV)
15:10 - 15:20               Discussion
15:20 - 15:50               Interval
15:50 - 16:20               Prof. Hennie van Coller (Head Dept. Afrikaans, Dutch. German and French UFS, Chairperson SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns)
16:20 - 16:30               Discussion
16:30                           General discussion: Dilemma or opportunities?
17:00                           Close


 Statement by:

Judge Joos Hefer
President of the Convocation
Tel: 051 436 1843
Cell: 083 630 1395
E-mail: jjfhefer@telkomsa.net  

Prof Jacques van der Elst
Chief Executive Officer
The South African Academy for Science and Arts
Tel: 012 328 5082
Cell: 082 8807636
E-mail: jvde@akademie.co.za  

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Assistant Director: Media Liaison
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@ufs.ac.za  
10 February 2009

Dr Franklin Sonn,
Chancellor of the University of the Free  State.
Photo: Leonie Bolleurs

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