UTAR and ACCA renew pact

Documents exchanged (from left): Dr Ong, Prof Ewe, Prof Chuah, Lopez, Chee, and Prof Choong

UTAR and ACCA Malaysia Sdn Bhd renewed their memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the second time at the UTAR Petaling Jaya Campus on 1 August 2013.  The MoU was originally signed on 17 July 2006; it was first renewed on 19 January 2010. 

Signing the MoU on behalf of UTAR was its President Ir Prof Academician Dato' Dr Chuah Hean Teik, while ACCA Malaysia Country Head Jennifer Lopez signed on behalf of ACCA, the global professional body of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

"Incorporating the requirements of professional bodies in our programme curricula ensures that our students get the relevant qualifications and recognition required and, as a result, the industry gets suitably qualified graduates as employees. In this case, we refer to future chartered certified accountants for the local as well as global markets," said Prof Chuah, adding that under the MoU, UTAR would continue to ensure that the syllabi of its four-year Bachelor of Accounting (Hons) programme and three-year Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Accounting offered at the Bandar Sungai Campus and Perak Campus respectively, would align with the requirements of the ACCA professional qualification.

Prof Chuah giving his speech

"ACCA strongly believes in the value of strategic partnerships, such as the one we have enjoyed with UTAR, as a catalyst towards moulding and developing future business leaders that companies and nations can depend on," said Lopez, adding that their offer of exemptions for UTAR degree programmes was a strong indication of their confidence in UTAR's ability to nurture future ACCA members to become complete finance professionals.

Lopez giving her speech

Since the initiation of the collaboration between UTAR and ACCA, various activities have been jointly carried out by both parties.  In particular, UTAR Centre for Extension Education is offering a part-time programme to provide quality tuition to UTAR Accounting graduates and public members to prepare for the ACCA professional exams.   ACCA Malaysia has been awarding RM10,000 worth of scholarships each year to eligible UTAR students to prepare for the ACCA professional exam papers at the centre.  It has also participated and sponsored the UTAR Business Week and UTAR Accounting Quiz Competition, held activities in UTAR's campuses to promote greater awareness of the accounting profession at events such as the annual ACCA-UTAR Student Conference in 2010 and 2011 and the next one will be held on 13 August 2013.

Representatives of both parties at the ceremony

Also present at the signing ceremony were ACCA Head of Education (ASEAN) Rachel Chee, and from UTAR, Vice President (Internationalisation and Academic Development) Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat, Faculty of Finance and Business Dean Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, and Faculty of Accountancy and Management Dean Dr Ong Seng Fook.