Advancing education
At a time when industry is complaining of the mismatch between graduate skills and market requirments, ACCA Malawi is confident that its programmes are relevant and in sync with the world’s changing dynamics. We spoke to the institution’s head, Alinane Khonje
You recently assumed the reigns of Head of ACCA in Malawi. Tell us what you bring to the institution
I am here to enhance our visibility in Malawi by making sure that students choose ACCA to be their first choice qualification. The ACCA has a lot more opportunities to offer as we continuously work closely with our stakeholders to create a strong relationship by engaging them through different platforms.
Will strive to increase employability through valuable partnerships with employers to make sure that ACCA students, affiliates and members see value in the qualification.
What plans do you have to drive the institution forward?
Strategic partnerships with universities, colleges and learning institutions by providing them with required resources that will help them in delivering extensive and learning support to fast track students progression, mentorship and nurturing students so that their needs will be discussed and understood in an interactive participatory fashion. Solicitation feedback from stakeholders to inform ACCA programme trajectory and playing a key role in developing the accounting professional in Malawi.
The industry sometimes complains that institutions of higher learning are failing to produce graduates who are competitive because they are not groomed in relevant disciplines. What can you say of the qualifications ACCA offers to those studying with the institution?
UK degrees are still regarded among the highest internationally recognised qualifications. We make sure that we give students the skills that are required by the employers. We produce complete graduates who are ready for the market since our syllabus is relevant with the world’s changing dynamics.
Does ACCA still follow its open access policy? Tell us more about this and how beneficial it is to your customers
Malawi as a country still accesses relevant information regarding ACCA qualification through ACCA Accounting and Business Magazine, website and different social media platforms. Information regarding how they can be admitted to our programme, modules, financial implications, duration and exams sessions. All students who are admitted are communicated to directly.
These procedures are done so that there should not be any myth or speculation regarding accessing ACCA education, advertisements and admission. All information is available and communicated to the students.
What plans do you have for ACCA to ensure that you produce graduates that will fit well into the industry?
The world is going digital and our graduates get hands-on experience when they are being trained. Currently, students are able to sit for Computer Based Exams. This is an indication that we are training graduates who have hands-on experience and are fit for the industry. ACCA works tirelessly to remain relevant on the market that is the reason why the modules are revised constantly.
What are some of the programmes ACCA has and their relevance to Malawi
ACCA qualification is relevant to Malawi market; students in Malawi have the advantage of sitting for Malawi taxation paper since they will need to understand the Malawi taxation computations.
The country continues to have few public and private universities that cannot absorb all the potential students because of limited space.
Who can study with ACCA?
We have pathways of registering through ACCA all students with Malawi School Leaving Certificate and O levels start from foundation stage. Students with accounting diploma starts from Fundamentals Stage since some of the subjects are exempted. Students with relevant accounting degrees start from either Foundation Stage or Professional Stage
Tell us more about the accounting degree those studying with ACCA can access while pursuing an ACCA qualification
Students studying with ACCA qualification have an advantage of getting another qualification from Oxford Brooks, Oxford Brookes Degree in Applied Accounting, after passing Paper F9 and they have also done the ethics module.
ACCA is planning to redesign its qualifications. Tell us what this will involve and who stands to benefit
The only part that will be redesigned is the Professional Level Stage. Governance Risk and Ethics module(P1) and Business Analysis module (P3) are going to be combined into one module called Strategic Business Module (SBM).The first sitting for this module will be September 2018.
