Hope for matrics that don't gain a place in accounting says Cassim

Universities have been flooded with applications. Applications from more than 90,000 prospective students were received by UKZN which can only accommodate 8,400 undergraduates. A similar situation is being experienced at Johannesburg's two major universities with only about 10% of applicants being accepted to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ). Over 51,000 applications were received for 6,500 undergrad places at Wits and 111,200 applications for 10,500 places at UJ.

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In response, Head of South Africa for CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Zahra Cassim, says that there is hope for those who don't gain a place in an accounting degree programme at university. All is not lost she says, as there are other options including professional qualifications offered by professional institutes.

CIMA offers a series of SAQA recognised qualifications that lead to a registered professional designation. These include Certificate in Business Accounting, Diploma in Management Accounting and Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting. They can be studied part-time, with or without tuition classes or via correspondence.

"CIMA has programmes offered through UNISA for those who want to follow a degree programme in accountancy, but in addition we offer the Certificate in Business Accounting as a foundation qualification for those who have not achieved a bachelor's pass. This can be completed via a number of recognised CIMA tuition providers or by self-study. Furthermore we have endorsed accounting programmes, certificate, diploma and degree courses, offered by the IIE colleges, including Varsity College and Rosebank College, which makes the graduates eligible for exemptions to allow them to continue with the professional qualification after graduation."

CIMA is a globally recognised qualification with one global curriculum and the most modern assessment model currently available. The syllabus is structured in such a way that students can plan their own progress taking up to three papers at a time. Assessments for each paper are computerised objective tests that can be booked and taken any time at Pearson Vue assessment centres six days a week. To complete each level there is an integrated case study.

Cassim concludes, "With the complexity of modern business a qualification in management accounting can lead to many diverse career options in marketing, human resources, brand management, operations, production, manufacturing and finance. It is the most relevant global finance-based qualification for business today."