New criteria for Student Leadership Summit applications

This year, instead of being a thought leadership essay writing competition as it has in the past 10 years, students are being challenged to put together a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) focused business case that illustrates how they would empower and improve the country through a community-based project that works towards solving one or more of the UN's SDGs.

As the custodian of the chartered accountancy profession, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica), believes that it is the duty of all its CAs to act in the best interest of the public and the country. One of the ways this is done at a university level is through its annual Student Leadership Summit (or SLS).

Why has Saica changed the focus to SDGs?

As businesses embrace purpose, ethics and sustainability as the new norm, the practical application and measurement of their pure intent may seem elusive. However, when it comes to sustainability, there is one North Star that should not be ignored, the SDGs.

The SDGs serve as a framework for the sustainable change the world needs to provide solutions for poverty, world hunger, poor health, the lack of quality education, climate change, gender inequality, access to clean water and sanitation, environmental issues, social injustice and more.

“As Saica, our objective has always been to create the world's future business leaders. For this reason, we've changed the way we run SLS from a thought leadership competition to an action based one focusing on the SDGs to ensure students are aligned with the direction the profession - and indeed business - is taking,” explains Teboho Moephudi, project director for Saica’s university projects.

How do students enter?

The Student Leadership Summit is open to students who are studying towards a BCom CA-Stream qualification at a Saica-accredited institution.

To enter the 2019 SLS, students should visit www.sls.saicaevents.co.za/wp/, fill in the entry form and submit their community project's business plan using the template provided on the website.

The top five teams (a minimum of one person and maximum of five) will be hosted in Johannesburg on 9 - 10 October at a life-changing Summit where they'll be awarded prizes, receive leadership coaching, business mentoring and more.

The winning team will win money to start their community project as well as individual prizes.

Entries close on 13 September 2019.