UCC, ACCA offer fast track to professional qualification
THE UNIVERSITY of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC), in partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), is providing accountancy students a fast track to attaining their ACCA professional qualification at a reduced cost.
Under the accelerated programme, final-year students of the BSc Business Administration accounting major programme are eligible to register with ACCA, even before they graduate, at significantly reduced fees.
The BSc Business Administration accounting major degree has been accredited by ACCA and attracts five exemptions upon completion. This leaves a total of eight papers remaining to complete the ACCA professional qualification.
“ACCA is pleased that UCC has entered into this agreement which provides an opportunity to its students as well as ensuring affordability towards gaining a professional designation,” Maria Sookdeo, business development manager at ACCA Caribbean, explained to participants during a recent information session at UCC’s Worthington Avenue campus in New Kingston.
She disclosed that under the arrangement with UCC, candidates can save as much as J$75,000 through the accelerated programme.
Sookdeo added that ACCA has a flexible examination schedule with four sittings per year in March, June, September, and December, thereby facilitating the busy schedules of students who have family and work commitments. She said the special offer of reduced fees for the ACCA accelerated programme will end in March 2018.
Sonia Davidson, head of the Business Administration Department at UCC, said the institution “plans to maximise the new agreement with ACCA and will be integrating ACCA courses into its curriculum.”
She added that discussions were in train to extend the accelerated programme to final-year students who are pursuing the general Business Administration or Financial Management major who have completed the comparable modules for exemption by ACCA.
ACCA is the global body for professional accountants. It offers business-relevant, firstchoice qualifications to people of application, ability, and ambition around the world who seek a career in accountancy, finance and management. ACCA Caribbean representatives Paula Marcelle-Irish (right) and Maria Sookdeo (second right) celebrate with University of the Commonwealth Caribbean faculty members (from left) Rupert Mendez, Sonia Davidson and Dr Claudette Coote-Thompson. This follows the recent announcement of an agreement between both organisations to provide concessions to UCC accountancy students to pursue ACCA qualification.