Growing recognition for WOU qualifications

GEORGETOWN, Malaysia - Jan. 21, 2014 - PRLog -- Students can reap maximum benefits from their accounting and corporate administration degrees at Wawasan Open University (WOU) as the qualifications are highly regarded in professional circles.

WOU’s Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Accounting (BBAC) programme offered via Open Distance Learning (ODL) is recognised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), the largest professional accountancy body in Europe.

“This is a positive testament to the quality of studies at WOU as our Accounting degree holders can enter the ICAEW professional examinations with a generous amount of credit exemptions,” said Prof N V Narasimham, Dean of the School of Business and Administration (SBA). The accounting graduates need to only top up their credits and sit for the required examination to become a member of ICAEW and earn the privilege of being called a Chartered Accountant.

“The recognition shows that our accounting programme is definitely on par with prestigious accounting degrees from around the world, and with those locally offered by established conventional universities,” he added.

For graduates to practise as an accountant in Malaysia, they must be a member of a scheduled body, such as the ICAEW. The others include Certified Practising Accountants Australia (CPA Australia), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA, UK), Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) - all of which already recognise the University’s ODL accounting degree.

The BBAC is also offered for the On Campus Learning (OCL) full-time study at the main campus in Penang, targeting fresh school leavers and diploma holders, and they can complete it in three years or less.

Yeoh Jing Yeh, 21, is one of the pioneer students pursuing the inaugural semester of the full-time Accounting programme at WOU. He entered with his STPM results from Methodist Boys School, Penang, and nurtures an ambition to become a chartered accountant. He finds that WOU lecturers have a good knowledge of the subject and more importantly the full-time BBAC degree is already recognised by CPA Australia, while recognition from other professional accounting bodies is expected soon.

Another business degree held in high acclaim by international bodies is the ODL Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Corporate Administration (BBCA) programme at WOU. Graduates can work as licensed company secretary or manager in business administration organisations, or pursue a professional qualification in Company Secretaryship.

WOU graduates in BBCA will receive exemptions to pursue the Company Secretaryship qualification offered by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA, UK).  They would only need to complete four subjects by examination, which are Corporate Administration, Corporate Governance, Corporate Financial Management, and Company Secretaryship.

“WOU’s business degree programmes are gaining more recognition from industry-related professional bodies, both locally and internationally. With this added advantage, our degree holders from both ODL and full-time studies will face shorter routes to obtain their professional qualifications to emerge top in their career and contribute towards the nation’s talent pool,” said Prof Narasimham.

Enrol today for the ODL January 2014 intake. You can apply for any undergraduate degrees studies at WOU through Regular Entry or via WOU’s unique Open Entry Admission System that takes your work experience into consideration. Anyone aged 21 years and above with a minimum PMR/SPM/MCE/UEC/Diploma or equivalent qualifications can apply, provided they have related work experience.

The enrolment for OCL February 2014 intake is now ongoing.  To apply for the full-time degree programmes, you must possess a minimum of two Principals in STPM/A-Levels or at least five grades B in UEC Senior Middle II or Diploma/Foundation/Matriculation or equivalent qualifications.

For details on WOU programmes, log on to wou.edu.my or call WOU toll-free Careline at 1-300-888-968 (WOU).