TUNKU Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) undergraduate and postgraduate business degree students can now sign up for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) finance leadership programme.
The remote, digital self-paced learning programme enables instant online access for aspiring business and finance leaders to learn finance skills that are the equivalent of a master’s degree.
It also provides a new guided learning and assessment route to completing the institute’s Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) professional qualification.
With the help of real-life case simulations, the programme teaches a mix of finance, accounting, business, people, leadership and digital skills that are needed to build successful careers. TAR UC students who enrol in the CGMA finance leadership programme will be eligible to start their CIMA journey alongside their TAR UC studies.
The agreement between TAR UC and CIMA also enables students to sign up for the programme at a preferential rate.
On completing the programme and fulfilling the practical experience requirements, students earn CIMA membership at either the ACMA or FCMA level, in addition to the CGMA designation, enhancing their career prospects.
The programme will also connect students and TAR UC with the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association), the global accounting organisation formed by CIMA and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and its global network of 689,000 students, members and engaged professionals.
TAR UC president Prof Dr Lee Sze Wei said the programme is an excellent pathway to study for CIMA’S CGMA professional qualification and earn the global CGMA designation, which builds on students’ existing qualifications and experience.
“For example, TAR UC students enrolled in programmes such as the Bachelor of Accounting (Honours), Bachelor of Business (Honours) Accounting and Finance, and Master of Accounting and Finance will only need to take the Management Case Study and Strategic Case Study exams.
“This is a testament to the quality of our courses, and our ongoing efforts to effectively prepare our students for the world of work,” he said in a press release to announce the signing of an agreement with CIMA to nurture future business and finance leaders with digital mindsets on Sept 28.
Venkkat Ramanan, FCMA, CGMA regional vice president, Asia Pacific, at the Association, representing the AICPA and CIMA, said TAR UC has been a key partner of CIMA in Malaysia since 1970 and has helped the institute create a pool of highly qualified business and finance leaders with management accounting knowledge in the country.
“We are proud to continue partnering with TAR UC to enable a greater number of young talents to become CGMA and CIMA members,” he said, adding that with the impact of digitalisation, it is crucial for future professionals to have strong skillsets and competencies to stay competitive in the modern business world.
Earlier, a similar agreement was inked between CIMA and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).
In a press release dated Aug 17, UiTM deputy vice chancellor (academic and international) Dr Suzana Sulaiman said the competency-based programme will create new learning and teaching experiences for the varsity’s students and teachers to support the development of skills and competencies in finance, accounting, business and leadership in its students.