Tunku Abdul Rahman University College’s (‘TAR UC’) professionally driven education raises the bar higher with the recent recognition it received from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (‘CIMA’). During the TAR UC – CIMA Presentation and Appreciation Ceremony held on 20 June 2018 at TAR UC’s Kuala Lumpur Main Campus, it was unveiled that CIMA had granted maximum exemptions to 3 TAR UC programmes, namely the Bachelor of Accounting (Hons), Bachelor of Business (Hons) Accounting and Finance and the Master of Business Administration programmes.
The exemptions are awarded to the said programme after having acknowledged and recognised the breadth and depth of the programmes. The Bachelor of Accounting (Hons) and Master of Business Administration programmes are offered at the Kuala Lumpur Main Campus while the Bachelor of Business (Hons) Accounting and Finance is offered at the Penang Branch Campus. During the ceremony, Mr Venkatt Ramanan, CIMA Asia Pacific Regional Vice President, handed over to Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok, President of TAR UC, the Memorandum of Understanding (‘MoU’) and exemption letters detailing the recognition given by CIMA to the Bachelor of Accounting (Hons), Bachelor of Business (Hons) Accounting and Finance and the Master of Business Administration programmes.
The MoU and exemption letters highlight the maximum exemptions of 11 out of 16 papers accorded to the said programmes. With the exemptions granted, students pursuing the three TAR UC programmes can opt to take the CIMA papers concurrently.
In his address, Datuk Dr Tan expressed his delight in the unprecedented recognition given by CIMA to TAR UC. “Both TAR UC and CIMA have shared many common grounds and initiatives in enhancing the provision of professional accountancy education. On behalf of TAR UC, I would like to put on record our sincere appreciation and gratitude to CIMA for having full confidence and trust in TAR UC by granting maximum exemptions to these three programmes. As TAR UC moves towards its 50th anniversary next year, we at TAR UC are extremely honoured to receive this great endorsement of our outstanding academic achievements and exceptional quality of learning provision. We cherish this strong and excellent working relationship with CIMA that have contributed immensely towards the development of our students and our programmes and look forward to a closer cooperation for many years to come”.
During the ceremony, Mr Venkatt Ramanan also spoke about how this collaboration could contribute to the enhancement of the profession as well as development of the human capital. “In 2019, both CIMA and TAR UC will be celebrating its centenary year and 50th anniversary respectively. It signifies the two institutions building a strong collaboration through the decades. What we have with TAR UC is of value. Both TAR UC and CIMA should continue working together closely to develop the human capital required in Malaysia. TAR UC graduates who are equipped with the CIMA qualification will be at the forefront of the nation’s need”, he said.
TAR UC has a long-standing association with CIMA dating back to 1976. The collaboration has grown from strength to strength over the years, educating students who consistently won top prizes in the CIMA professional examination as well as being awarded the coveted CIMA Global Learning Premium Partner status that recognises the enduring partnership that CIMA has with TAR UC and the quality curriculum and support given to students undergoing the CIMA professional examination.
Mr Venkatt Ramanan (left) and Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok, holding up the signed MoUs.
Mr Venkatt Ramanan (second from left) and Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok (second from right) holding up one of the exemption letters, while Ms Wong Hwa Kiong (rightmost), Dean of the Faculty of Accountancy, Finance and Business, holds another exemption letter, accompanied by Assoc Prof Dr Janice Toh Guat Guan (leftmost), Head of Penang Branch Campus.
Staff and students of TAR UC and CIMA representatives giving a thumbs-up for the recognition.