Top Students Recognised at UKZN SAICA Awards

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Forty-six students from the School of Accounting, Economics, and Finance (SAEF) were recently honoured across different categories for their outstanding dedication and accomplishments in first, second and third-year as well as postgraduate studies in Accounting during the UKZN SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Awards event.

The ceremony, held on the Westville campus, highlighted UKZN’s continued dedication to fostering excellence and drive to produce well-rounded chartered accountants.

In his welcome address, Acting Head and Dean of the School Professor, Mabutho Sibanda was delighted with the results and congratulated the students.

‘While honouring these students, let us not only recognise their mastering of financial principles, but also their commitment to upholding the ethical standards that form the foundation of the profession,’ said Sibanda.

He said the School would continue to take pride in its accomplishments and looked forward to shaping graduates and accountants with unwavering ethics, integrity and accountability.

Acknowledging the achievements of Accounting students, SAICA Regional Executive Mr Naeem Asvat also recognised the pivotal role of lecturers in achieving these outstanding results and inculcating ethics and integrity in accounting students through their dedication and effort.

Mr Akhil Harrydhasret, who was selected as the Overall Third-Year Top Student, said getting the award motivated him to continue to strive to be the best possible and to continuously improve in the Accounting sphere. ‘This celebration was evidence that hard work and dedication does pay off,’ he said.

Ms Aqila Sayed says being recognised by UKZN and SAICA as an Overall First-Year Top Student in the Discipline of Accounting will help her broaden her scope of opportunity for growth and success as an accountant in future. Sayed is currently in her second year as BCom Accounting student.

‘Being recognised for any achievement is always a great feeling as it is a sense of accomplishment that the hard work I have put in really has paid off,’ said Sayed. ‘I am grateful to the University for the opportunity, and I cannot wait to see what the future has in store for me!’

In closing, lecturer Ms Siphumelele Dlungwane, who organised the event, said such remarkable achievements were testament to SAICA’s and UKZN’s commitment to produce graduates with skills and knowledge as well as to nurturing aspiring chartered accountants.

‘Days like today serve as powerful reminders of the strength and courage needed by academics to help students pursue their aspirations. We take great pride in the diligence and dedication demonstrated by our students,’ she said.

The event was sponsored by the Auditor-General of South Africa, LexisNexis, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler, Professional Provident Society (PPS), Bonakude Consulting, the Independent Regulatory Board for Auditors, and Van Schaik Publishers.

Words: Samukelisiwe Cele

Photograph: Nkosikhona Gcabashe