CHAPTER 4 THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME Introduction The objective of this chapter is to demonstrate that the educational programme for which the University of Limpopo seeks SAICA accreditation – the Degree of Bachelor of Accounting Science (BAccSc - BCompt) has been properly planned and designed, and the course contents meet with SAICA’s requirements and the teaching and learning methodologies are appropriate to the programme and to the needs of the learner. Furthermore, to provide evidence that the programme is effectively co-ordinated to facilitate the attainment of its intended purposes and outcomes, and that quality control procedures are in place to ensure the development of good quality programme materials.
4.1 Programme Research Design and Development 4.1.1 Appropriate Match of Learning Needs to Learner Intake The UL Thuthuka Project initially proposed the three specific objectives. • The first was the capacity building of the University of Limpopo (UL) towards achieving full accreditation by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) to offer an accredited academic programme. • The second objective was to identify and to nurture talent from the rural areas of Limpopo and to provide these students with access to a quality education and an opportunity to qualify as Chartered Accountants. • The third and final objective was to provide the recruited students with workplace readiness training, so as to enhance business access to suitably prepared employees in the workplace.
The learner intake requirements do comply with the DHET University degree entrance requirements. Maths and English Language are required with the minimum score of five in Maths and four in English. The minimum APS score of 30 (2011) is in line with the average of 30-32 required by most traditional universities (see table 4.3). While open to matriculants across the country, the learner intake is specifically targeted at providing opportunities, with regard to the CA programme, to the historically disadvantaged communities of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. Generally most learners coming from Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces would normally not be able to afford the cost or meet the minimum entry requirements of other conventional SAICA accredited universities.
SAICA ACCREDITATION SELF-EVALUATION REPORT 2011
The initial three year BCompt programme was redesigned and revised in line with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) BCom Accounting programme in 2004 and renamed the BAccSc programme 2010. It is offered over a period of four years because an inbuilt foundation programme is offered in the first year. Thus the second year (UL) BAccSc is equivalent to the first year of (UJ) BComAcc, whilst the third year(UL) BAccSc is equivalent to second year (UJ) BComAcc and the fourth year(UL) BAccSc is equivalent to third year of the (UJ) BComAcc.
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