UCT shines in CA exams

Candidates from UCT's Department of Accounting did significantly better than their peers from other universities in part one of the qualifying examination (QE1) of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).

A total of 200 UCT students passed the exam - up from 134 UCT graduates four years ago. The pass rate for UCT students was 96%, compared to the 53% pass rate nationally.

UCT academic trainee Julia Spurdle was placed second in the country. Thirty-nine of 3 902 candidates who wrote the exam were awarded honours, including nine UCT students.

The UCT candidates achieved excellent results across the board. In terms of Equity figures, the first-time candidate pass rate for black students was 93%, for coloured students 96%, and 95% for Indian students, roughly double the national pass rates for these equity groups.

UCT's first Thuthuka graduates also did very well in both the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting (PGDA) results and QE1, reports Professor Alex Watson, PGDA co-ordinator. Thuthuka is the accounting profession's transformation initiative to promote chartered accountancy among previously disadvantaged groups.

UCT was one of only four universities chosen for the Thuthuka project.