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Turnaround victory for Unisa’s College of Accounting Sciences

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Unisa’s College of Accounting Sciences (CAS) is celebrating a significant academic achievement after recording a 51% pass rate in the January 2025 Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) examination, administered by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). This marks a substantial 50% improvement from the previous year’s 34% pass rate.

The results, released by SAICA on 4 April 2025, highlight the positive impact of CAS’s renewed strategic focus and targeted academic interventions aimed at improving student performance. Among these efforts is the Unisa IAC Board Course, a support programme offered to former Unisa students in preparation for the IAC examination.

Unisa’s leap to 51% is a notable achievement, especially considering the increasing rigour and complexity of the examination.

A key contributor to this success has been the IAC Board Course, an examination technique workshop designed to prepare former Unisa students for the demands of the board examination. The course is tailored specifically for candidates who completed their Certificate in the Theory of Accounting within the past two academic years and were eligible to sit for the IAC. Remarkably, Unisa offers this course free of charge.

"This board course isn't just about theory," noted one of the programme coordinators. "It’s about honing the practical exam-taking skills candidates need to succeed in a high-pressure environment."

But Unisa’s academic transformation goes beyond short-term examination preparation. In response to SAICA’s new CA of the Future competency framework, CAS introduced the Capstone in Accounting Sciences module in 2024. This new module focuses on developing core competencies around Professional Values and Attributes, a critical component of the updated examination structure.

Additionally, four core accounting modules were revamped in 2023 to align with the revised framework. The 2024 academic year was the first in which these changes were implemented, and the early outcomes are already promising.

"This improvement is the outcome of a deliberate, college-wide turnaround strategy aimed at improving student outcomes and aligning more closely with the expectations of the profession," said Executive Dean of CAS, Dr Moses Hlongoane. "We are proud of the progress we have made, but more importantly, we are committed to building on this momentum."

As the accounting profession continues to evolve, Unisa’s College of Accounting Sciences is positioning itself at the forefront of change. This recent achievement is not only a reflection of past efforts but a signal of a forward-thinking institution ready to meet the future head-on.

* Submitted by Ntsako Mohlaba, Communication and Marketing Specialist, College of Accounting Sciences

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Publish date: 2025-04-11 00:00:00.0

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