SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY
NEWSLETTER
Welcome to the Wits School of Accountancy (SOA) Newsletter
Last year was a very busy and exciting year, not just for the SOA, but for Wits as a whole. The University of the Witwatersrand turned 100 on Tuesday, 4 October 2022 and the centenary celebrations held for this momentous occasion were spectacular and provided a wonderful opportunity for all schools and faculties to interact and unite. The SOA has been no exception (you can find details about the SOA’s Homecoming events on pages 10 and 11).
After two challenging years for both staff and students because of Covid-19, it was exciting once again to be able to host and participate in these social events, and to resume live, face-to-face classes in 2022. Going forward, the SOA strives to maintain an innovative and energetic learning environment to improve the students experiences, and to support them in their journeys to becoming competent and confident professionals. This newsletter reflects only a few of our school’s many achievements, and the amount of hard work and effort which all the staff in the SOA continue to make.
In terms of leadership, there are a few major changes coming into effect this year. As of 1 January 2023, Professor Jason Cohen, the new Dean of the Commerce, Law and Management (CLM) faculty, has officially filled his role. Effective from 1 May 2023, the new Head of School will be taking over after my term ends this year in April 2023
I have had an extremely fulfilling two terms (10 years) as the Head of School for the SOA and I look forward to seeing its continuous strength, growth and innovation. Best wishes, Professor Nirupa Padia CA(SA), MCom (Wits), BAcc (Wits), BCom (Wits) Head of the School of Accountancy at Wits
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Congratulations to Professor Jason Cohen for being appointed Dean of the Commerce, Law and Management Faculty, effective from 1 January 2023. We look forward to working closely with him to improve and grow our school.
See Professor Cohen’s staff profile…
Congratulations to Adjunct Professor Zubair Wadee on his appointment as the Head for the School of Accountancy (effective 1 May 2023): he will be taking over from me after my 10-year term as HOS comes to an end in April 2023. I am confident that Professor Wadee’s experience and leadership will prove to be an asset to the school’s continued strength and success.
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Highlights from our Previous Newsletter
Research
Professor Warren Maroun has achieved a B2 National Research Foundation (NRF) rating. This is the first time in the history of the SOA that a staff member has achieved this rating.
Learn more about B2 NFR Rating…
Funding initiatives to provide student support
The SOA voluntarily runs a funding project providing assistance to promising students in need. The SOA is also involved in the SAICA Thuthuka programme.
Read more here…
Integrated Thinking and Value Creation
The SOA in partnership with SAICA, launched the Wits Online Chief Value Officer (CVO) programme in 2021. This programme consists of four short courses and is part of a continuing research-driven enquiry into integrated reporting, integrated thinking, sustainable development and ethics being undertaken by the Wits School of Accountancy.
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Find out more
Associate and Adjunct Professors in the School of Accountancy
Congratulations to the newest Associate and Adjunct Professors in the SOA. We look forward to seeing your future achievements and wish you success in your new roles.
Associate Professor Avani Sebastian Associate Professor Asheer Ram
Associate Professor Dannielle Cerbone
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Adjunct Professor Zubair Wadee
ACHIEVEMENTS, DEVELOPMENTS & NEWS IN THE SCHOOL OF ACCOUNTANCY
Return from the Amazon
After a challenging but successful adventure down the Amazon River, Professor Kurt Sartorius and Associate Professor Wayne van Zijl returned home safely in August. We look forward to the research and initiatives that this project will inspire as we aim to encourage all accountants to surpass obstacles.
Find out more about their journey…
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Distance PGDip in Accountancy
The School of Accountancy is proud to announce that from January 2023, we will be offering an online Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy Program (PGDip Acc).
We look forward to implementing this exciting program which has been six years in the making. We hope that this program will help many students to achieve success while offering more flexibility.
The online PGDipAcc programme:
• Integrates Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting & Finance, Taxation and Auditing within each of the nine modules, enabling students to work at both micro and macro levels;
• Adopts a teaching and learning approach based on established and tested online teaching and learning methodologies;
• Provides the opportunity to develop the skills and strategies necessary for critical application in a real-world context;
• Provides structure and support for students to work at their own pace and according to their own life circumstances;
• Provides students with timeous feedback on completion of assessments
• The programme is structured as a mix of short courses and degree courses
• Gives students entrance to SAICA’s ITC
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SOA Senior Lecturer Profile: Lanelle Wilmot
Lanelle Wilmot is currently the Chair of the PGDA/BAccSci committee. She is also a lecturer and tutor on the Financial Accounting IV course. Lanelle participated in the Teaching Advancement at Universities (TAU 3) Fellowships program, which she completed in June this year. Lanelle’s experience, continuous development and her focus on the improvement of teaching and learning practices makes her an invaluable member of the SOA staff.
This year Lanelle and Michele Aucock were jointly awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Team Teaching Award for 2022.
Read Lanelle’s full profile here… University of the Witwatersrand 2022 Vice-Chancellor Awards…
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Dannielle Cerbone’s Reflection on Becoming anAssociate Professor
The Research Journey of Promotion to Associate Professor in the School of Accounting: A QuasiAuto ethnography
Although promotion is considered part of the natural progression of one’s career, it is not often one is asked to reflect on the process, how it was achieved and what it means. I present an answer and new-materialist account, drawing on personal, professional, and academic experiences. A quasi-auto-ethnography is used to problematize individualism within three contexts: auto-ethnography as a method, a reflection on the process of being promoted and my conceptualisation of what promotion means
As an academic in the School of Accounting (SoA), promotion is often overlooked in favour of various teaching and administration activities. Although promotion criteria are provided, each academic must drive his or her own career progression and become his or her own nexus of accountability. It is far too easy to become complacent with the familiarity of administrative and teaching activities. Promotion requires dedication to the three core areas: teaching, administration and research Because of the inherent difficulty and nature of research, it is easy to ignore. But without being more than proficient in all three aspects promotion is unachievable. Read the full article here
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WITS TEAM WINS JSE
INVESTMENT CHALLENGE
We would also like to congratulate Roberto Coelho, Gabriella Paddock and Ricardo Coelho on their fantastic achievements. These three Wits students entered the JSE Investment Challenge this year as a team (team “Dancing in the Dark”) and won the May and June prizes, as well as claiming first place for the 2022 JSE Speculator Portfolio for Universities.
Roberto just completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Accountancy at Wits School of Accountancy in December 2022. Gabriella is a Wits Medical student and Ricardo (Roberto’s brother) is studying actuarial science at Wits’ School of Statistics and Actuarial Science. Well done on this momentous achievement! We wish you all the best for your bright futures.
Find out more about the 2022 JSE Winners…
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Homecoming Weekend
In celebration of the Wits Homecoming Weekend, The School of Accountancy hosted two exciting and inspiring events.
Our Live Wall Mural event was held on Friday 2 October 2022. This event set out to create a visual and historical art piece to encompass the past, present and future of Wits’ School of Accountancy, including the evolution of the accounting profession in South Africa. Thanks to the efforts of two very talented artists, Jessica Doucha and Gina Nunes, this event was a great success and the FNB Building has received a unique, inspiring and timeless art piece. We invite you to come and visit so that you can experience this piece for yourself (us outside FNB101).
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The Yoga on the Lawns event on Saturday 3 September 2022 was led by our very own Head of School, Professor Nirupa Padia and ‘The Art of Living’ volunteers. This event was attended by many and earned wonderful feedback from all attendees with many asking for more yoga events to help reduce stress and anxiety before test and exam periods.
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2020 & 2021 SOA Prizegiving
For the first time in two years, The School of Accountancy was once again able to host our annual prize-giving ceremony to celebrate all our top achievers from 2020 and 2021.
On the 21 September 2022, the School of Accountancy prize winners and their families were welcomed into the Wits Sports Hall for an anticipated occasion, acknowledging and rewarding all the hard work and effort made by all our top achievers.
Congratulations to all our winners. We are sure that you will continue to achieve great success in your futures.
Read more about the 2020 & 2021 Prizegiving Ceremony…
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