Learning Providers and ACCA Agree There Is a Vibrant Future for the Accountancy Profession in the Middle East

The first ever ACCA Middle East Educators’ Conference took place in Dubai recently, bringing together key global and regional players in the accountancy profession. 

The theme of the conference was ACCA: Heading into the Future, linking into ACCA’s commitment to defining the trajectory of the profession during a time of change. 

Lindsay Degouve De Nuncques, Head of Middle East at ACCA said: “This was a great opportunity for learning providers and other specialists to share ideas about the outlook for professional accounting education in the Middle East. There is clearly a demand for finance professionals across this wide geographic area, with their expertise needed to drive developments such as the 2020 World Expo in Dubai.” 

At the conference, ACCA’s experts shared new advances at ACCA, which include the successful introduction of Computer Based Exams (CBE) for F5 to F9 papers, and how four exam sessions a year are transforming accounting education for ACCA students and their employers. 

Alison McHugh Director of Education Development at ACCA said: “It was a privilege to share ideas about the future of the ACCA Qualification. As an accountant myself, I have seen massive changes over the years and I am proud that ACCA has been part of that evolution, delivering innovative approaches that ensure that our rigorous exams mirror the workplace environment. Our F5 to F9 CBEs will incorporate word processing and spreadsheets, tools that finance professionals use in work. These developments are all about making sure that ACCA students are using the right skills necessary to become forward thinking and in demand finance professionals.”

The ACCA team also updated the conference attendees on other new ACCA developments including the launch of F4 UAE exam variant paper. The F4 UAE – Corporate and Business law – exam paper will be available for students to take as part of their ACCA Qualification from December 2016. In addition to this, attendees also heard about ACCA’s partnership with the University of London to offer a Masters’ Programme, launched in 2015. 

Lindsay Degouve De Nuncques added: “ACCA’s strategic aim is to be number 1 in developing professional accountants the world needs, and learning providers are an integral part of this strategy. Together, we work to help our students succeed, offering learning and teaching strategies that put them one step ahead.” 

The event also included panel discussions which focused on the role of learning providers in the employability agenda in the region, from mentoring programmes to the practicalities of helping students apply for and secure the work they need.

Lindsay Degouve De Nuncques concluded: “ACCA is dedicated to strengthening its partnerships with learning providers, with the aim of providing quality tuition support to get students on the path to full ACCA membership. I’m delighted that the conclusion to this first conference was that learning providers and tutors have a shared commitment and understanding of ACCA’s vision – it’s team work at its best.”

Attendees included: 

• Aysha Al Marzooqi Binshabib , Finance Support Manager, ADCO  
• Phillip Brear – F4 paper UAE examiner 
• Nicola Dean, Head of ACCA & FIA, BBP Professional Education 
• Stuart Dunlop, Regional Director, MENASA, ACCA 
• Rebacca Evans, Head of ACCA, Kaplan 
• Fazeela Gopalani , Head of Education, Middle East 
• Geoffrey Hereon, Programmer Leader Oxford Brookes University 
• Julie Hepburn, Head of Education Recognition and Accreditation, ACCA 
• Dominic Light, Director of Global ACCA Sales, Becker Professional Education 
• Alison McHugh, Director of Education Development, ACCA 
• Namasiku Liandu – Bahrain Polytechnic (Panelist) 
• Saad Maniar, Managing Partner, Crowe Horwath (Panelist)
• Rob Moulin FCCA, tutor and presenter specialising in financial reporting 
• Lindsay Degouve de Nuncques, Head of ACCA Middle East 
• John Playle, Consultant 
• Rehan Uddin, Head of Education, MENASA, ACCA