KUCHING: The launch of Swinburne Sarawak and Association of Chartered Certified Malaysia’s (ACCA’s) dual diploma programme signals a major boost for the accountancy profession in Sarawak.
Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn noted that the collaboration between both parties is a great catalytic initiative to support higher education in accounting and accelerate human capital and talent development.
Sagah asserted that human capital and talent development are critical for both economic and organisational sustainability in Sarawak.
As such, he said having sufficient qualified accounting and finance accountants is an economic imperative.
“It is a fact that the country and Sarawak are now short of qualified accounting and finance professionals.
“The launching of Swinburne Sarawak and the ACCA’s dual diploma programme and memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing today signify another pivotal push towards accelerating the intended growth of the accounting profession in the country and Sarawak.
“We need more qualified accountants to assist with our post-pandemic strategies and adapt to emerging issues, evolving tax regulations, audit and accounting standards, companies actions, and environmental challenges,” he said.
Sagah was represented by MEITD principal assistant secretary Donald Henry Nohed at the MoU signing at Swinburne Sarawak today.
He said the Diploma of Accountancy offered at Swinburne Sarawak is recognised by both the ACCA and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA).
The collaboration was not the first, he added, as Swinburne Sarawak started promoting the ACCA Accelerate Programme and conducting ACCA strategic professional-level courses in 2017.
“It reflects the high quality of education that Swinburne Sarawak can provide to nurture existing talent and attract new talent.
“All in all, accounting and finance are essential technical skills and knowledge required for 21st-century businesses, and especially for the true digital and circular economy that Sarawak aims to achieve as part of our Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030,” he added.
