The School of Accounting Sciences and the South African software company, Pastel Accounting recently joined forces to train second year accounting students as “Pastel Champions”. After the successful completion of the training, these students will act as trainers and mentors during the 2014 training schedule.
According to Ms Olive Stumke, a lecturer in the School of Accounting Sciences, the aim of the training was to empower the students with the necessary technical skills in order for them to meet the needs set by industry.
Development of a bridging course
The School of Accounting Sciences is currently awaiting feedback on an application to SETA to offer Pastel training – free of charge, to all third year students. “We acknowledge the fact that third year accounting students do not have sufficient exposure to accounting software on a level that is acceptable to the job market,” says Stumke and adds that the University in association with Sage Pastel developed a program – as part of a bridging course, to close this gap. “Numerous students have accounting literacy but not accounting software skills that will enable them to be more marketable when they graduate and are employed in the financial sector,” says Stumke.
Through the proposed collaboration between the School of Accounting Sciences and Sage Pastel a student who is entering a postgraduate financial degree – who needs an understanding of the accounting systems, principals and documentation, will be empowered to perform at a higher level in obtaining his/her postgraduate qualification. With the skills obtained through this programme the students will be more effective and efficient when first employed. This will in turn result in a shorter learning curve and a faster progression of the students in becoming productive members of the financial department within their respective organisations.
Article issued by NWU Vaal Triangle