College of Business and Economics Annual Report 2017 43 MASTER’S DEGREES MCom: Computer Auditing 29 MCom: Financial Management 79 MCom: International Accounting 38 MCom: SA + International Taxation 40 These programmes were supported by an operational budget of R111 million, which translates into R20 586 per full-time student equivalent. New developments in 2018/2019 will include the recurriculation of the Bachelor of Accounting and PG Diploma in Accounting Sciences in response to the SAICA 2025 Project. Other developments will include BCom International Accounting on-line to commence in July 2018 and the Diploma in Accounting on-line planned to commence in 2020. STUDENT PROFILE Some 22 % of the School’s students are drawn from very poor communities of whom 40% have performed exceptionally well at secondary school level. Therefore, the School contributes substantially at the College 63rd percentile towards the UJ mission of socio-economic transformation and presents best practice in reputation and student recruitment. The School performs at a module success rate of 88% (College average = 87%). This is an impressive trend, reducing students’ cost of study and improving employment opportunities. Even more impressive is that the SoA first-year dropout rate is recorded at a low 12% (College average = 19%). GRADUATE PROFILE The School of Accounting contributed 2 095 graduates (40% of College output) in 2017 among whom 1 660 undergraduate diplomas and degrees (80% of SOA output), 414 honours and postgraduate diplomas (20%), as well as 21 master’s graduates. Undergraduates represented 79% of all graduates and postgraduates, 21%. Of importance is “student throughput”. This measurement refers to the percentage of students who have achieved their qualification in minimum time. The School of Accounting undergraduate throughput stands at 24% compared to the national benchmark of 25%, 53% for honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas (benchmark =60%), and master’s at 11% (benchmark = 33%). In January 2017, graduates achieved a pass rate of 87% in the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants’ (SAICA’s) Initial Test of Competence (ITC). An overall (final) pass rate of 95% was achieved after the June 2017 sitting. UJ retained its position as the biggest provider of African aspirant chartered accountants nationally. KNOWLEDGE CREATION In 2017, the School contributed the equivalent of 18 subsidised credits, representing 7% of College output. It is clear that the School needs to improve on its research contribution of 0,17 credits per Senior Lecturer Unit compared to the College average of 0,90. Such improvement will also support the probability of qualifying for international ranking.
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