Friday Nov 29, 2024
Friday Nov 29, 2024
Wednesday, 18 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The institute has conceptualised three promotional offers for students currently pursuing MBA programs, and qualifications at the Association of Accounting Technicians of Sri Lanka (AAT), and Institute of Chartered Accountants (CA).
MBA students are offered a discount of GBP 100 by paying GBP 250 for registrations before 31 December. This offer is inclusive of an exemption fee for 11 subjects, first year subscription fee, and CIMA Masters Gateway Assessment Exam fee (first attempt). Qualified AAT members or passed finalists will receive a 50% exemption waive, saving Rs. 34, 668, whereas CA students who have completed the Intermediate level are given the opportunity to joining CIMA with five exemptions.
While the offers for AAT students was initially valid till 15 December, and for CA and MBA students till 25 December, CIMA has extended the promotion for all three segments to 31 December 2013. CIMA Regional Director Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa Bradley Emerson said that the entire scheme had been conceptualised keeping in mind the recent achievement of Sri Lanka where it was picked as the ‘Offshoring Destination of the Year’ at the National Outsourcing Association Awards (NOAAs) earlier this year.
“The country has short window of opportunities right now to utilise on this accreditation. It should ensure that it retracts big players, such as Accenture. There are many large BPO operators out there but the challenge the nation faces is the limited supply of talent. While this is an industry that can scale up in a short period of time, it is necessary to have the demand matched. The qualification should also be international since companies coming in are looking for internationally qualified talents,” he said.
In this regard, CIMA comes in as a vehicle providing a global flavour. The exemption for MBA, AAT and CA students are in line with converting the national financial ability to global financial capability. “We want to fast track the process. We think that the exemption fee waivers offered is more a national focused initiative. This is done with the intention of getting the talent supply right for the BPO industry to reach $ 1 billion in the near future,” Emerson added.
Noting that the target is achievable, he stressed the need in having adequate supply of talent to ensure that markets in Sri Lanka remain sustainable and competitive.
“When looking at the scenario in countries such as Vietnam and Egypt, they have the big operators. Now Pakistan is having a few too. If we don’t nurture the financial talent with global qualifications Sri Lanka will lose. We are a region with a large youth population and it is important we make use of this opportunity,” Emerson expressed.
CIMA in the last five years has captured 27% of the market growth of accountants and in Industry and commerce.
While 88% of Fortune 500 companies employ AICPA CGMA designation holders, CIMA members hold 111 board positions at 91 different FTSE 350 companies. 42 of these are within 37 FTSE 100 companies and 69 are within 54 FTSE 250 companies.
