In its continued endeavour to collaborate with frontline institutions in the country, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) has signed an MOU with the Imperial Institute of Higher Education Ltd. (IIHE) with the view to offer the ACCA qualification to the students at IIHE. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) facilitates in particular the undergraduates of the University of Salford program at IIHE to pursue the globally recognised ACCA qualification in the field of accountancy and finance. This initiative will be beneficial for the under graduates as well as graduates who now will be able to avail relevant exemptions for the BSC (HONS) Accounting and Finance degree while opting for professional qualification such as ACCA on top of their bachelor’s degree. Both ACCA and IIHE share common and strong interests in education and the sustainable development of the accountancy profession in the country, in particular concerning the maintenance and promotion of professional, educational and ethical standards and to enhance and ultimately to maintain and develop the profession in the country .

The MOU was signed by ACCA Sri Lanka Head Nilusha Ranasinghe and IIHE CEO/Academic Director Dr. Thilak Weerakoon. As part of the MOU, the two educational bodies will be collaborating in the areas of professional accountancy training, education, examinations, and continuing professional development. The agreement also aims to disseminate information in collaboration with each other to students about the accounting profession and the opportunities available to accounting and finance professionals.

“ACCA is committed to providing opportunity for hard-working and talented people to enjoy rewarding and successful careers in finance and accountancy. We believe that a globally recognised accountancy qualification like ACCA is essential for students to strengthen their degrees and to turn them into complete financial professionals, which is the need of the hour. Students of IIHE will also benefit from global partnerships of ACCA with prestigious institutes like Oxford Brookes University and the University of London,” Nilusha Ranasinghe said, expressing their confidence in the partnership. Dr. Thilak Weerakoon appreciated the efforts of ACCA by saying, “IIHE is one of the largest and prestigious institutes in Sri Lanka and a partnership such as this, between the academic and professional sectors, is essential to provide our youth with the opportunities to excel tomorrow. I strongly believe that both ACCA and IIHE will work together to benefit our students by establishing stronger links between our academic institutions, employers and the changing dynamics of the society.”