Monday, 17 July 2006 marked another significant milestone as Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to assist UTAR undergraduates to join the ACCA programme for a challenging career in the financial accountancy field.

The MoU was signed by Mr Tay Kay Luan, Head of ACCA Malaysia and YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Dr Ng Lay Swee, President/CEO of UTAR and was witnessed by Mr Allen Blewitt, CEO of ACCA and Mr Lai Fatt Sian, Dean of Faculty of Accoutancy and Management, UTAR.

The Guest of Honour for the ceremony was UTAR Council Chairman, YBhg Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.

In entering into this MoU, both organizations shall carry out collaborative initiatives in providing opportunities to UTAR's undergraduates who wish to register themselves as ACCA students via the ACCA-UTAR Accelerate Programme.

UTAR's Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Accounting degree had been accredited with maximum paper exemptions from the ACCA professional examinations. These graduates shall be eligible to register directly for the Part III of ACCA professional examinations.

ACCA Malaysia had agreed to award three joint-scholarships with UTAR to eligible UTAR students who have registered for the UTAR-ACCA Accelerate Programme and/ or were currently pursuing Master in Commerce (Accounting) programme. Further, ACCA Malaysia will provide prizes up to maximum value of RM1,500.00 annually to recognize top academic in the Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) Accounting programme).

In summary, it was indeed an auspicious occasion for UTAR, in particular, the Faculty of Accountancy and Management and ACCA as the ceremony heralds the beginning of a bold and pragmatic cooperative venture.