University of Johannesburg: SAICA 2022 ITC results reaffirms UJ as the leader in transforming Accounting Education

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has been reaffirmed as a leader in Accounting Education in South Africa, the latest results of the Initial Test of Competence (ITC) of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) have revealed. The results, released on Friday 25 March 2022, have also confirmed UJ as an institution of higher learning leading the Transformation narrative in Chartered Accountancy.

Picture: Academic trainees who achieved a 100% pass rate #ITC2022

ITC is the first of two professional examinations which candidate Chartered Accountants (CAs) are required to pass in order to register with SAICA as a Chartered Accountant. Professor Ben Marx, Head of the Department of Accountancy at UJ, congratulated the 177 students that have passed the ITC.

“We are extremely proud of the performance of our students in the January ITC examination, which is a testimony to the resilience of our students and staff during the very challenging past two years under Covid.”

UJ had a total number of 172 students of the 2021 CTA cohort passing the exam. Among the top UJ achievers was Ms. Inge Marx, who passed with honours, achieving more than 75% in this strenuous examination. Another highlight is the fact that our 17 academic trainees achieved a 100% pass rate. “UJ celebrates our first time African pass rate being 27% higher than the national average,” said Prof Marx, adding that UJ is proud of its partnership with the University of Namibia. As many as 100% of the University of Namibia students that were enrolled for the UJ CTA in 2021 passed the ITC.

Over the last 15 years, UJ has constantly been the largest residential contributor of African students to the Accounting Profession. The fact that UJ has 118 African students passing the ITC examination in 2022, now makes UJ the largest contributor of both residential and distance-learning universities of African students to the Accounting Profession. This is a contribution of 21% of the total number of first time African candidates that passed the ITC examination from the 18 SAICA accredited universities.

UJ has also implemented a project for CTA students where they are required to write a report that explores the effects of AI, big data, blockchain technology and robotics on the accounting profession and how the future of the accounting profession will change provided these elements.

Said Prof Marx: “In an ever-changing, dynamic environment, UJ‘s programmes are distinctly focused on equipping our students with the technical and pervasive skills as well as the digital and business accumbent to be ethical and critical thinking future leaders.”

UJ is also proud to have been the first SAICA accredited university to introduce the compulsory subject 4IR in Accounting, which is presented by data scientists and 4IR experts to our students as part of the accounting curriculum. This compulsory subject is offered to all 3rd year B Acc (CA-stream) and B Com Acc students.