Sep 3, UIC - When UIC Executive Vice President Prof. Edmund Kwok received the Accreditation Certificate from Mr. Paul Meiklejohn, President of CPA Australia, at the Accreditation Ceremony today, the cooperation between UIC and CPA Australia was officially launched.
Representatives of CPA Australia, including Mr. Paul Meiklejohn, Mr. Thomas Wong, President of CAP Australia Hong Kong Division, and Ms. Deborah Leung, Director of CPA Australia Hong Kong Division, were met at the UIC Teaching Building by UIC representatives Prof. Edmund Kwok, Mr. Joseph Wan, Acting Dean of Business and Management Division, Dr, Vincent Kwan, Associate Professor & Acting Dean of Business and Management Division. After a brief greet meeting and a tour around the campus, both parties attended the Accreditation Ceremony held at the International Center, BNU. Prof Simon Ho, Dean of School of Business of Hong Kong Baptist University and Mr. Zhong Guosheng, Director of Zhuhai Administration of University District also attended the ceremony.
The ceremony was a milestone in the cooperation relation between UIC and CPA Australia. The CPA Australia auditing process to degree programs was known to be strict. With the joint effort of CPA Australia, UIC and HKBU, CPA Australia finally granted accreditation to the Accounting Program of UIC. “We are deeply honored to have the recognition, “ Prof. Kwok said in his speech at the ceremony, “This international recognition…is a trust in UIC. It’s a trust in the effort that we have put in in the last two years; it’s a trust in the mission that we have for our future; it’s a trust for UIC to work together with the Australian professionals in accounting to bring proficiency in education, (and) to bring excellence in accountancy professional education.” He said that the Australian network is meaningful to UIC, and UIC was grateful to CPA Australia for their support as UIC was still at its early stage of development.
In order to respond to the globalization of accounting and the competition in Australia and overseas, CPA Australia has started to accredit business degrees in universities outside Australia to ensure they have a flow of accounting students ready to commence the CPA Program upon graduation. “This is the first program we have accredited in Zhuhai, China.” Mr. Meiklejohn said, “CPA Australia was pleased to work side by side with Hong Kong Baptist University and the United International College.” He hoped in the near future he could welcome students of the United International College to join CPA Australia on completion of their study and to undertake the CPA Program.
Dr. Vincent Gwan proudly introduced 10 UIC students of Accounting that attended the ceremony and applause flooded the venue. He hoped that the students would choose to work in the profession of accounting in future, and the cooperation between UIC and CPA Australia would help to cover the professional shortage in accounting in China.
A plaque was unveiled and souvenirs were exchanged among representatives to mark the event. “We have passed the first step of auditing, and we are ready to move on.” Prof. Kwok Said, ”We will do our best to bring this relationship to a fruitful success.”
Christy Zhao
Publicity and Media Office
