Master of Professional Accounting programme postgraduate SME meeting on 23/05/2016
Christopher Cripps – Programme Director
Rebekah Sage – Senior Administrator
Paul, Jane and Nick
Nick's notes
Business needs/issues
Want to maintain their point of difference
Centrally managed marketing hasn’t been as effective as their own
While they get lots of queries about the non-academic requirements for the professional bodies we will link to these because they change too often to summarise
Chris felt that the video over-emphasised non-kiwi staff. Could counter with profiles of locals.
Students
2 groups:
International
Many from India, China
1/3 have UG accounting degree
They want accreditation (and jobs)
Domestic
Usually a career change, either:
- Complete change (biggest group)
- Professionalise their accountancy skills in same industry (lots of brewers and winemakers for some reason)
Mainly part time
Key messages
Professional
- Gives academic requirements of professional certification (might be only programme in which the Master’s alone (i.e. not the bachelor’s) gives academic requirements of professional certification)
- c.f. other accounting Master's which is more research based
- Fastest way you can get an accountancy qualification [faster = cheaper even though fees are higher for the professional accounting]
Other
Flexibility/study while you work – can do it all either in evening or lunch time
Nobody has had a problem completing the programme (solely) due to changing their discipline to accountancy/picking up accountancy - Students worry about picking up:
- Maths side of accountancy
- English
Have to be careful pitching career benefits to internationals - they tend need residence to get jobs and jobs to get residence. But it’s a common driver, especially from India – he gets calls asking if they can guarantee a job]
Entry
Don’t promote but can enter in any Trimester
Stair-casing
In brochure they do mention exit option