College of Accounting Sciences successfully conducts hybrid exams

In an unprecedented exam set up for Unisa, students at the College of Accounting Sciences (CAS) successfully completed the first set of hybrid exams for the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Accountancy and the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting Sciences (PGDA). More than 1,500 students from 23 regions, including students from Swaziland, Namibia and Zimbabwe, sat for the first exam session. 

The PGDA is commonly called the Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA 1 and 2). As part of ensuring the integrity of the Certificate in the Theory of Accounting (CTA 1 and 2) programme offered by CAS, the college conducted the CTA exams under extraordinary vigilance, made possible by both lecturers and administrative staff, thereby setting a new standard for secure and flexible assessment at Unisa. 

Professor Cameron Modisane, Deputy Executive Dean of the CAS, said: “The deanery would like to thank every academic and support staff member who assisted the School of Applied Accountancy in the CTA examination process.” He added: “We thank all the staff members who rose to the occasion and assisted in resolving some of the challenges encountered during the exams. This is a testament that we can do more to support our students by working together as a college with support directorates.”

This achievement marks a significant step forward in adapting to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The move to conduct the exams in a hybrid format also indicates the college’s commitment to ensuring the academic integrity of assessments while providing students with the flexibility they need. 

Keba Ramushwane and Senzi Mofokeng, Chairs of the Department of Financial Governance and the Department of Financial Intelligence at the School of Applied Accountancy respectively, led the team to ensure the exams ran smoothly. Ramushwane said: “The hybrid exams, which combined in-person and remote invigilation, required meticulous planning and close collaboration between colleagues in the regions and support departments, including administrative staff. This effort ensured a smooth and secure examination process that protected the integrity of the assessments.” 

Before writing the exams, students were invited to attend information sessions in which the process for the hybrid exams was explained. Twenty revision classes followed these engagements to help the students prepare for the exams. The revision classes were venue-based and online to accommodate international students. 

South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) noted the controls the college implemented to ensure the smooth running of the summative assessment opportunities. With one invigilator available for every five students to ensure the integrity of the assessment, SAICA was satisfied with these interventions and confirmed that the requirement for continued accreditation for venue-based assessments has been met.

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* By Ntsako Mohlaba, CAS: Communications and Marketing Specialist