MESSAGE FROM
PROFESSOR RAM KARAN
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Consistent with the usual trend together with ever expanding commercial activities today, demand for qualified accountants is likely to continue to rise in the future. Consequently, unlike their humble beginnings as bookkeepers, the role of accountants has significantly broadened today. They play very important roles not only as accountants and financial managers of business enterprises but they are also involved in management generally including issues of governance and accountability of almost every modern organization such as companies, governments and non-profit organizations. It is therefore not surprising to see accountants rise to top level executive positions in both private and public sectors.
Our innovative and progressive programmes in the Higher Education Stream ranging from Certificate, Diploma to Degrees provide avenues for students to acquire skills and expertise relevant to positions ranging from junior to very senior level finance related management roles in any organization. To help upgrade qualifications for career development of those already in the workforce we also offer short courses on special topics and contemporary issues that can generally form part of related Diploma and Degree programmes.
Acknowledging the challenges of increasing complexities of commerce demanding multi-disciplinary expertise from accountants and managers today, our programmes cross boundaries of related fields of study including economics, law, finance, banking, management and information systems. To encourage students to plan their own career paths our programmes allow elective studies to be undertaken in fields of independent choice.
To understand the importance of transparency and public accountability of governments, our programmes incorporate studies in public sector accounting. This also provides additional employment opportunities to our graduates in the public sector that generally experiences shortage of qualified accountants. To appreciate the wider responsibilities of accountants in society, especially in light of accountants and auditors implicated in numerous financial scandals across the world, our programmes include studies in business ethics and governance that have traditionally remained outside the higher education curricula.
The contents as well as teaching, learning and assessment methods of our programmes closely match those in other universities in the South Pacific region. These have been examined by an external assessor from an Australian university and accredited by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.
Industry attachments concluding with written reports relating to real world experiences that enhance employment prospects of our graduates are continually being strengthened with assistance and cooperation of our valued industry partners. To ensure high standards of tuition, the strength of academic staff is continuously enhanced commensurate with the emerging needs of our progressive programmes. It is envisaged that our overarching educational philosophy of empowerment through knowledge will enhance opportunities not only to pursue desired career aspirations of our graduates in the employment of others, but will also equip them to engage in independent rewarding ventures that make a positive contribution to their communities and the nation as well.
Professor Ram Karan
Head of School
Ph: (679) 3394000 Ext: 2518
Email: HOD-Accounting(at)fnu.ac.fj
