SAQA

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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

M Com: International Accounting

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
49073	M Com: International Accounting
ORIGINATOR
Rand Afrikaans University
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
Was CHE until Last Date for Achievement			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies		Generic Management
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	240	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 2663/05	2006-07-01	2009-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2010-06-30		2013-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification is replaced by:

Qual ID	Qualification Title	Pre-2009 NQF Level	NQF Level	Min Credits	Replacement Status
73939	Master of Commerce in International Accounting	Level 8 and above	NQF Level 09	180	Complete

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

South African Accounting Standards are already harmonised with International Accounting Standards (hereafter IAS) as recommended by the International Accounting Standards Board. IAS is, however, still not accepted as the sole standard for financial reporting by the world's largest capital market, namely the USA. The other major economic markets, like the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Australia, together with the USA, still continue to apply national accounting practices (which are in several instances very different from IAS) over and above attempts to accept IAS as a reporting standard.

Due to globalisation this situation creates clearly identifiable problems and challenges for enterprises as well as individuals within the corporate environment:

Local enterprises should provide information to foreign users in accordance with the accounting reporting framework know to them in order to encourage foreign investment;

Local enterprises wanting to list on foreign stock exchanges or participate in foreign capital markets should prepare financial statements in accordance with the accounting reporting framework of the country where the stock exchange/capital market is;

Multinational enterprises operate in countries with different accounting reporting frameworks;

Auditors should express an opinion on financial statements prepared according to different accounting reporting frameworks;

Auditors should provide cross-border services to multinational enterprises; and

Accountants are responsible for preparing financial statements in accordance with different accounting reporting frameworks.

The masters in International Accounting have been designed with the help of practitioners from various accounting firms and the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants with the demands of today's corporate environment in mind. The qualification reflects a blend of international accounting theory and new developments which would be applied to specialist areas and industries.

The learner should develop intellectual competencies and practical skills in the mastering, analysis, interpretation and application of advanced accounting principles in the context of the international environment, and be able to solve practical case studies, write opinions on current and future developments. The qualification will provide qualifying learners with the opportunity to further study at NQF level 8 on a doctoral programme in Accounting.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Applied competence as outcomes

Learners accessing this qualification should demonstrate their ability to read, analyse and reflect on study material and relevant literature on a honours level (NQF 7). Learners should be able to communicate effectively using Afrikaans/English in written and oral form. Learners must be able to manage their own study programme and time effectively. Learners must have acquired applied competence in the International Accounting field and be able to reflect on International Accounting decisions and applications.

Rules of access

A Potential learner should be in possession of a B Com Honours degree, or an equivalent four-year university qualification with honours status, with a minimum level of competency on NQF 7.

Additional selection criteria

Application for entry will be assessed by an accreditation committee of the Department of Accounting (RAU), upon which the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (RAU) will approve the assessment. If an applicant does not meet the admittance requirements stated, a route for further studies will be suggested by the Departmental Committee.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of prior learning in case of learners not complying with the formal entry requirements will be conducted in accordance with the policy and guidelines of the University concerning the recognition of other forms of formal, informal and non-formal learning experience. Recognition takes place only where prior learning corresponds with the required NQF level, and in terms of applied competencies relevant to the content and outcomes of the qualification. Through recognition of prior learning learners may gain access, or advanced placement, or recognition of status, on condition that they continue their studies at this University.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

N/A

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The learners should be able to:

Identify and discuss the differences in the accounting treatment and disclosure of transaction between different countries (comparison research).

Identify, research and comment on the new developments in Accounting undertaken to harmonise the international accounting field (interpretation skills)

Demonstrate their competence in applying the advanced theoretical principles of problem identification and solving in the field of Accounting correctly and reflect on the application made (problem solving skills);

Plan and undertake advanced research in the field of Accounting including the gathering, analysing, synthesising and interpretation of information on accounting issues correctly by utilising the relevant theoretical research principles and reflect on the research undertaken (research skills);

Communicate effectively orally and in writing on an advanced level with the different role players in the field of Accounting by applying the theoretical principles of communication and reflect on the application made (communication skills);

Accept the responsibility for their own activities in the field of Accounting (self-responsibility skills).

Practise acceptable social sensitivity in the relationships with others and work effectively in a team by implementing advanced relevant theory and reflect on the implementation thereof (team ship);

Explore different effective learning strategies to acquire advanced skills within the field of Accounting (explore learning strategies);

Acquire acceptable employment seeking skills for entry into the different sectors of the Accounting industry utilising the theoretical principles and reflect on the application thereof (employment seeking skills).

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Can the learners identify and discuss the differences in the accounting treatment and disclose of transaction between different countries?

Are the learners able to identify the new developments in the field of accounting and presenting their views on the effectiveness of the new developments?

Can the learners demonstrate their ability to identify and solve problems in the field of Accounting correctly by applying the advanced theoretical principles correctly and reflect on the application made?

Are the learners able to plan and undertake advanced research in the field of Accounting, including the gathering, analysing, synthesising and interpretation of information on accounting issues correctly by utilising the relevant theoretical research principles and reflect on the research undertaken?

Can the learners communicate effectively orally and in writing on an advanced level with the different role players in the field of Accounting by applying the theoretical principles of communication and reflect on the application made correctly?

Are the learners able to accept the responsibility for their own activities in the field of Accounting?

Can the learners practise acceptable social sensitivity in the relationships with others and work effectively in a team by implementing the relevant theory and reflect on the implementation thereof? (team ship)

Are the learners able to explore different effective learning strategies to acquire advanced skills within the field of Accounting? (explore learning strategies)

Do the learners demonstrate the acceptable employment seeking skills for entry into the different sectors of the Accounting industry by applying the theoretical principles of employment seeking and reflect on the application thereof? (employment seeking skills)

Integrated Assessment

Because assessment practices must be open, transparent, fair, valid, reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever, an integrated assessment approach is incorporated into the qualification. Both formative and summative assessment processes are accounted for to monitor progress during the programme and to determine competence at the end of the programme.

Formative assessment practices that will be implemented

Course work:

Learners will need to complete at lease two written research essays per module. The successful competition of two essays is required for entry in to summative assessment. Essays are continuously assessed by the supervisors.
Learners are continuously assessed by their supervisors.

Summative assessment practices that will be implemented:

Course work:

Integrated assessment, focusing on the achievement of the exit-level outcomes, will be done by means of a written 4 hour examination in each module. A final mark will be calculated on the average of a modular and exam mark.

Research article:

One research article should be completed base on any one of the essays. The research article should clearly demonstrate some evidence of original work. The short research article is submitted to the supervisor as well as at least one external examiner. They will typically judge the research article in accordance with the following criteria: the standard of the research methodology; the scientific and academic quality of the processes and structures; the technical presentation and layout, including the standard of language usage and editing. Each examiner (internal and external) submits a report regarding the research article. A percentage mark is allotted and a examination report clearly indicates whether the research article is: accepted unamended; or accepted after improvements have been made; or referred back for revision and re-submission for examination; or rejected.

Pass requirements that will be implemented

Course work:

A pass for a module is an average of at least 50% for the final mark. A sub-minimum of 40% is required in order to write the modular examination.

Research article:

A pass for the research article is at least 50%.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

N/A

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

Access to qualifications on a lower level:

Learners who wish to gain access to certificates, diplomas or degrees on NQF level 5 to 7 may be allowed, subject to the prescribed rules of access and the approval by the Dean and panel of participating departments. Credit will be retained for modules passed previously.

Access to qualifications on the same level:

Learners who are (or have been) registered for this or another related qualification on NQF level 8 at another higher educational institution, will be allowed to enter mid-stream. Such learners will retain credit for modules that have been passed, after recognition by the previous institution and the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (RAU). Learners who want to switch to another qualification or other modules at this institution, may do so subject to certain time limits. They will retain full credit for modules that have been passed. If learners want to continue their studies at another higher educational institution, they may switch towards the end of the first or the second semester. This will also be in accordance with the regulations of other institutions.

Learners who want to continue their masters studies at this institution, may do so if they can provide formal evidence of their previous academic training on a masters study level 8 of the NQF. Their previous exposure to masters training will be assessed by the dean's committee, whereupon the necessary status and credit will be recognized. The dean may refuse a candidate to continue with the masters degree, if in his/her opinion the applicant's prior training or academic standard is insufficient. Such a candidate may appeal to the Executive Committee of the Senate. A supplementary study programme may be required as condition for mid-stream entry. Learners who want to switch to another qualification or to another field of research, may do so, after consultation with their promoter(s) or the departmental head. Credit will be retained for formal prior training (courses that have been passed). Learners are allowed to continue their studies at another institution, in the case of them still being busy with the lecture- and exam-based components of the masters degree (if such an option exists). However, as soon as a learner has started his/her dissertation, the transition to another institution will only be possible after careful deliberation with the promoter(s) and corresponding department(s) at that institution. The learner who wishes to exit the RAU M Com (International Accounting) in mid-stream, i.e. change to another similar degree at RAU or another higher education institution, may do so, with the permission and motivation of his/her new promoter.

Access to qualifications on a higher level

Having obtained this qualification, the following possibility for further study of higher education programme exist namely a doctoral degree programme in Accounting on NQF level 8 at any university.

MODERATION OPTIONS

The following measures will be used to ensure the quality of assessment procedures: use of a variety of assessment modalities; continuous evaluation results; memoranda; internal and external examiners and peer moderation. Both internal and external examiners will be appointed by the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences upon recommendation by the Department of Accounting at this institution. At least one internal and external examiner will be appointed. External examiners with at least a doctoral degree on NQF 8 or a qualified chartered accountant will be selected from within the different higher education institutions or public practice in South Africa or abroad.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

Qualified assessors for assessing the learner undertaking this qualification, in terms of the foundational, practical and reflexive outcomes, will be appointed by the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences of this institution, upon recommendation of the Department, and based on the following criteria:

Assessors for the learner undertaking this qualification should be qualified in the area of financial management and should be in possession of a relevant M.Com degree on NQF level 8.

Assessors for the learner undertaking this qualification should have job and/or learning experience in the areas of International Financial Accounting.

Assessors for the learner undertaking this qualification should have experience in the field of education and training, particularly with respect to the subject of International Financial Accounting. Assessors should also be well informed of what is required of them in connection to the assessment of the learner.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006.

NOTES

The generic M Com is already accredited by the Department of Education. This is a new endorsement.

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

When qualifications are replaced, some of their learning programmes are moved to being recorded against the replacement qualifications. If a learning programme appears to be missing from here, please check the replacement.

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PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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