BSc in Accounting

Background

A Bachelor of Science in Accounting provides an understanding of perspectives that form the context for business and financial management. The BSc Accounting is a rigorous programme that prepares students for professional accountancy roles and business and public sector management roles. It will equip students with a strong accounting foundation and the necessary accounting skills, as well as teaching the theory and logic behind the use of specific accounting techniques and accounting decision-making. Students are expected to think analytically and to critically evaluate key issues in accounting from a variety of perspectives. They are also expected to apply the analytical accounting approaches.

The Government of Malawi has adopted a strategy for development and growth spanning 2017-2022. This is the Malawi Growth & Development Strategy III (MGDS III) (Government of Malawi, 2017). This blueprint recognizes the failure of the country to develop competitively, resulting in Malawi becoming a consuming and importing nation, with very limited investment in industry, technology and private sector activities that promote manufacturing and export-led growth.

According to MGDS III, the plan for spurring growth recognizes provision of education and skills as key to providing the human capital required for socio-economic development and industrial growth. Unicaf University Malawi aims to play a part in the national effort to increase accessibility to tertiary education in general. Its online model, combined with its scholarship scheme makes high quality tertiary education accessible to a much large number of students than could be absorbed in a traditional face-to-face setting. Unicaf University, therefore meets the goal of availing tertiary education to as many Malawians as possible. More particularly, the BSc in Accounting programme will contribute towards the realization of the national vision for growth and development as outlined by the rationale below.

Programme Rationale

The BSc Accounting programme is designed to meet the professional accounting development and training needs of students. The BSc Accounting programme is also designed to educate students on the broader aspects accounting management and the economics of organizations. It includes a strong international element and considers the essential, underlying theory and concepts that are involved in the accounting sector on a global level, exploring accounting procedures in organizations around the world.  As the Malawian economy and other African economies grow, there will be an ever-increasing need for quality accounting and auditing of private sector and public sector institutions and their activities. There is a strong desire for certificate and diploma level accountants to upgrade to degree level as a stepping stone to becoming a Chartered Accountant. This online programme may appeal especially to those potential students who are working and already have experience of accounting and financial management, but do not wish to give up employment to undertake full-time studies. In this way the BSc in Accounting programme, offered by Unicaf University, expands access to students to enable more trained accountants to graduate. It thus, meets the broader societal needs of Malawi, and African countries in general, for greater numbers of skilled accountancy personnel to facilitate socioeconomic development.

Aim of the Programme

The aim of the Bachelor of Science in Accounting is to prepare students for entry into a variety of fields in accountancy, including corporate accounting, accounting information systems, and governmental accounting. Graduates will gain detailed knowledge of financial accounting and financial reporting.