2.   Background of the Program

Accounting as a profession had emerged following the ever increasing needs of mankind in the social, economic and business environment. The accounting profession has shown a continuous and tremendous growth in the business world. This evolution of the accounting practice ranges from the ancient civilization periods of the Babylonians and Egyptians when payments for daily workers were

 

used to be calculated on clay, as today’s practice where Computerized Accounting Information Systems that are used for generation of financial information which is very useful for making reliable business decisions. The significance as well as momentum of growth of the accounting discipline has increased after the 18th century Industrial Revolution of the Great Britain which has brought a series of radical changes in the Content, Concept and Context of many of the professional fields, particularly those under the shadow of Business and Economics.

In the existing organizational dynamics and global integrations, the importance of vibrant Accounting and Finance professionals is indisputable. The central role of accountancy and finance in society make them interesting disciplines in their own right, especially for those who are interested in how economic or financial activities of any economic players, both at the micro and macro level, influences and structures our lives.

Over the past periods, the program has long been working on the conventional knowledge based course based delivery system with its many drawbacks including lack of academic coherence, poor assessment and evaluation, fragmented knowledge, poor quality and relevance of the curriculum as a whole which could not produce highly qualified and competitive graduates at the job markets.

The modularized curriculum constitutes modules and courses carefully designed to transform the conventional academic incoherence approach to competence based teaching/learning approach behind the modularization.

3.   Rationale of the Program

Accounting and Finance, in the modern context of business, is a Financial Information and Communication System that provides various groups of decision makers with valuable and reliable information that makes a difference in their day-to-day business decisions.

The basic rationale of the program is attributed to the observed continuously flourishing of different organizations in Ethiopia, along with the rapid pace of development of Ethiopian economy over the past periods. Different countries in general, and Ethiopia, in particular host various organizations: private, governmental, profit making, non-profit making, service, manufacturing organizations, etc. The business world is becoming increasingly complex and is facing new and greater challenges continually. The Accounting and Finance profession, a key profession in modern business society, will have to meet these challenges. Given the volatility of events, the Accounting and Finance education program needs to provide new skills and knowledge to Accounting and Finance graduates who enter the profession.

 

This program is designed to prepare students for careers in Accounting and Finance in all economic sectors such as business, not-for-profit, and government organizations. The areas of Accounting and Finance study are financial Accounting, cost and managerial Accounting, tax Accounting, Accounting information systems, Government and non-profit Accounting, Finance, and auditing. In addition to the above mentioned input of the program, it combines and applies several supporting subject fields including law, information technology, quantitative techniques and economics pertinent to the accounting and finance agenda.

 

 

4.   Rationale for Curriculum Review

Many scholars working for the quality of the world education strongly recommend that curriculum should be flexible across time, place and discipline so that the practice of curriculum design and delivery is based on the actual practice of countries development capacity and updated technological demand/advancements. For this reason, in 2019/20 (2012EC), all RVU campuses have designed and implemented a new modular based approach to promote innovative curricula, assure quality education and produce competent graduates that can make a difference in the overall progress of the country. However, it was again found that an overall revision of the curriculum is needed which is in line with the education road map of the country. The new curriculum is launched in 2019/20 and has become a four-years full time program.

While developing the modular curriculum, there was consensus among curriculum scholars that the delivery system of the old accounting and finance curriculum followed disciplinary approach rather than focusing on the competency of the students. The old curriculum also focused on teachers’ engagement rather than students’ engagement and lacked natural flow and unity of ideas. Besides, the labor market shows the growing and urgent needs to link academic learning with professional practice in the world of work.

As a result, the then revised curriculum, which shifted to modular system, attempted to address the problems of the old curriculum. In addition to linking academic learning with professional practice, the revised modularized, modular approach gives value for student’s independent activities. Since the course sequences and coding are standardized, the revised curriculum allows student to transfer freely within the country from one university to other. These qualities of the modular curriculum are maintained and extended in this revised curriculum too.

 

5.   Program Objectives

 

5.1.             General Objectives of the program

 

The program of Accounting and Finance plans to meet the University’s mission of instilling into present and future-leaders knowledge of current and future accounting, auditing and finance practices and relevant skills through student–centered high quality, viable programs which are fully recognized internationally and by both the private and public institutions in Ethiopia. Hence, the Department seeks to sustain its growth and relevance through:

• A highly educated and motivated faculty Viable programs which have local relevance and fully recognized
• An International reporting and auditing standards based curriculum  that meets the needs of the nation  and international
• Relevant curriculum leading to an exceptional learning environment with full access to new technologies and computer-mediated learning
• An abundant level of intellectual capital created through scholarly activities
• Research that meets the needs of the local and international business and academic communities;
• A fully integrated international perspective
• A full understanding of employer needs obtained through constant monitoring of the business environment through linkage program

 

 

5.2.             Specific Objectives of the program

 

The program of Accounting and Finance has the following specific objectives:

 

• To produce graduates in its regular degree program to satisfy a portion of the demand for accounting and finance
• To enhance the relevance and timeliness of instruction, as well as the technical competency of the staff, by conducting applied research and developing innovative educational materials and techniques.
• To provide students with sufficient academic, technical, logical, analytical, and professional base from which to pursue a career in accounting and finance and to advance to further study and a potential academic career in accounting and finance
• To be a major provider of consultancy services to the public
• To establish linkage programs with different stakeholders from which the program will be able to tap resources and share experiences

 

6.   Graduate Profile and Professional Profile

 

6.1.             Graduate Profile

 

Upon graduate from the program, the graduate from BA degree in Accounting and Finance should have accounting and finance knowledge and understanding that enable them to:

• Account transactions and events, and prepare financial statements as per International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS);
• Analyze and interpret IFRS-based financial statements;
• Audit financial statements and the underlying accounting systems, controls and records, and express an independent professional opinion about them as per International Standards for Auditing (ISA);
• Identify, measure, gather, analyze, interpret and communicate cost and other types of information to management for planning, control, performance measurement, and decision making related to pricing, operating, investing, and financing activities;
• Identify and anticipate control risks both in manual and computerized accounting systems, and to suggest and establish better controls to safeguard business resources from risk exposures of illegal acts;
• Analyze and design accounting information systems, and use computer applications in business transaction cycles;
• Develop the specific skills, modes of analysis and institutional background useful to work in finance areas for profit- making businesses or not-for-profit organizations;
• Start and run their own business;
• Account transactions and events, and prepare financial statements for not-for-profit organizations as per International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS)
• Manage financial resource and risk exposures of business firms, manage financial institutions, analyze investment opportunities and execute professional services in investment institutions, brokerage & dealer firms and in investment banks;
• Conduct accounting and finance related research and to form linkage with various accounting and finance oriented and research based institutions both locally and
• Work clerical activities like, keeping general accounts, records and reports; payroll processing and
• Prepare tax return and perform tax plan
• Internalize an appreciation for the role of ethics in both the profession and the business world.
• Be prepared for graduate studies, professional certification and advanced trainings in accounting, auditing, finance, and management
• Professional Profile

With additional training and work experience, the graduates of the program can pursue careers and render professional services in the areas of accounting and finance in various forms of organizations ranging from private, governmental and non-profit entities. After successful compilation of the three years undergraduate program of accounting and finance, students will be able to be:-

• Accounting clerks: Keeping general accounts, records and reports; payroll processing and billings; Perform cost and managerial accounting and control, data generation and supervisions; Disbursement voucher process and control; and bank reconciliation and banking activities;
• Cost analysts: keep accounts of product costing and provide other relevant cost information
• Auditor both internal and external: Work as an assistance auditor (both internal and external ); Pre-audit inspection and investigation; Operational audit, partial financial audit, cash audit, compliance audit, branch audit, interim reports audit, advance clearance;
• Tax specialists- prepare tax return, work as internal revenue agents and tax
• Information system designer and manipulator-Generating information which is of financial and non-financial in nature necessary for management; and analyzing, designing and installing accounting systems (manual or computerized).
• Financial management –running revenue and expenditure management capital investment decisions; risk and insurance management and budgeting
• Financial analyst: financial planner, investment advisor, project coordinator; rendering financial consultancy

 

Academic Requirements

• Admission Requirements

A candidate who wishes to join the Bachelor arts degree in Management program is required to meet the entry requirements of higher institutions stated by Ministry of Science and Higher Education:

 

1. After a successful completion of preparatory program:

 

• As per the regulations of Ministry of Education,

 

                After 10+3 and level 4 TVET completion

 

• TVET diploma or level IV certification
• Certified National level COC
• Minimum one-year work experience
• A pass in entrance examination set by the program.

 

                 After having a first degree:

 

• Any one from any profession

 

@As per the admission criteria of the University

@A pass in entrance examination set by the program.

               For foreign students

 

• As per the degree equivalence evaluated by HERQA
• As per the admission criteria of the University
• A pass in entrance examination set by the Program.

                  Student transfer

 

• From a recognized university or college in the related field
• As per the admission criteria of the University
• As per the senate legislation of the University

Medium of Instruction

The medium of instruction for the program is English Language

Duration of the study

The completion of the program would require four years with 8 semesters for regular program and 5 years with 10 semesters + 4 summer classes for extension program.

Assessment and Evaluation Methods

 

The program follows a combination of various assessment and evaluation techniques. Considering the very nature of the course and the expected learning outcome from each course, the assessment and evaluation methods include continuous assessment like assignments; quizzes, tests, individual and group projects, paper based and practical exams, presentations, and the like.

8.   Teaching /Learning Methods and Mode of Delivery

Depending on the nature of courses in the program, various mode of delivery which involve both the instructor and the students will be used including lectures, class discussions, demonstrations, presentations, and the like.