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Worldwide Distance Learning
This month's featured article focuses on learning Accountancy. There will be many more courses to chose from in the near future.
Accounting By Distance Learning
Sarah
Barrow University of Southern Queensland
Exciting,
well-paid careers await these who qualify with an accounting degree, as
many Malaysian graduates around the world have found. Graduates awarded
a commerce degree from Malaysia's universities have found themselves
employed In some of the world's major accounting firms In Interesting
and challenging jobs.
Malaysia's
commerce students have studied their accounting degree in countries as
diverse as Germany, Singapore, Zimbabwe and Japan. Both Bachelor of
Commerce (Accounting) and Master of Professional Accounting degrees are
offered both on-campus and by distance learning, by most universities
around the world. Undergraduate Bachelor of Commerce students have the
option of majors in accounting as well as combined accounting and
finance or general commerce majors. The Master of Professional
Accounting is a conversion course for people who do not have an
accounting qualification. Frequently, potential overseas accounting
students are confused about studying by distance education. Most
students have only ever studied in face-to-face situations, and are not
sure what is important to consider when choosing a distance learning
program.
Is
the university experienced in delivering distance education?
Universities
with experience in distance education will have discovered how to
provide their subjects successfully, and will have high quality notes
and support for students.
What
local support is offered?
The
major problems faced by distance learning students are caused by
isolation. These can be overcome where local support is offered for
students. Students can resolve administrative problems, submit
assignments and meet with other students at a local support office, and
experienced universities have local support offices in , many overseas
countries, providing high quality academic and administrative services
to students.
What
do I get for my fees?
Check
to ensure that you will receive a comprehensive set of notes from the
university, not just a syllabus outline, and ask to see a typical set of
notes. Some courses provide CD Roms, internet delivery and video
conferencing, with course material incluced in the fees, although other
universitiesrequire students to pay extra for distance learning course
material. Check on what is inluded in the course fees.
Can
I contact the lecturers at the university directly?
It
is important to ensure that you can contact your lecturers when you need
to. Distance learning students are encouraged to voice any problems or
questions they may have about the course, and with email, it
is now fast and cheap, with response being equally easy.
Can
I contact other students?
The
advent of the Internet and e mail has led to great changes in the way
distance education students can keep in touch with their peers. Look out
for newsgroups for students, where they can interact with others, both
on-campus and other distance learning students. Of course, the lecturers
also use the newsgroups to communicate with students. Through local
overseas agents, students often have direct interaction with others on
their course through local tutorials, as well as telephone tutorials,
video conferences and visits by Malaysian staff.
Is
the degree recognised by the relevant professional bodies?
Students
intending to join a professional body on graduating must make certain
that the degree they will receive is recognised by the professional body
before commencing study. Check that courses are accredited by both the
Malaysian Society of CPAs and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in
Malaysia. Graduates will be automatically recognised by these
professional bodies.
How
flexible Is the degree?
Sometimes
students who commence study by distance learning find that their
circumstances change, and they want to continue Study in Malaysiaon-campus. Many universities now allow students to transfer from
on-campus to distance learning or vice versa, because on-campus
students' curriculum, assignments
and exams are exactly the same as those used by distance
learning students. This gives students the opportunity to experience
life in Malaysiaand make many new friends.
Are
course materials up to date?
A
course such as accounting must be based on laws, standards and practices
which are currently used in business. Universities must ensure that
their material is updated regularly, sometimes each semester, to make
sure students are taught skills and knowledge which will be relevant to
their employment.
Can
I fast-track my study?
Students
who want to fast-track their degree can do so by studying all year round
over three semesters. However, work or family commitments can mean a
student needs to defer their study for a short period. This is usually
easy to do, as most subjects are offered more than twice a year,
allowing them to be picked up later. Distance education provides a
flexible way to learn in your own time. Family and work commitments are
combined more readily with distance education than with class
attendance. Whether you seek advancement or new career opportunities in
your life, the time may now be right for you to consider studying an
accounting degree by distance learning.
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