To provide students with professional certificate
Abu Dhabi, January 19th 2014 - Abu Dhabi University (ADU) signed a 5-year Memorandum of Agreement with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), which will enable accounting and finance students and MBA students at the University to acquire globally accredited awards and titles of a Diploma in Management Accounting or an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting from CIMA once they complete the degree requirements in accounting or finance at the University. Recognized worldwide as one of the most relevant global finance and accounting qualification for business and as the world's largest professional body of management accountants, the CIMA qualification will give students and graduates of ADU an additional competitive advantage in their professional careers.
Details of the agreement were announced during the signing ceremony which was held at Abu Dhabi University campus in the presence of Dr. Nabil Ibrahim Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University, Geetu Ahuja Head of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants GCC - Middle East, Dr. Jacob Chacko Dean of the college of Business administration, Dr. Sherine Farouk, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Accounting Program at ADU's College of Business Administration and several officials from both parties.
Commenting on the importance of the partnership, Dr. Nabil Ibrahim Chancellor of Abu Dhabi University explained that the agreement will open new horizons for accounting and finance students at ADU's College of Business Administration as it will allow them to gain these internationally recognized professional diplomas concurrently with the completion of their degrees from ADU. "CIMA's review and recognition of the accounting and finance curricula at ADU is proof of the currency, relevance, and rigor of our business curricula. This external validation gives our students a head start in today's extremely competitive labor market, where most employers seek graduates armed with a professional qualification", said Dr. Ibrahim.
Dr. Ibrahim pointed out that Abu Dhabi University is looking forward to the fruitful results of this partnership especially as it involves Chartered Institute of Management Accountants' (CIMA) endeveavor in providing job placement, both internship and permanent employment, for Abu Dhabi University students pursuing the Bachelor of Business Administration, or Masters of Business Administration or CIMA's professional certificates with several of the Institute's partnered employers. "The partnership is also a wonderful addition to ADU's recent list of ongoing achievements including being awarded "Best Supporting University for Entrepreneurship" in the UAE and the Arab World during the Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for Young Business Leaders in its 8th cycle, and being the youngest university to enter Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world university rankings for two years in a row whilst still celebrating our 10th anniversary. We're also actively pursuing international accreditation with The Association to Advance Schools of Business (AACSB-International) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)".
On her part, Geetu Ahuja Head of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants GCC - Middle East said: "Our partnership with ADU will give more young university students access to professional qualifications that will benefit them substantially in the job market. CIMA will offer ADU students the chance to gain valuable skills that are transferrable to the business, finance and accounting profession here in the UAE. At ADU, we see a wide caliber of students with high ambitions, who would like to be better prepared for a career in business, finance and accounting. We believe that CIMA is a platform for ADU students to experience a smoother transition into the job market, as well as to be strongly equipped for success within the challenging and competitive business industry".
"The usual process to acquiring the CIMA membership takes students an average of two to three years. This partnership with Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), will allow our students to obtain the certificate in a few months, which is quite a feat, especially since Abu Dhabi University will be the first educational institution in Abu Dhabi to offer its students this prestigious qualification. In line with the mission of the University and the College of Business, we align our curricula to the reputed international certification bodies", said Dr. Jacob Chacko Dean of the College of Business Administration.
Explaining the details of this unique partnership, Dr. Sherine Farouk, Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Accounting Program at ADU's College of Business Administration said: "We worked closely with CIMA for over a year, aligning our accounting and finance courses with their requirements, which resulted in the accreditation of our courses and will now enable our students to acquire the Diploma in Management Accounting or an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting from CIMA after sitting for only one exam instead of covering up to 11 modules over a period of almost 3 years. In addition to giving the ADU students an advantage on their peers in the labor market, the accreditation is a testament to the quality of education offered at ADU and to the distinction of our graduates".
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About Abu Dhabi University (ADU)
Since its inception in 2000, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region and President of Abu Dhabi University's Board of Trustees, Abu Dhabi University has become one of the region's leading centers of academic excellence. Its vibrant and cosmopolitan student population represents more than 60 nationalities. Through its globally competitive curriculum, ADU formulates highly unique degree programs that maximize graduates' chances of employment. It strives to become one of the world's elite institutions of world-class education and applied research. In addition to a dynamic range of extracurricular activities, ADU also instills a strong spirit of social responsibility in its students so that graduates can help to transform not only their industries; but also their communities and above all, their world.
Abu Dhabi University is licensed by the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research, with all its undergraduate and postgraduate programs accredited. ADU was also the first university to receive the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award in 2010. Today ADU is one of only three universities in the UAE to enter the ranks of the world's top 650 universities in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) world university rankings of 2012 - 2013.
For more information about Abu Dhabi University please contact:
Omnia Hassan
Public Relations & Media Officer
PO Box: 59911, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Direct: +971 (0)2 501 5624
Mobile: +971 (0)50 220 5281
Email: Omnia.hassan@adu.ac.ae
Web: www.adu.ac.ae
About CIMA
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), founded in 1919, is the world's leading and largest professional body of management accountants, with over 218,000 members and students operating in 177 countries, working at the heart of business. CIMA members and students work in industry, commerce, the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. CIMA works closely with employers and sponsors leading-edge research, constantly updating its qualification, professional experience requirements and continuing professional development to ensure it remains the employers' choice when recruiting financially-trained business leaders.
Professionalism and ethics are at the core of CIMA's activities with every member and student bound by robust standards so that integrity, expertise and vision are brought together.
CIMA has formed a joint venture with the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) to establish the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation. CGMA is the global quality standard that further elevates the profession of management accounting. The designation recognises the most talented and committed management accountants with the discipline and skill to drive strong business performance.
CIMA is proud to be the first professional accounting body to offer a truly global product in the fast-moving area of Islamic Finance.
For more information about CIMA, please visit www.cimaglobal.com
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Nesreen Bakheit
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© Press Release 2014