Business students wishing to pursue a chartered accountancy designation can now access increased educational resources at Memorial, thanks to the announcement of a $350,000 gift from the Chartered Accountants’ Education Foundation of Newfoundland (CAEFN) to Memorial’s Faculty of Business Administration May 25.

Faculty, staff and special guests were present as the CAEFN, a charitable foundation established by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Faculty of Business celebrated the launch of this new strategic partnership.

The foundation’s funding commitment, to be spread over 10 years, establishes a program intended to facilitate competency-based accounting education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.  This program will help students make links between their formal education and the workplace. 

The university will also engage in an annual lecture series which will see leading professional experts present on competency-based accounting education. The combined efforts of both parties will also add valuable resources and support for students who are interested in pursuing their Chartered Accountancy designation.

“The Faculty of Business Administration works diligently to ensure our students participate in and have access to first-rate learning experiences,” said Dr. Gary Gorman, dean of the Faculty of Business. “Our relationship with the Chartered Accountants’ Education Foundation is a good example of how we can partner with the business community to further enhance our existing programming, in this instance to the benefit of our accounting students.” 

The foundation will also support SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) Memorial in its efforts to aid war veterans in the pursuit of their entrepreneurial dreams, among other student initiatives and scholarships.

“Their support of our Based in Business program is invaluable for both veterans and students,” said SIFE Memorial President MaryBeth Handrigan. “The guidance offered by chartered accountants in this province is also particularly meaningful to students like myself who are pursuing their CA designation.”

Sharon Forsey, chair of the Chartered Accountants’ Education Foundation, said the foundation has long been involved with Memorial University as it prepares graduates to take the CA program. “Both parties have benefited from this partnership that has allowed for a sharing of expertise between practicing CAs in Newfoundland and Labrador and business students.”