Caption: Business Ethics Award winners – Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT)’s students from the Departments of Accounting and Internal Auditing and Financial Information Systems were recognised for their presentations on ethics at the annual Business Ethics Awards function, which was presented in conjunction with PwC. CUT is still the only Technology University in the country to offer this level of practical learning as part of its curriculum.
Front row (from left to right): Audrey Kakora, Esther Pasmene, Joy Johnson, Patience Shata, Mugelane Witbooi and Simone Abrahams.
Back row (from left to right): Schalk Maartens, Werner Landman (PwC), Leandi Lubbe (CUT), Riche van Wyk (PwC)
Caption: Business Ethics Award, Best Presenter – Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT)’s student, Patience Shata from the Departments of Accounting and Internal Auditing and Financial Information Systems was recognised for her presentation on ethics at the annual Business Ethics Awards function, which was presented in conjunction with PwC. CUT is still the only Technology University in the country to offer this level of practical learning as part of its curriculum.
From left to right: Werner Landman (PwC), Patience Shata (best presenter), Leandi Lubbe (CUT), Riche van Wyk (PwC)
Photographer: Irvin Howard
Accounting and auditing firms worldwide are placing a much stronger emphasis on the importance of business ethics within the industry. Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) is answering the call through course material and initiatives designed to ready their students for the “real world” by arming them with relevant, practical ethics education.
While entrepreneurial and professional skills are vital to good business, business ethics can make or break any affiliation.
To ensure that their students are able to make informed decisions when faced with ethical dilemmas once they join the workforce, CUT includes a compulsory Business Ethics module in the first semester of all B.Tech Programmes offered by the Departments of Accounting and Internal Auditing and Financial Information Systems.
This important and exciting module includes theoretical information on topics such as ethical decision making, resolving ethical dilemmas, social responsibility and corporate governance.
But the real beauty of the course is its practical component; an incentive-driven project devised in collaboration with international audit firm PwC. The project allows final year students in business ethics the opportunity to integrate their theoretical knowledge with real-life ethical dilemmas, with awards given for the best project presentations.
First-of-its-kind in South Africa
The project is now in its second year, and CUT is still the only Technology University in the country to offer this level of practical learning as part of its curriculum.
To partake in the project and awards, students form groups of six to eight members and select any topic related to a business ethics issue to work with. They then conduct extensive research and present their findings to an interdisciplinary panel of judges consisting of staff members from CUT, PwC and the University of the Free State. The best presentations are rewarded at the annual Business Ethics Awards function, which this year took place on 15 May 2013 in the Japie van Lill Auditorium of the CUT.
“The main purpose of the project is to raise awareness among accounting students regarding various unethical aspects occurring in both the public and private sectors,” says project leader and business ethics lecturer, Ms Leandi Lubbe. “We are really proud of the success of this exciting project in partnership with PwC.”
Over and above the practical experience gained from the project, students also benefit from being forced to work in groups, think laterally, learn to scour the South African and international media and debate vigorously on their chosen topic.
For more information about CUT visit www.cut.ac.za, CUT are also on Twitter @cutfsonline and www.facebook.com
