Francis Kwahene was 26 when he was head-hunted by Walter Sisulu University (WSU) three years ago to lead its accounting department.
He did not think twice about relocating to Mthatha despite the city’s notorious crime rate and protest from his concerned parents.
Kwahene was rated as one of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT’s) top student tutors for two consecutive years. He was busy with his articles after completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Certificate of Theory in Accounting between 2005 and 2007.
Since taking over, Kwahene has transformed what was once regarded as one of WSU’s most “disjointed” departments.
Being passionate about tutoring students, he was seen by the university as the perfect person to drive its SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) bachelor of commerce in accounting re-accreditation programme.
This is a partnership between WSU, the Department of Higher Education and UCT to help ensure that the Eastern Cape-based WSU is able to offer teaching and learning standards consistent with the demands of the chartered accounting profession.
His three years with WSU has seen the programme blossoming to the point of attracting 120 students a year.
He was recently chosen as the top SA chartered accountant under the age of 35 in the academic field by one of the country’s leading online journals, Accountancy SA.
There were about 400 entrants vying for top honours in three categories.
But the 29-year-old, who matriculated from Queens College in Queenstown, credited teamwork in his department for his achievement.
“It is not my win alone. It belongs to the whole team.”
Taking on the role as head of department had not been easy at first.
“I was young and had to convince people who had been working in that department for years to buy into my vision.
“I decided to join WSU, which is in one of the most impoverished areas, because I felt I could help a lot of people.”
He believed education was the only sustainable way to change a person’s trajectory in life.
South Africa still had space for 30000 more black chartered accountants, something the Saica was also striving towards.
WSU acting spokesman Thando Cezula said Kwahene’s achievement was testament to some of the incredible work done by the university.
He said it epitomised the character and dedication that everyone at WSU should aspire to emulate. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
WSU’s accounting head wins top award
He did not think twice about relocating to Mthatha despite the city’s notorious crime rate and protest from his concerned parents.
Kwahene was rated as one of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT’s) top student tutors for two consecutive years. He was busy with his articles after completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and Certificate of Theory in Accounting between 2005 and 2007.
Since taking over, Kwahene has transformed what was once regarded as one of WSU’s most “disjointed” departments.
Being passionate about tutoring students, he was seen by the university as the perfect person to drive its SA Institute of Chartered Accountants (Saica) bachelor of commerce in accounting re-accreditation programme.
This is a partnership between WSU, the Department of Higher Education and UCT to help ensure that the Eastern Cape-based WSU is able to offer teaching and learning standards consistent with the demands of the chartered accounting profession.
His three years with WSU has seen the programme blossoming to the point of attracting 120 students a year.
He was recently chosen as the top SA chartered accountant under the age of 35 in the academic field by one of the country’s leading online journals, Accountancy SA.
There were about 400 entrants vying for top honours in three categories.
But the 29-year-old, who matriculated from Queens College in Queenstown, credited teamwork in his department for his achievement.
“It is not my win alone. It belongs to the whole team.”
Taking on the role as head of department had not been easy at first.
“I was young and had to convince people who had been working in that department for years to buy into my vision.
“I decided to join WSU, which is in one of the most impoverished areas, because I felt I could help a lot of people.”
He believed education was the only sustainable way to change a person’s trajectory in life.
South Africa still had space for 30000 more black chartered accountants, something the Saica was also striving towards.
WSU acting spokesman Thando Cezula said Kwahene’s achievement was testament to some of the incredible work done by the university.
He said it epitomised the character and dedication that everyone at WSU should aspire to emulate. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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