When it comes to academic excellence, the North-West University (NWU) prides itself on being the best.

The School of Accounting Sciences recently added another feather to the university’s cap when the school walked away with four awards during the international Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Academic Partner Excellence Awards virtual ceremony.

These awards recognise academic partners who have worked tirelessly to equip CIMA-qualified graduates and students for future-ready careers.

Prof Sanlie Middelberg, an associate professor, received a gold award in the CIMA Global Teaching Excellence: Africa category, and lecturer Brenda Harmzen received an honorary mention in the same category.  

The NWU’s honours programme in Management Accountancy (a professional CIMA qualification), also received two awards.

The first was a gold award in the CIMA Global Campus Culture category. This award recognises academics, faculties and student bodies that have launched successful campaigns to promote and create awareness about the CIMA professional qualification on their campuses.

The honours programme received a second gold award in the CIMA Global Employability Award category, which acknowledges academic partners who actively promote employer involvement and engagement between CIMA students and industry partners in the profession.

“What a wonderful and proud feeling to hear the names of my NWU colleagues being read out as winners among all the distinguished nominees during the virtual ceremony,” said Prof Herman van der Merwe, deputy dean for teaching and learning in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. “These awards demonstrate that the NWU and its staff are indeed the cream of the crop.”

The university applauds the School of Accounting Sciences for flying the NWU flag high.