MICPA and Curtin Sarawak host Leadership Camp 2012

Miri – 3 December 2012 – A 3-day MICPA-Curtin Leadership Camp designed to cultivate business knowledge for a better understanding of happenings in the business world was recently organised by The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) and the Accounting Club Curtin Sarawak of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) at the Borneo Tropical Rainforest Resort Miri.

The camp themed ‘Unleash Your Leadership Potential’ was attended by 77 participants comprising students from the university’s School of Business and School of Engineering and Science, who were exposed to leadership and soft skills development through various activities including seminars, interactive games, team challenges, a business challenge game, as well as outdoor activities.

Among the invited speakers were the executive director of MICPA, Foo Yoke Pin; chief executive officer Lu Zhou Youth Centre, Lucas Tang; and head of the Department of Accounting in Curtin Sarawak’s School of Business, Dr. Anbalagan Krishnan.

Other guests included Curtin Sarawak’s Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Alistair Inglis and MICPA Marketing Manager Eileen Grace Lee.

Foo emphasised the qualities and characteristics of outstanding leaders in his talk entitled ‘Beyond Leadership’ while Tang talked about improving one’s personality in his talk entitled ‘Success Personality’. An interactive seminar entitled ‘Negotiation’ was conducted by Anbalagan.

At the closing of the camp, Professor Inglis encouraged the students to continue actively participating in extracurricular activities to develop essential soft skills in preparation for their future careers. He also hoped the camp had helped raise their awareness of the importance of leadership.

Meanwhile, Lee said she was impressed with the event and hoped MICPA and the Accounting Club Curtin Sarawak would organise a similar leadership camp next year.

Organising chairperson Bryan Yap Yun Kit said he was grateful to have a motivated organising committee that worked hard to ensure success of the camp.

Awards for ‘Best Male Camper’ and ‘Best Female Camper’ were presented to Michael Winata and Lee Kar Kei respectively for their outstanding participation throughout the camp.

Curtin Sarawak has had a longstanding relationship with MICPA in the spheres of teaching learning, course recognition and activities for accounting students. Students graduating from the university’s Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) programme are exempted from completing Module A and Module B of MICPA’s Professional Stage Examination. They need only pass the technical and final modules, and subsequently obtain 3 years of practical experience under the supervision of a member of the institute, to qualify as Certified Public Accountants of Malaysia and be members of MICPA.

As a result of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in February 2009 between the ICAA and MICPA, Curtin Sarawak’s accounting graduates qualify as Chartered Accountants of Australia on completion of the MICPA programme.

Foo Yoke Ping delivering his talk on the qualities of outstanding leaders.

Professor Inglis presenting a certificate of appreciation to Eileen Grace Lee while Bryan Yap and Accounting Club Curtin Sarawak President Anne Tie look on.

Group photo of the camp participants and guests.