MICPA-Curtin Accounting Club Leadership Camp an outstanding success

Miri – 14 December 2010 – The recent inaugural Leadership Camp co-organised by the Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA) and the Curtin Accounting Club of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) proved an outstanding success.

The camp held at the Borneo Tropical Rainforest Resort in Lambir approximately 36 kilometres from Miri saw the participation of 35 Curtin Accounting Club members, who all claimed it was one of the best camps they had ever attended.

The camp’s 3-day programme comprised a good mix of soft skills training and outdoor activities in line with the camp’s main conceptual focus on leadership and image-building.

According to MICPA Assistant Manager Education & Training Victor Liew, who represented MICPA at the camp’s opening ceremony, university students should not only focus on academic performance, but also on acquiring crucial soft skills such as problem-solving, image-building and professional etiquette, to enhance their marketability when they enter the workforce.

Shamsul Kamariah Abdullah, Dean of Curtin Sarawak’s School of Business, was meanwhile delighted that the Curtin Accounting Club took the initiative to organise such an event for its members, and moreover worked in collaboration with MICPA to ensure its success. She also hoped the club would organise other activities such as charity drives in support of the local community.

Also present at the ceremony was Chan Kwok Mow, lecturer and an advisor to the Curtin Accounting Club. He congratulated the participants for being at the camp and encouraged them to give freely of themselves to learn and to be all they can be.

During the camp, three speakers imparted essential soft skills and tips on being more marketable graduates. Phua Poh Kiat from Shell Malaysia shared his experiences in his talk about ‘Winning a Job Interview: Do’s and Don’ts’; Terence Tan, a lecturer from Curtin Sarawak presented a talk about ‘Communication and Image Building’, while the Executive Director of MICPA, Foo Yoke Pin, gave a comprehensive talk on business etiquette.

Besides gaining knowledge from the speakers, the students participated in several team challenge activities such as a low rope course, obstacle course and ‘Acid River’challenge. Through these activities, they learned how to cooperate with each other undertaking challenging tasks and encouraging one another while facing difficult situations.

During the closing ceremony, Foo expressed his happiness at the outstanding success of the camp and hoped that that MICPA and the Curtin Accounting Club would come together to organise a second camp with more participants next year.

MICPA is the premier accountancy body in Malaysia, with over 3000 members and 800 students. Many of its members hold key positions in commerce and industry and in government agencies in Malaysia and abroad. It was formed 52 years ago to advance the theory and practice of accountancy in all its aspects, to maintain high standards of practice and professional conduct by all its members; and to recruit, educate, train and assess by means of examinations or otherwise a body of members skilled in these areas.

Curtin Sarawak students graduating from the university’s Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) programmes are exempted from Module A and Module B of their examination and may proceed to the advanced stage examinations which comprises the technical and final modules. Upon completion of all papers and three years of practical experience under the supervision of a member of the institute, they may become members of MICPA and also The Institute of Chartered Accountant in Australia (ICAA).

Participants gather for a group photo during the opening ceremony.

Shell’s Phua Poh Kiat giving his talk on ‘Winning a Job Interview’.

Participants taking part in team challenge (Low Rope Course).

Lending teammates a helping hand.

Participants enjoying the outdoors.

Traversing the ‘Acid River’.