ICAP to revamp curricula, training methodology

Will collaborate with business schools for improving students’ quality.

KARACHI: Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) President Rashid Rahman and Assessment and Strengthening Program-Associates in Development (ASP-AiD) Chief of Party Azhar Saeed signed on Thursday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen ICAP’s education programme by revamping its curricula, study material, training methodology and testing system.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will fund the Assessment and Strengthening Program, which is going to be implemented by the Associates in Development, said USAID Deputy Mission Director Edward Birgells while addressing a press conference after the MoU signing ceremony.

Besides revamping ICAP’s education programme, the agreement will also lead to collaboration between ICAP and Pakistani business schools and universities for the improvement of quality and quantity of students’ intake. Additional professional development programmes for ICAP will also be designed under the MoU.

According to a statement released by the US Consulate General, the agreement is also intended to strengthen ICAP’s regulatory role and ability to scrutinise activities of its members while expanding its branding capacity as a leading financial regulatory entity.

“We’ve helped build IBA, LUMS and many other key educational institutions in the country that prepare professionals for Pakistan,” Birgells told the audience. “But at the end of the day, no assistance can be effective without a strong ownership and vision of the recipient organisations.”

Birgells said he was not in a position to state the actual amount that USAID was going to spend under this agreement. Replying to a question, he said it was an ‘open-ended’ initiative, adding that he could not comment on its duration.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2012.