Key employability skills have been tested among eager Accountancy students who took part in Forth Valley College’s latest Business Accountancy Challenge Event.
More than 50 students – comprising Foundation Apprentices, NC, HNC and HND levels from both the Alloa and Falkirk Campuses – gathered in the Falkirk Campus Main Hall on Friday 11 October, for the innovative event, which was facilitated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
Students were invited to work in teams and tackle a competitive business challenge on the day - analysing data in the business context in order to work through problems and issues, rather than the stereotypical image of endless calculations or number crunching, which is often associated with accountants.
A ‘Dragons’ Den’ style judging panel decided the winners, and the panel included Jacqui McArthur, Director of Curriculum, Forth Valley College, Shaun Robertson, Director, Education and Qualifications, ICAEW, Fiona Clelland, Acting Curriculum Manager, Forth Valley College and Carol Venesky, Accountancy Lecturer, Forth Valley College.
The 11 teams on the day were competing for the quirky Business Accounting Challenge trophy – which was designed and created by fellow Forth Valley College students, using recycled wood, metal and nuts and bolts.
Former students Wendy Nicholson, Amar Yousaf and Fiona Mulder were the guest speakers on the day talking about their life after college. Business and Communities Department Curriculum Manager Jennifer Hogarth said: “We have always said that college is only the start of a very exciting journey for our learners and I wanted them to see and hear first-hand from those who have gone before them. The guest speakers were excellent and gave our learners good advice and inspiration too.”
Additionally, the event provided students with a fantastic opportunity to network with professional accountancy bodies (ICAEW, ICAS and AAT), local accountancy firms (Drummond Laurie Chartered Accountants, French Duncan Chartered Accountants, Ineos, Forth Valley College, Webb & Wallace Professional Accountancy/Taxation Services), University of Stirling, Napier University, Glasgow Caledonian University, Perth UHI), mentors, former students and with each other. The ICAS foundation were also on hand to offer advice to students on how they can support students studying Accountancy or Finance at university.
Jennifer further said: “The event was all about the students, and it brought to life the subjects they are studying in college and helped them see how they could use these skills in the future, whether they decide to progress to university, go straight into employment or secure sponsorship to undertake their professional qualifications. We are grateful to all the external organisations that came along and supported the event.
“The purpose of the day was to have fun and to help give them a real insight into the world of accountancy and the exciting opportunities that await them in the future. Based on the way students engaged with the challenge and the levels of enthusiasm we saw in the room, we definitely managed to do this. The students were fabulous, they all presented themselves very well and as a department and a college we are extremely proud of each and every one of them.”