First City University College and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for academic collaboration and mutual cooperation today. With this partnership, students registered for the Diploma in Business Administration and BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance programmes at First City UC will receive conditional exemptions for the CIMA professional qualification prior to sitting for the CIMA exam. Diploma in Business Administration graduates have the opportunity to gain the CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting and the BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance also receive the conditional exemptions leading to the CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting while studying at First City UC.

In addition, CIMA will be offering scholarships worth a total of GBP 2,350 (equivalent to around MYR13,000) to First City UC students who wish to pursue a CIMA qualification.

For the signing ceremony, First City UC was represented by Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Teo Chiang Liang (Director, First City Corporation) and Ms. Yeong Yin Cheng (Chief Operating Officer, First City Corporation) while CIMA was represented by Ms. Ginny Lim (Markets Manager, Malaysia, CIMA SE Asia).

This MoU marks another milestone for First City UC since it was recognised as a university college in 2015. Its drive to consistently provide the best teaching and learning experience to its students with the aim to produce outstanding graduates is well recognized and has attracted industry key players to collaborate and work with.

Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Teo Chiang Liang said, “Today’s collaboration is most beneficial to our very own homegrown honours degree, the BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance and our Diploma in Business Administration programmes. Graduates of our BSc (Hons) degree in Accounting & Finance who decide to complete the CIMA qualification and on becoming a CIMA member (with relevant work experience) will automatically carry the CGMA – Chartered Global Management Accountant.”

“First City UC will work closely with CIMA to develop programmes that can fast track our students to certification with CIMA qualifications without compromising on the quality of the outcomes. Our Accounting & Finance and Business Administration students are therefore very fortunate to have this CIMA subject exemption arrangement. This arrangement will no doubt prepare our graduates well and be employable immediately after graduation. I like to thank CIMA for this collaboration and we look forward to a long term partnership”, he added.

In keeping itself up-to-date with the everchanging business landscape and trends,First City UC’s Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences is offering new degree programmes; specially-crafted to respond to the needs of and demands of industry which will enhance the employability of its graduates. Four of its degree programmes: BA (Hons) Business Management, BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance, BA (Hons) Marketing and Master of Business Administration (MBA) are offered in collaboration with the institution’s longstanding United Kingdom partner university, the Anglia Ruskin University (ARU). Students who pursue these programmes will receive two degree certificates; one from First City UC and one from ARU. This dual award mode will provide them with recognition and validation from two higher education providers, giving them the edge which will set them apart from their peers.