ACPACI LAUNCHED THE STUDENTS’ BRIDGE PROGRAM!

ACPACI, in partnership with Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) - TIP Manila, PICPA Western Metro Manila Chapter (WMMC) and KRIS for Peace Organization, successfully launched the Students’ Bridge Program last August 2021. The program is aimed at preparing graduating accountancy students for real-world work experience. The program, mainly attended by Accountancy students, was also opened to students enrolled in other business courses.

For its 4-day debut series last August 13, 16, 20 and 23, 2021, participants learned more about Excel spreadsheets with the program dubbed as “MS Excel Series: Essentials Beyond the Ex-Cells” and with Mr Alejandro A. Palacio, Chair of PICPA WMMC Professional Development Committee, as resource speaker. The topics included (a) Computer Assisted Accounting & Auditing Techniques, (b) Data Visualization and (c) Accelerated Financial Reporting.

CSR Component

The program also managed to raise over Php20,000 funds to support the TIP Manila JPIA projects and activities, particularly in providing gadgets to deserving students in support of their online learning classes.

Registration

Even with just one (1) week of limited period to market the program, it was well received by 1,536 students from different universities and institutions around the Philippines who registered for the event. A total of 1,312 students from 81 (15%) of the 525 accountancy schools nationwide actually attended the program with an average of 926 participants per session.

Completion

Majority of the participants completed the 4-day lecture series indicating genuine desire of the students to learn more about the accelerating power of MS Excel which could help them in their future work. A total of 979 (75%) of the 1,312 students who joined the 4-day event successfully completed at least one of the three topics covered by the program. Of the same total, 540 (55%) and 159 (16%), completed all three (3) and two (2) topics of coverage, respectively.

Majority of the participants were from Luzon and mainly from NCR, Region I and Region IV-A. Of the 979 students who completed at least one of the three Excel topics, 912 (93%) were from Luzon and the remaining 67 (7%) were from Visayas and Mindanao. We look forward to the implementation of the similar programs in the near future to cover more target audiences across the country.

Significant number of the participants are about to join the workforce soon and are ready to prove their productive status in society. Of the 979 students who completed certain topics, 715 (73%) are about to graduate from their course and/or about to join an internship program soon. The learnings from the 4-day series will surely help them prepare for the tasks expected of them in the workplace.

Overall Evaluation

Majority of the participants were elated to learn more of the accelerating power of Excel spreadsheets in completing typical accounting and auditing work. It was not surprising, therefore, that the program garnered an outstanding evaluation rating from participants ranging from 4.83 points (96.6% rating) to 4.9 points (98% rating).

More Promising Future for Participants

The 4-day lecture series was received with overwhelming words of gratitude from participants, painting a more promising future for them and for the Accounting profession as a whole. Some of the outstanding comments from participants include:

• I am very thankful that you shared your skills, expertise and experience to give us motivation and knowledge in a real situation inside the workplace. Thank you sir and God bless.

• I would like to thank you for all your efforts to share your experience and knowledge with us, students. Your lessons are very helpful to me, I know for sure that the techniques you shared with us will make my life easier as a CPA in the future. I have good news, I know how to do the Vlookup. I promise to practice our experiences here in this webinar until I master all the techniques. I hope we meet up again. Thank you so much!

• I'm beyond grateful for being a part of this seminar and you as the resource speaker, because I learned a lot of new skills and information that I can use in my internship and future career. Additionally, you inspired me to never stop learning this kind of thing, particularly now that the world is evolving so that I will be able to become an asset in my chosen profession someday.

• Thank you again for your time Sir. We have learned a lot and through your lectures we now have a clearer view of this profession we have chosen. It inspired me as well to look more positively at what awaits me as an accountant.

• Thank you for this opportunity. I learned so much from this webinar series. I haven't learned about these excel techniques before in our class so I am very much grateful for the knowledge you shared. I hope you continue your journey and I also hope to learn from you next time.

The Future is Brighter for ACPACI

With the prestige of nationwide event coverage, this proved to be a great avenue to share the dynamics and grit of ACPACI, a rare opportunity indeed to nurture and invite future leaders of the Institute.

ACPACI enjoyed the limelight for the entire duration of the 4-day program through constant replay of its ACPACI AVP, delivery of key messages from our ACPACI leaders, acknowledgement of the members of its Board and Officers, and regular announcement of its role as co-sponsorship of the event.

On the opening day of the series, the participants were warmly welcomed by ACPACI President Atty Walter L. Abela, Jr. delivering excellent charging and inspiring messages.

On its second day, ACPACI Liaison Director of Scholarship and SOASP Ms Edna Constatino enthusiastically shared and invited the participants to the year-long events and activities lined up for Accountancy students.

On its third day, ACPACI Chair of Professional Development Committee Mr Marvin I. Madrigalejo, warmly welcomed the participants, and engrained the concept of lifelong learning and the need for a more reliable support group like what ACPACI can offer them.

On its final day, ACPACI Liaison Director of Membership Ms Meljorie A. Cruz provided the key Chapter membership benefits and perks in anticipation of future CPAs coming from the group of participants, including nuggets of wisdom on how to kick start their career as accounting professionals.

After all, one can only surmise that the future is indeed brighter for ACPACI.