Responsible leadership is the cornerstone of the chartered accountancy profession. It is a distinguishing characteristic that sets chartered accountants CAs(SA) apart and holds them accountable for their actions and behaviour.
As the custodian of the chartered accountancy profession, the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), believes that it is the duty of all its CAs(SA) to act in the best interest of the public and the country. One of the ways this is done at a university level is through its annual Student Leadership Summit (or SLS).
This year, SAICA SLS is in its 11th year and we're shaking things up a bit.
Instead of being a thought leadership essay writing competition as it has been in the past 10 years, this year SAICA is inviting students to put together a Sustainable Development Goal (or SDG) focused business case that illustrates how they would empower and improve the country through a community-based project that works towards solving one or more of the UN's SDGs.
Why has SAICA changed the focus to SDGs?
As businesses embrace purpose, ethics and sustainability as the new norm, the practical application and measurement of their pure intent may seem elusive. However, when it comes to sustainability, there is one North Star that should not be ignored, the SDGs.
The SDGs serve as a framework for the sustainable change the world needs to provide solutions for poverty, world hunger, poor health, the lack of quality education, climate change, gender inequality, access to clean water and sanitation, environmental issues, social injustice and more.
“As SAICA, our objective has always been to create the world's future business leaders. For this reason, we've changed the way we run SLS from a thought leadership competition to an action based one focussing on the SDGs to ensure students are aligned with the direction the profession - and indeed business - is taking,” explains Teboho Moephudi, Project Director for SAICA’s university projects.
How do students enter?
The Student Leadership Summit is open to students who are studying towards a BCom CA-Stream qualification at a SAICA-accredited institution.
To enter the 2019 SLS, students should visit http://www.sls.saicaevents.co.za/wp/, fill in the entry form and submit their community project's business plan using the template provided on the website.
The top five teams (a minimum of one person and maximum of five) will be hosted in Johannesburg on 9 and 10 October at a life-changing Summit where they'll be awarded prizes, receive leadership coaching, business mentoring and more.
The winning team will win money to start their community project as well as individual prizes.
Entries for the 2019 SLS are now open. They close on 13 September 2019.
