Cloud business management solutions firm Sage has added eight South African universities to its higher learning institution partner network, offering the Sage Business Cloud Accounting and Payroll curriculums to commerce, information systems and human resources (HR) faculties.
Students from the University of the Free State, Rhodes University, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Durban University of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Vaal University of Technology and the University of Limpopo can now enrol for the cloud accounting syllabus developed by Sage.
Annually, about 2 300 students learn to use Sage Business Cloud Accounting and Payroll solutions across 25 South African tertiary institutions, according to the cloud computing firm.
Technology has advanced rapidly across industries over the last few decades, with cloud computing, in particular, playing a key role in enabling some accounting functions to be automated, allowing more flexibility and quicker turnaround results.
Most universities that adopted Sage’s cloud solution as early as 2016 are now using customised manuals to suit their curriculum, notes the company.
The Sage software training courses offered include: Sage Business Cloud Accounting and Payroll, Sage Accounting Bookkeeping, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Sage Pastel Xpress Accounting, Sage Pastel Partner Accounting, Sage 200 Evolution, Sage Business Cloud X3 and Sage 300 Accounting.
“Sage is passionate about developing the potential of young South African professionals, growing digital skills and equipping young accountants, human resource and payroll practitioners and IT pros with skills in the latest cloud technology,” says Pieter Bensch, executive VP at Sage Africa and Middle East.
“For the past five years, we have pioneered the use of cloud-based accounting, payroll and HR software in tertiary education in South Africa, to help prepare the next generation of professionals for a world of work where software-as-a-service solutions are already in use.”
In addition to offering accounting training courses, Sage says it is partnering with learning institutions that have not yet transitioned to Sage Business Cloud, to help them migrate to cloud platforms, as they refresh their curriculums. Around 35% of the universities in SA are using Sage Business Cloud Accounting as part of their everyday operations, according to the company.
Aarthi Algu, lecturer at UKZN, says: “Sage has been a valuable partner, delivering software that remains ahead of the latest trends in accountancy and helping 650 students annually to develop the digital skills they need for the workplace of the future.”
Last month, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) became the latest learning institution to introduce a cloud accounting course after establishing a partnership with Xero, the global cloud accounting company which specialises in helping to drive innovation in the future of accounting.
Xero supports UJ tutors in preparing courses, delivering lessons and providing students with real-world experience in using cloud technology to support clients.
Last year, UJ partnered with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants to offer students the “4IR for accountants” course, aimed at empowering chartered accountants with essential fourth industrial revolution skills.
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