Investigating a tripartite collaboration between accounting firms, teachers and prospective accounting learners for growing the accountancy pipeline: a case study from Makhanda

dc.contributor.advisorMiller, Taryn
dc.contributor.authorMrubata-Mhlebi, Nomahlubi
dc.date.accessioned2025-12-23T09:46:46Z
dc.date.available2025-12-23T09:46:46Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2025-12-23T09:44:08Z
dc.description.abstractThe accounting profession is experiencing a concerning decline in the number of people joining the profession. This is evidenced by decreasing enrolments in entrance examinations, smaller classes in university lecture theatres and the discontinuation of accounting classes in many high schools. Yet, the significance of this profession cannot be overstated in its role in fostering a robust local economy and providing its members access to a quality of life which surpasses that of the average individual. This study is qualitative in nature and follows a two-phase approach, firstly, using semi-structured interviews to collect data from a sample of twenty learners and six schools from four quintile three schools in Makhanda. The second phase required semi-structured interviews with participants from four accounting firms using the analysed data from phase 1 as a base. The theory of social justice is used as a lens to answer the following research question: How can the accounting profession, prospective accounting learners and their teachers collaborate to grow the pipeline of prospective accountants? Among others, the study finds that learners and firms can collaborate through school prize giving, formalised school visits and tailored career fairs. Teachers and firms can collaborate through the development of teaching and learning material and through firms acting as advisors when needed. The study is unique in its documentation of solutions that may assist in increasing the pipeline of prospective accountants. The findings of the study may be useful to academics and professionals concerned with the declining pipeline into the profession and those responsible for promoting the profession.
dc.identifier.apacitationMrubata-Mhlebi, N. (2025). <i>Investigating a tripartite collaboration between accounting firms, teachers and prospective accounting learners for growing the accountancy pipeline: a case study from Makhanda</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,College of Accounting. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42483en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMrubata-Mhlebi, Nomahlubi. <i>"Investigating a tripartite collaboration between accounting firms, teachers and prospective accounting learners for growing the accountancy pipeline: a case study from Makhanda."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,College of Accounting, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42483en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMrubata-Mhlebi, N. 2025. Investigating a tripartite collaboration between accounting firms, teachers and prospective accounting learners for growing the accountancy pipeline: a case study from Makhanda. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,College of Accounting. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42483en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Mrubata-Mhlebi, Nomahlubi AB - The accounting profession is experiencing a concerning decline in the number of people joining the profession. This is evidenced by decreasing enrolments in entrance examinations, smaller classes in university lecture theatres and the discontinuation of accounting classes in many high schools. Yet, the significance of this profession cannot be overstated in its role in fostering a robust local economy and providing its members access to a quality of life which surpasses that of the average individual. This study is qualitative in nature and follows a two-phase approach, firstly, using semi-structured interviews to collect data from a sample of twenty learners and six schools from four quintile three schools in Makhanda. The second phase required semi-structured interviews with participants from four accounting firms using the analysed data from phase 1 as a base. The theory of social justice is used as a lens to answer the following research question: How can the accounting profession, prospective accounting learners and their teachers collaborate to grow the pipeline of prospective accountants? Among others, the study finds that learners and firms can collaborate through school prize giving, formalised school visits and tailored career fairs. Teachers and firms can collaborate through the development of teaching and learning material and through firms acting as advisors when needed. The study is unique in its documentation of solutions that may assist in increasing the pipeline of prospective accountants. The findings of the study may be useful to academics and professionals concerned with the declining pipeline into the profession and those responsible for promoting the profession. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - accounting firms KW - accounting profession KW - career guidance KW - collaboration KW - declining pipeline KW - learners KW - teachers LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - Investigating a tripartite collaboration between accounting firms, teachers and prospective accounting learners for growing the accountancy pipeline: a case study from Makhanda TI - Investigating a tripartite collaboration between accounting firms, teachers and prospective accounting learners for growing the accountancy pipeline: a case study from Makhanda UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42483 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/42483
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMrubata-Mhlebi N. Investigating a tripartite collaboration between accounting firms, teachers and prospective accounting learners for growing the accountancy pipeline: a case study from Makhanda. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,College of Accounting, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42483en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentCollege of Accounting
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerce
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectaccounting firms
dc.subjectaccounting profession
dc.subjectcareer guidance
dc.subjectcollaboration
dc.subjectdeclining pipeline
dc.subjectlearners
dc.subjectteachers
dc.titleInvestigating a tripartite collaboration between accounting firms, teachers and prospective accounting learners for growing the accountancy pipeline: a case study from Makhanda
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMCom
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