At a recent online conference, a team of ACCA experts who are involved in reviewing and marking ACCA exams offered their insights on the Applied Skills, Strategic Professional and Options (UK tax) exams. The conference provided a unique opportunity for Approved Learning Partners, like IBTC, tutors and other strategic partners to come together, network, and gain practical insights into ACCA’s examinations.

During the conference they reviewed the 2018 September and December exams to provide students with direction and guidance when writing their exams this year. Here is what they had to say about The Advanced Taxation- UK

According to the examiners, there are a few changes in the ATX UK subject. The technical changes you need to be on the lookout for are the following:

• Deemed domicile changes for personal taxes (IT, CGT and IHT)
• Changes to corporate loss relief
• Income tax implications of lump sum payments
• Changes to SSE conditions

Apart from these changes, the examiners found that there are several areas that students struggle in and definitely need to improve on.

"Candidates need to consider the scenario given before they start writing their answer and not simply state general tax rules. A lot of students make this mistake. Students need to understand that each client has their own set of circumstances, which the tax rules must be applied to. Each scenario is unique and must be treated as such," said the examiners.

The examiners gave the following advice:

• Slow down
• Note initial thoughts and plan
• Think, then write
• Think, then calculate
• Clearly address the requirements and be specific
• Provide clear, short and concise explanations
• Avoid irrelevant explanations/calculations
• It is suggested that students spend 1.8 min per mark

About International Business Training College

IBTC is a registered course provider delivering classroom tuition and distance learning courses for internationally recognised professional qualifications, such as CIMA, ACCA, CAT, ICB and CFA - offering a combination of distance learning and classroom courses designed to prepare students for their professional examinations.

Operating from Cape Town since 1995, IBTC provides classroom courses in major cities around South Africa and a comprehensive Home Study programme supported by experienced international tutors.

All our courses include a complete set of internationally acclaimed study material which has been developed to ensure that students have maximum control over what they learn, the way they learn it, and the pace at which they work.

IBTC also works closely with a variety of professional institutions to support skills training and education. We believe in providing local students with access to international qualifications, bringing you closer to your professional goals and success in the workplace.

IBTC’s role is to support students in the accounting and business management field in successfully completing their exams.

Courses include:

• CIMA - Certificate, Operational, Managerial, Gateway Assessment, and Strategic Level
• ACCA - Fundamental & Professional Level
• FIA - Introductory, Intermediate, Diploma and Certified Accounting Technician Level
• CFA - Level 1 – 3
• ICB ACCOUNTING - Foundation, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate & Advanced Level
• ICB ADMINISTRATION - Foundation, Intermediate & Advanced Level

Supported distance learning means you can earn while you learn. You can start at any time and don’t have to wait for classes to begin. You will receive all your study material within a few days of registering for your course, together with a Great Student Handbook that tells you how to study with us. You also get a detailed course planner, which enables you to plan your study sessions down to the number of pages you have to do per session. Use the course planner to commit to assignment submission dates – this will help you stay on track. But the greatest benefit you get from studying at home is that you have unlimited access to a tutor AND we have a course monitor who stays in contact with you and helps you along. This is really our secret of your success.

KEY FEATURES

• After having obtained all three certificates, you must do 18 months of on the job training
• Duration: 3 years (18 months theory and 18 months practical)
• For each subject you need to generate a term mark and pass a written exam
• A National Certificate is awarded after each level
• There are 4 subjects per level and there are three levels (N4, N5 and N6)
• You can apply to the DHET for a Diploma in your chosen field on completion of your training
• You can study full‐time at a private or public college
• You can attend classes full‐time or part‐time classes.
• Or you can study from home with the help of a private or public college.

WHY NATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS ARE CAREER BUILDERS

Formal qualification
The national certificates and diplomas offered by the Department of Education are formal qualifications in South Africa and the best type of qualification to obtain if you are looking to gain the skills to pursue a professional career.

Recognised by employers
National Qualifications are accredited and regulated by industry bodies (such as the QCTO) and as such are recognised by all employers. Provider qualifications (a qualification awarded by your college) isn’t always recognised by all employers, so it’s always recommended to study a national qualification instead of a provider qualification.

Designed for employment
The NATED range of national qualifications (offered refered to as N4‐N6) was developed by the Department of Education to address skills development in the South African education landscape. Unlike an academic qualification (such as a degree programme), the NATED qualifications ensure that you get the necessary skills and vocational training to ensure you are employable and promotable.

Access to further education
If you complete your N6 national certificate and you complete 18 months of relevant practical training, you can apply to the Department of Education for a National Diploma. A National Diploma can give you access to degree‐level studies at various universities.

Education is too expensive and does not prepare students for the workplace. These are the lamentations of both employers and students across Africa. Why are educational institutions not changing their curricula fast enough to provide relevant education that satisfies industry skills demands? What do students really pay for when getting an education?These are some of the questions that Edzai Conilias Zvobwo has been asking for years.

Out of disgruntlement from the rhetoric and low pace of change, Edzai, popularly known as “The MathsGenius” has decided to be the change he would like to see.Edzai is on a mission to facilitate the free delivery of relevant skills to anyone who wants to learn. “In the information age, knowledge is free, and students are merely paying for accreditation and associated prestige that comes with institutional names”, said Zvobwo who has created an online platform that offers free courses and educational insights on all subjects.According to information on the platform’s homepage, MathsGee is an online content recycling initiative.

The platform serves as a bank for educational content in the form of courses.

The content on MathsGee is free for everyone, everywhere and anytime. The courses are being developed in conjunction with organizations that are willing to share knowledge and contribute in solving the educational crisis across the continent.To bridge the expectation gap between students and employers, it is necessary to co-create learning paths that are focused on skills and not necessarily labelled as degrees or diplomas.

What industry needs are skills and not qualifications. MathsGee offers this opportunity to employers to communicate their expectations to the future workforce to avoid discord.In line with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, MathsGee is also tackling the exclusivity of education by providing all courses for free. If one has an internet connection, then they will be able to learn any skill anytime and anywhere.It is important that all stakeholders rethink about what education is relevant and how it should be delivered.

For more information on the initiative you can send an //mathsgee.com/joburg-social-entrepreneur-on-a-mission-to-democratize-education-delivery-in-africa/This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">email  or simply use the “Contact Us” form on the platform.

Milpark Education, the private higher education institution, has launched its first-ever television advert, ”It’s about the world”. The new commercial champions the brand’s new corporate identity and brand platform, Learn to Thrive. 

The concept and stories in the advert are inspired by alumni. The advert illustrates three distinct stories, each with its own tale of success achieved through hard work, dedication and hope. The three characters represent distinct archetypes of Milpark and South African students, ranging from the school-leaver studying on campus, to the distance-learning mother wanting more for her and her baby, to the rising executive studying online.The advert seeks to demonstrate the modes and methods of study that set Milpark apart from its competitors, using its innovative modern learning approaches and high-engagement techniques.  

Julian van der Westhuizen, CEO of Milpark Education says: “I am delighted that our brand, which has become synonymous with excellent business education over the past 20 years, remains committed to enhancing the student experience through innovation and high standards of academic quality.” “The advert illustrates what makes the Milpark experience so unique – our commitment to achievement, producing high-quality and socially responsive graduates, ensuring employability, teaching entrepreneurship and making an impact. It’s an exciting time to be at Milpark, and our new advert conveys that in a distinctive and memorable way,” he continues.  

The concept for the advert was created by Milpark Education in partnership with the creative agency, The Jupiter Drawing Room (TJDR) Cape Town and film production house TinToy. Collectively they worked to bring the Learn to Thrive concept to life in the video from TV and cinema to YouTube. 

Mark Rawsthorne, Milpark’s Head of Marketing, explains: “When we unlocked the platform of Learn to Thrive it became clear that we had unearthed a powerful brand insight. One that spoke not only to the success of Milpark and its alumni but also to the employment situation in South Africa. The stories we heard from our alumni demonstrated that at Milpark we create graduates capable of doing more than just getting a job, but of creating jobs, through a mixture of driving growth for their employers and successful entrepreneurialism. “What is clear is that we are offering the skills and knowledge needed to enter the workforce and harness the potential of each student, to the advantage of their family, their peers […,] their world. This is more than just a brand truth, it’s a rallying cry, one that speaks not of merely surviving, but of thriving in our modern world of work.”  

Andy Lang, TJDR creative director, says: “After looking at the competitors, we realised that Milpark Education was responding to the changing world. We found an institution that was not talking about themselves but about how, through their contemporary educational approach, they were empowering others to be successful and impactful human beings in society. They were sincere in their beliefs and had real stories to be told about graduates who had not only made it for themselves, but who were also making it for others, and giving back.”  

The advert will be shown on SABC, eTV and DSTV, from 30 October 2017. The advert is 45 seconds in length and is supported by a 15-second cut-down version. There is also a 45-second web-only testimonial featuring Samukeliso Mncube, CEO of Azisa Global and Milpark MBA alumnus. She also features in the 45-second commercial. All new pieces are available on the Milpark Education website and YouTube channel.

Milpark Education, the award-winning private higher education institution, is excited to introduce its new corporate identity and brand platform. The new look and feel titled `Learn To Thrive’, ushers in a fresh modern look for the 20-year old brand, that has become synonymous with world-class business education and is home to South Africa’s number #2 MBA (Master of Business Administration), as ranked by PMR.africa, in 2017.  This ranking reflects the success of Milpark graduates, as rated by South Africa’s top employers.         

The new brand platform and the strapline, `Learn to Thrive’, acknowledge the employability and impact of the high-quality graduates Milpark’s six schools continue to produce. The straplines double meaning notes an innovative change in learning modes – from traditional distance and on-campus learning to pioneering high engagement distance learning online (DLO). Furthermore, it affirms the institution’s commitment to producing graduates who not only secure jobs but also help create jobs, so that the world thrives along with them.     

“We are excited about what the new brand platform represents,” says Julian van der Westhuizen, CEO. “We deliver contemporary curricula in a high engagement model online, or in class, with the assistance of experienced professionals - this is a powerful formula, one that equips graduates with the functional competence and work-readiness needed to make an impact from day one on the job, or the confidence to start their own businesses and become successful entrepreneurs”, adds van der Westhuizen.          

The new corporate identity will be brought to life during a full through-the-line marketing campaign that will unpack the concepts of learning and thriving. The advertising campaign will encompass static and moving media across social media, press, out of home, radio and television, amongst other channels.          

Esther Venter, Executive Dean of Milpark Education says the private higher education institution has created innovative products that are unrivalled in South Africa’s distance learning landscape. This is because Milpark understands the daily challenges that students face. “Distance Learning Online transforms the traditional distance learning offering into a high engagement experience in the increasingly wired and ever-evolving education sector, and is what makes us the leader in distance learning in the country,” says Venter. Milpark Education launched its online MBA, Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) and Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programmes in 2016, further anchoring this DLO leadership position.Further announcements on the new advertising campaign and delivery of modern learning will be made at the end of October 2017.

Further announcements on the new advertising campaign and delivery of modern learning will be made at the end of October 2017.

For media queries and comment, contact Mark Rawsthorne, Marketing Manager on 021 673 9100 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For more information contact Zwelakhe Shangase, PR and Social Media Manager on 021 673 9100 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Johannesburg, Monday, 22 August – Oxbridge Academy today announced it has entered into a partnership with ADvTECH Group, South Africa’s leading private education holdings group, with established education brands and recruitment brands.

Commenting on the announcement today, Oxbridge Managing Director Barend van den Berg said: “The partnership allows for Oxbridge Academy and ADvTECH to collaborate, enabling a variety of growth opportunities, primarily the expansion of the distance education offering, making it accessible to a large segment of working South Africans.”

An established private distance learning college, Oxbridge Academy’s distance learning model makes it possible for students to gain job-relevant skills. With the motto “effortless excellence in education” and a highly skilled and motivated academic team, this exciting collaboration aligns with ADvTECH’s strategy further cementing its position as a leading provider of academic excellence in Southern Africa.

ADvTECH CEO, Roy Douglas said, “The venture will combine the broad skills of ADvTECH with the distance learning expertise of Oxbridge. This will enhance and strengthen not only the existing distance education offering, but also introduces a wide variety of qualifications and 20 000 distance education students to ADvTECH, providing a platform on which to expand our distance education offering.”

Oxbridge Academy strengthens ADvTECH’s position in the South African tertiary education sector. The school operates nationally, with offices based in Stellenbosch.

Registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training, Oxbridge Academy is accredited by a number of local and international authorities, including the UK-based ABMA. As part of fulfilling the commitment to ensure students receive excellent education, Oxbridge Academy equips employees with the knowledge and skills to uphold standards by providing ongoing skills training and numerous opportunities for professional development.

In line with ADvTECH’s continued growth and expansion strategy, Oxbridge Academy is a valued addition to the diverse group, increasing the tertiary division to 9 unique brands.

In Stellenbosch for Oxbridge Academy
Sanet Nel: +27 87 050 1040
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

In Johannesburg for ADvTECH
Desiree Seaton: +27 11 676 8000
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