B.Com Accounting student: ‘Milpark really is the most flexible institution

Academics & Programmes

20 May 2024

David Barnes always wanted to go to university and get a degree. His first attempt at a traditional university saw him dropping out after a year. He then went travelling and tried another educational institution on his return — but the administrative challenges proved too much this time. By then he was working in the hospitality industry and was busy on weekends and on public holidays, when some schools scheduled exams and tests.

Again — things didn’t go according to plan. Then he heard about Milpark Education and decided to give them a try. He was delighted by how easy it was to access information and register for the online B.Com in Accounting degree.

Even though he is still at the beginning of his studies, he says, “I don’t want to jinx things, but I have to say, the flexibility that Milpark has given me in terms of managing my time and being able to manage the programme has been perfect for my lifestyle.”

Milpark's Student-Centric Approach

David was one of the participants of a recent Milpark Education webinar about the BCom degree. It was aimed at providing prospective students, parents and anyone interested in the degree with more information about how the course is structured and how Milpark Education’s approach differs from other institutions.

Johnathan Dillon, Milpark’s Head of the Professional Accounting School says Milpark Education is about community, collaboration and care, which underpin all academic programmes at Milpark.

“We’re real people that want to journey with our students. Education by nature is messy so we don’t want to present a perfect one-size-fits-all solution that’s unrealistic,” says Johnathan.

He adds, “We’ve designed the programme so that students don’t feel alone. We know that with online education there is a risk of feeling isolated, that it’s just you and your computer, but we’ve been mindful to create community and help students know that we’re all in this together.”

Accountability and Milpark’s Support

But it’s not just the convenience of how the programme is structured that’s working. David highlights the importance of accountability within a student cohort, a feature that sets Milpark apart from other institutions. With the right balance of flexibility and guidance, Milpark keeps students on track to complete their studies successfully.

“There are a lot of courses today that allow you to do things at your own time at your own pace, with flexibility. But you never really end up doing them to completion because procrastination comes in and stops you. Whereas I found out very quickly that Milpark is aware of that and keeps us on track without losing the flexibility”.

Milpark has prioritised the wellbeing of students, creating an environment that is mindful of the unique challenges that individuals face. Facilitators provide the necessary structures and tools to support learning.

This has undoubtedly played a big part in the institution becoming South Africa’s leading provider of ITC-ready candidates as well as successful ITC candidates feeding the CA(SA) pipeline based on the official SAICA exam results for the past two years.

After all, university isn't just about textbooks and exams. It's a pivotal life stage where personal growth and wellbeing flourish alongside academic achievement. But mainstream institutions often prioritise grades over students.

Final thoughts

The design of the BCom in Accounting programme allows students to select the half workload or full workload route. This non-prescriptive approach is an alternative to the traditional part-time/full-time model as it empowers individuals, whether working or not, to opt for the load that’s most appropriate for their life. “Education is something we do together. We fall together and pick each other up. That’s the essence of our approach to learning at Milpark Education,” concludes Johnathan.

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