The January 2025 South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and ICAN (Namibian) Initial Assessment of Competence (IAC) results were released earlier this month and once again, the North West University (NWU) has reason to celebrate!

“It is my pleasure to announce that 95% of NWU’s SAICA candidates and 100% of NWU’s ICAN candidates passed the January 2025 IAC exam. The SAICA country average pass rate is 70%,” said Prof Heleen Janse van Vuuren, Director of the NWU’s School of Accounting Sciences at all three campuses.
“A total of 141 candidates of NWU passed both the SAICA and ICAN exams , which is the highest number of successful passes in these exams in the history of the NWU. Eighty-eight percent of the NWU’s African, Coloured and Indian (ACI) SAICA candidates passed compared to the SAICA country average of 64%,” she said.

Fourty-two ACI NWU candidates passed the SAICA exam, as well as 10 students who are also part of the SAICA Thuthuka programme – a record high for the NWU.

“As part of the broader structural improvements, the January 2025 IAC aligns with SAICA’s new CA of the Future Competency Framework. This updated framework reflects global trends in digital transformation and integrated thinking, focusing not only on financial but also on non-financial performance, ensuring a future ready profession.

“As a school we want to thank our top and faculty management for their continued support towards one of our flagship programmes. Without their support such achievements won’t be possible,” said Prof Janse van Vuuren.