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Student Handbook

The enhanced QP aims to incorporate both Hong Kong and international best practice into the
updated competence requirements. Special emphasis is placed to ensure that the prescribed
competence requirements are adequate and appropriate to meet future market needs in Hong
Kong, with particular attention to the developments and requirements in mainland China, as a
result of the rapid cross-border business integration.

3.3 General Features of the Qualification Programme

The QP provides students with the opportunities, through course work and examinations as
well as under the guidance of workshop facilitators, to develop the necessary application skills
and competences which are essential for a competent practitioner. It builds on the
competences achieved through an accounting degree to attain a postgraduate level of
competences.

The programme has been designed specifically to meet the needs of employers of professional
accountants in this century. In order to achieve this design, the Institute has gathered
information from a number of sources including its own research, the views of its members
through an extensive consultation exercise, and through informal discussions with employers,
universities and potential students. The end result is a programme that will significantly
enhance the abilities required to become a professional accountant.

The benefits of the programme are that:

(a) The programme develops skills such as analytical thinking, problem identification,
problem solving, integrating knowledge across fields of expertise and professional
judgement.

(b) The programme provides structured self-study of the accounting knowledge required of
professionals working in Hong Kong. All the materials are designed for use in Hong
Kong and use the Institute's accounting and auditing standards and local law.

(c) The programme is designed to allow students to follow the module without requiring
any time out of work. The materials are designed to be studied at home in the
students' own time, and the workshops, provided as part of the programme, can be
attended outside normal work hours.

(d) The programme provides a training platform through interactive workshops to build
students' confidence and ensure that students are equipped with the communication
skills necessary for today's professional environment.

(e) The programme is recognized by many professional accounting bodies commonly
regarded as the leading international professional bodies.

The QP comprises four modules and a final examination. Students seeking membership of
the Institute are required to have completed the QP unless otherwise exempted by the Council
of the Institute.

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