?A special honour was bestowed upon Prof Riaan Rudman of the School of Accountancy in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) recently. He received the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants' (SAICA) prestigious Chairman's Award in the Education Champion category on 23 November 2024 for his significant contribution to accounting education and development. Rudman's commitment to educational excellence has earned him the distinction of being the first recipient of the award at SU.
Established by the current SAICA Chairman, the Chairman's Award — one of the 'highest' honours that SAICA can confer on a member — recognises members who make exceptional contributions in various areas, including business leadership, social responsibility, and transformation. These awards also acknowledge chartered accountants who are leading by example, driving positive change, and inspiring others within the profession and beyond.
The SAICA Awards celebrate both rising stars and seasoned professionals who inspire others and pave the way for a sustainable future, both locally and internationally. The Awards shine a spotlight on exceptional individuals who embody our values and significantly contribute to the success of the Accountancy profession.
In making the award, SAICA lauded Prof Rudman for merging his CA(SA) and academia experience and influence to positively impact the trajectory of education holistically. Over the years, he has contributed to the economic and social growth agenda by ensuring that many young South Africans, including chartered accountants, succeed through the system. Rudman is actively driving the social and transformation agenda through his long-term participation in key decision-making committees and forums within SU and the profession at both a regional and national level and many more. He also showed thought leadership through his research and multiple publications.
Commenting on the award, Prof Rudman said it acknowledges the valuable contribution that those in academia make to the pipeline of CA(SA)'s and the future of the profession. “This recognition also extends to those staff members (such as the Thuthuka project team to the committee assistants and other support staff that work with and for me) who work behind the scenes that drive the profession forward, as well as Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票's commitment to social impact that allows me the freedom to be involved in the profession in different ways further than only being limited to teaching."
The Director of the School of Accountancy, Prof Pieter von Wielligh, congratulated Rudman and said “Riaan's steadfast commitment to transformation through excellence in accounting education is remarkable and deserves the highest recognition. His relentless dedication to the proper governance of the education process is well-deserved of this recognition."
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