Sunway TES team is the champion

Sunway’s team emerged champion at the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Local Final Challenge 2014, beating teams from two other Malaysian universities. The competition was hosted by CFA society Malaysia. The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive financial analysis training. Students assume roles of research analysts and are tested on their ability to value stock, write initiation of coverage report and present recommendations.

Sunway’s team comprised of four: Ang Hui Mei, Ng Jia Wen, Ong Yue Wen and Wilson Chiong Zhan Hua, 21 year old students of Sunway TES Centre for Accountancy Excellence, currently pursuing Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) programme. Winning the challenge proved they demonstrated a high caliber of business intellect and financial knowledge. The team was required to conduct a research report at the initial qualifying stage and a presentation at the finals on their chosen organisation.

From left: Lee Yew Chen, President of CFA Society Malaysia, Ang Hui Mei, Ng Jia Wen, Ong Yue Wen and Wilson Chiong Zhan Hua

Reminiscing on the months of hardship and training, Jia Wen, the team leader said “We sacrificed a lot of time and energy; even during Chinese New Year we sacrificed our family time to prepare ourselves for this competition.” However, the other side of the coin was joy and satisfaction. She added, “Our hard work paid off. It was a rewarding experience, especially working with my brilliant teammates.” Her other three teammates unanimously agreed and confirmed her statements.

For the team, exposure gained from the competition was valuable. Yue Wen described it as an eye-opening experience; Hui Mei elaborated on their meetings with participants of different demographics, and for Wilson, meeting the ‘big shots’ and industrial experts was rewarding.

Winning the local CFA challenge, the team members will be sponsored financially to study CFA Level 1 Comprehensive Learning Programme at Sunway TES, in preparation for the December 2014 and 2015 examination, valued at RM6000 each. The team will also represent the nation at the Asia Pacific Regional challenge this coming April 24. This young and passionate team is excited and looking forward to the challenge in Singapore where they will compete against 19 teams from other countries including Australia and New Zealand. The top four teams in Asia Pacific Region will continue their challenge at Global Finals on the following day.

The team is very thankful, especially on the constant support of Teo Ee Sing, Executive Director of Sunway TES Centre for Accountancy Excellence and Sunway College, and the holistic education received at Sunway TES. Speaking of their reasons of choosing Sunway TES, Hui Mei, an active member of Sunway Accounting Club, said “I chose Sunway TES because of its ACCA platinum status”. Yue Wen, a gifted accounting student who won Malaysian prizes at previous CAT and ACCA examinations, mentioned that she got to know Sunway TES from an education fair, “Among the well-known ACCA providers, Sunway TES is one of the few with an affordable range of tuition fees.”

Last year, Sunway TES celebrated its “10 years ACCA Platinum Award” status and was awarded the Centre for Accountancy Excellence by the Government via the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU). It has successfully nurtured many world class accountants with exceptional global achievements and results.