APU joins 10 recognised Malaysian universities honoured for advancing professionally relevant management accounting education and preparing students for evolving careers in business and finance.

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) has been recognised with the CGMA Academic Partner Award 2026, affirming its commitment to equipping students with future-ready management accounting competencies and strengthening the connection between academic learning and professional practice.

The recognition places APU among 10 select universities in Malaysia partnering with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to embed professionally relevant management accounting competencies within their curricula, preparing graduates to navigate increasingly complex and dynamic business environments. 

Recognition on a Prestigious Professional Platform

The award was presented during the CIMA President’s Reception and CGMA Recognition 2026, held on 22 August 2026 at W Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

Representing APU, Professor Dr Chong Lee Lee, Head of the School of Accounting and Finance (SoAF), received the CGMA Academic Partner Award 2026 from Mr Alfred Ramosedi, FCMA, CGMA, President of CIMA and Co-Chair of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA).

The presentation was witnessed by Ms Saritha Subramaniam, Regional Director of Southeast Asia Markets, AICPA & CIMA. Prof Chong was accompanied by Dr Lim Ying Ying, CIMA Lead, Senior Lecturer at SoAF, APU.

Jointly launched by AICPA and CIMA, the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation is globally recognised in the field of management accounting. The CGMA Academic Partner Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding university partners and educators working with AICPA & CIMA to develop the next generation of management accounting professionals.

Excellence Across Education and Employability

The recognition considers excellence across areas including teaching quality, graduate employability and future-readiness, impactful research, and a supportive academic environment.

Collectively, these areas reflect an institution’s ability to enhance student learning, respond to evolving industry needs, contribute to knowledge development and nurture continuous professional growth.

For APU, being recognised among the selected Malaysian universities reflects its sustained efforts to strengthen professional accounting education while creating meaningful bridges between university learning and professional practice.

Dr Lim said the collaboration with CIMA plays an important role in enriching students’ educational experience.

“Our collaboration with CIMA connects academic learning with professional practice through industry exposure and professional engagement. These opportunities strengthen students’ competencies, broaden their understanding of accounting and finance, and prepare them for evolving future finance roles,” she said.

Taking Professional Learning Beyond the Classroom

Through its engagement with CIMA, APU students gain access to opportunities extending beyond conventional classroom learning, including professional and industry exposure, career development initiatives, practitioner engagement and activities aimed at developing competencies required in modern accounting and finance careers.

These experiences complement students’ academic foundations by exposing them to professional expectations, emerging industry developments and the broader responsibilities of finance professionals in supporting organisational decision-making.

Prof Chong said the award represents an encouraging affirmation of the School’s continuing efforts to deliver quality education with strong professional relevance.

“This award reflects the School’s continuous commitment to providing high-quality accounting and finance education while strengthening our engagement with professional bodies such as CIMA. We are especially pleased that this collaboration continues to create valuable opportunities for our students to connect academic learning with professional practice and prepare for their future careers,” she said.

Developing Future-Ready Finance Professionals 

Beyond technical accounting knowledge, APU places emphasis on developing the strategic thinking, analytical capabilities, professional judgement and leadership competencies graduates require as finance functions continue to evolve.

The CGMA Academic Partner Award 2026 therefore reinforces APU’s broader commitment to preparing capable graduates not only to understand financial information, but also to apply insight, judgement and strategic perspectives to support responsible business decisions.

Building on this recognition, APU looks forward to further strengthening its collaboration with CIMA through student engagement initiatives, professional development, industry exposure and academic collaborations that contribute to developing confident, adaptable and future-ready accounting and finance professionals.