Digital- and Leadership Acumen for Accountants | A division of the School of Accountancy at Stellenbosch University.
At DLA, we believe that effective accounting education extends beyond technical knowledge. Our approach to teaching, learning and assessment is designed to develop the digital, leadership and professional capabilities required of future Chartered Accountants.
Our curriculum aligns with the Professional Values, Attitudes and Acumen (PVAAs) described in the SAICA CA of the Future Competency Framework while preparing graduates for an increasingly digital, interconnected and sustainability-focused profession.
Our Pedagogical Approach:
We adopt an authentic, technology-enhanced, student-centred approach to teaching, learning and assessment that integrates real-world practice, structured support and reflective learning.
A bit of a mouthful — just like our full name! — but the idea is very simple.
What This Means:
Our approach to teaching, learning, and assessment — how we design activities to help students learn best.
Students learn by doing.
We design authentic activities and assessments that replicate real-world problems and tasks students are likely to face as trainee accountants.
We see ourselves not as lecturers, but as facilitators of learning.
Students learn while solving problems and producing real solutions.
Our modules are often structured around authentic assessments — including collaborative projects and in-house developed simulations — where students take responsibility for their own learning with independence and creativity.
Although we expect independence, we do not leave students to sink or swim.
Our learning activities are scaffolded:
Carefully structured into manageable steps that gradually increase in complexity, helping students build confidence as they advance.
We leverage technology not just as a tool, but as an environment for learning.
In our blended approach:
Step 1: Learning the technology — Students are introduced to using the relevant software through asynchronous online learning activities.
Step 2: Learning through the technology — Students then apply the technology to solve real-world business problems in our facilitated practical sessions.
We make extensive use of our learning management system (EMSLearn | Moodle) to create vibrant virtual learning environments.
Our curriculum is intentionally designed to develop more than technical knowledge.
Through authentic learning experiences, collaboration, communication, ethical decision-making, sustainability and reflective practice, students progressively develop the professional capabilities required throughout their careers.
Our approach helps students develop digital confidence, adaptability, and the lifelong learning mindset they need to master any new technology they encounter — and to thrive as future accountants and leaders.