Amidst a global shutdown following COVID-19, which limited air travel between countries, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka) came to the rescue of its students working overseas by conducting the SL5 case study exam online in five countries.
The online exam was conducted in Qatar, Dubai, India, Bahrain, and Maldives where a sizeable number of CA Sri Lanka students are currently working and living. Incidentally, this was the first time a Sri Lankan professional body conducted an online case study exam overseas.
The students were able to access the exams online from either the convenience of their home or office, and they were strictly monitored by invigilators who utilised the MS Teams software. During the exam, the invigilators provided the candidates with the fullest support by providing them instructions when required and rectifying issues in real time.
President of CA Sri Lanka, Mr. Manil Jayesinghe said that the online case study exam was a 100% successful initiative, and the Institute was looking at making the online case study exam a permanent option for the benefit of students who are working overseas.
“Due to the global recognition of the CA Sri Lanka qualification, we have a significant percent of our students working overseas. However, following COVID-19, these students faced an issue in returning to Sri Lanka as the airport is closed and so was unable to be here physically to sit for the case study exam, which is the standard practice,” Mr. Jayesinghe explained.
According to him, as a responsible world class professional body, CA Sri Lanka was quick to introduce a feasible option so that the students will not be deprived from completing their course on time.
The online case study exam has ben a common practice adopted by countries such as US, Canada, UK, Japan, and Ireland. “I am pleased to say that CA Sri Lanka was among the first Sri Lankan professional institutes to introduce this for the benefit of our students living and working overseas,” he added.
CA Sri Lanka was also among the first professional institutes in the country to physically conduct an examination successfully following COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown. The Institute conducted the Business Level I & II examinations in August and September with over 10,000 students taking part in it, while adhering to strict health guidelines.
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