The British Council and the Society of Accountants in Malawi (Socam) have signed a strategic partnership agreement which gives Socam members credit for attending Management Express (MEX) forums.

Socam CEO Daniel Dunga says attendance at certain MEX events will count towards members meeting their requirements for continuing professional development (CPD).

Participating in MEX will also give Socam members opportunities to engage with a global network of professionals and industry captains, says Muthi Nhlema, British Council Malawi Programme Officer.

According to its website, Socam is a professional institute which was established in 1968.

MEX is a partnership between the British Council and a network of managers and leaders who are interested in improving their business practices.

British Council Malawi’s deputy director, Patience Mahlalela, says most Socam members are also Management Forum members.

They have access to the MEX business and networking forums, the collection of management books and videos, online resources and tools, and the Fast Track series of accredited training modules on personal and professional development.

‘Socam members study with the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA), which requires that professionals also put in time for CPD, says Mahlalela‘So they attend MEX and count the time at MEX as their CPD time.’

Nhlema says the forums are also ideal for Socam to market its services.

For the British Council, this partnership is a way of adding to what Socam is already doing in Malawi’s accounting sector.

‘It means that we are contributing to people’s professional development,’ says Mahlalela.

‘In future we would like to collaborate closely with more professional bodies  in order to enhance the services they provide  and tap into the pool of people that we want to develop,’ she says.

According to the MEX co-ordinator in Malawi, Chigomezgo Gondwe, in the two years since its inception MEX has proven to be one of the few means for Malawian professionals to invest in their own development and fast-track their careers.

‘Socam and the British Council initiated this partnership in order to jointly provide valuable learning to members of the accountancy profession and other professionals in Malawi.

‘The partnership with a credible organisation raises Socam’s profile and reduces its burden in providing learning opportunities.’

Socam’s Dunga says he would like to see the partnership go beyond just accreditation of courses to joint organisation and design of training events.

‘We also expect to start jointly organising tailor-made technical courses for financial people because the British Council has the connections and capacity we can utilise.’

For more information about Management Express forums in Malawi click here. To read more about professional development in Africa or other British Council Africa stories, click here.