Second African Congress of Actuaries Nairobi-Kenya The South African Qualification Francisca Venter Director of Education
Establishing a local qualification SHARING EXPERIENCE: Establish most essential cooperative network Local Association Structures and Governance Members Permanent Staff Academic Service Providers/ UNIVERSITIES Employers (ATO s)
Establishing a local qualification ABOUT VOLUNTEERS Strong reliance on volunteers: 150 of just over 800 qualified actuaries in South Africa involved in Education Boards, Committees etc. 85 Registered ATO s NB Management of Volunteers: SOUTH AFRICA : Policy Code of Conduct Guidelines AUSTRALIA : 69 Committees Charter of Committees
Establishing a local qualification QUALIFICATION CONTENT Minimum curriculum set by the IAA Fellowship level qualifications in English-speaking world at somewhat higher level than this minimum curriculum. Standards are maintained via -rigorous university accreditation process - complying with IAA syllabus guidelines - formal bilateral agreements with other societies (Mutual Recognition Agreements) - internal quality assurance -Actuarial Society-approved external examiners for university courses
Establishing a local qualification www.actuarialsociety.org.za The Actuarial Society of South Africa(AS) offer three designations: 1. FASSA Fellow of the Actuarial Society of South Africa 2. AMASSA Associate member of the Actuarial Society of South Africa 3. CERA Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary Strong university base offering most subjects for local students
South African Qualification Relevance to other English speaking African countries-we are closer to home! Building capacity through attendance of events is closer, easier and cheaper. Appropriate for CPD but also Education. Greater similarity in contexts e.g. facing issues around HIV, no equity markets, lack of data i.e. Challenges in Africa, which become very important in teaching local relevance in later subjects. Presence of a number of SA companies in African countries, who are AS members and who interact almost on a daily basis with the African fraternity. 6
South African Qualification Relevance to other English speaking African countries-we are closer to home! Internationally, the teaching of Professional skills has changed to attendance courses e.g. Business Awareness, Modelling and Professionalism-accredited by UK. Easier to attend with AS. AS currently still offer a written Communications exam which could be shared with others-not applicable for UK students. Potential for deserving students with bursaries to enrol full time for post graduate actuarial courses at SA accredited universities. AS involvement in accrediting African universities could potentially be increased. Important though to maintain a balance in demand for actuaries in countries and available resources.
South African Qualification Subjects required for AMASSA (IAA Requirements) (Focus on Technical Principles and Professional Skills, commonly known as the Toolkit ) Rules for qualifying as a Associate Mandatory Academic and Professional Requirements: A101: Probability and Mathematical Statistics A102: Economics A103: Finance and Financial Reporting A201: Financial Mathematics A202: Models A203: Contingencies A204: Statistical Methods A205: Financial Economics A301: Actuarial Risk Management Note: The above subjects could be written through distance learning with the UK. A302: Communications - AS offers written exam - A401: Business Awareness Module ( 2 day course with assessment) A402: Model Documentation, Analysis and Reporting ( 2 day course with assessment) A403: Associateships Work-based skills (1 year) A404: Associateship Professionalism Course (1 day)
South African Qualification Subjects required for FASSA Not accredited on an individual basis outside of the MRA Rules for qualifying as a Fellow ALL ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR AMASSA APPLY PLUS: At least 2 of: At least 1 of: F100: Alternative Fellowship Principles F200: Research Option F101: Health and Care Principles F201: Health and Care Applications F102: Life Insurance Principles F202: Life Insurance Applications F103: General Insurance Principles F203: General Insurance Applications F104: Pension and Other Benefits Principles F204: Pension and Other Benefits Applications F105: Finance and Investment Principles F205: Investment Applications F106: Enterprise Risk Management Must have a Practice Module Must have: A403: Fellowship Skills Work-based skills (3 years) A404: Fellowship Professionalism Course (2 days)
South African Qualification Subjects required for CERA A member must be admitted as either an Associate or a Fellow Member of the Society. In addition, students are required to complete the following components: F106: Enterprise Risk Management (UK ST9) C100: Applied Enterprise Risk Management Course
South African Qualification Accessing the South Africa Qualification: -We have accredited two subjects at the University of Nairobi and intend to accredit further universities. (PS prospective universities-start building track records) -Students with exemptions will still need to join UK profession for other CT/CA subjects (Parts A1, A2, A3) but can transfer credits for UK passes to the SA system to get credit for exemptions. -Professional skills courses could be taken in South Africa. Our communication paper can be made available in the rest of Africa
Our best wishes accompany you in facing the challenges of establishing the actuarial profession in your own countries and we invite you to network with us and benefit from our experience.