Building a Master of Professional Accounting Community for the Next 20 Years

Education today is not only about gaining new knowledge or earning a qualification. It is also about meeting like-minded industry peers and building a community of friends who share a common purpose and values beyond the classroom, and paying it forward to future generations.

This is how SMU alumnus Kelvin Ang (MPA 2023) views SMU’s Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) Programme, which helped him build a solid foundation for understanding and navigating evolving trends within the accountancy industry, ultimately advancing his career after graduation. 

Beyond the knowledge gained in the classroom, the Programme also gave Kelvin lasting friendships and professional connections, connecting him to a community of accounting professionals within Singapore and beyond, whose members remain closely connected. To Kelvin, the journey was not only about upskilling himself, but also about expanding his professional connections and giving back to the community where possible.

The same applies to Vivien Fang (MPA 2009), who credits the programme for shaping her current professional trajectory. Having started her journey as an auditor, s drew on the knowledge she gained and the friendships she formed through the MPA Programme to become. Her firm, Amber Business Consulting, was built in part on the support of the MPA community, including referrals, sounding boards and advice. 

The holistic approach to education that Kelvin and Vivien experienced is one of the driving principles behind SMU’s Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) Programme, as well as SMU’s broader pedagogy. Since its inception, the MPA Programme has nurtured more than 800 graduates, equipping them with relevant knowledge and the confidence to be career-ready. Beyond this, the MPA Programme has made an impact on the accounting industry through the friendships, collaborations and communities nurtured during the course and strengthened through its growing alumni network. 

To celebrate its 20th anniversary this year, SMU School of Accountancy (SOA) launched the Master of Professional Accounting (MPA) Alumni Fund to deepen and extend the programme’s impact. The Fund aims to raise S$50,000, which will be used to organise and sustain the MPA Exemplary Alumnus Award and MPA alumni engagement initiatives in perpetuity. 

Motivated by a desire to give others the opportunity to benefit from the same experience he had, Kelvin was among the first donors to contribute to the MPA Alumni Fund. For him, it is a meaningful way of giving back to a programme that has shaped his career journey. 

Reflecting on his contribution, Kelvin shared: “Contributing to the MPA Alumni Fund is my way of giving back to a programme that has continued to impact my career. I hope my gift — and my presence — helps keep this community active and relevant, for us and the cohorts still to come.” 

For Vivien, making the gift felt like a full-circle moment in her journey. She said, "SMU is where I became who I am today, and contributing to the MPA Alumni Fund felt like the natural way to repay that." 

Help build a supportive, connected community for future generations of accounting professionals. Make a gift to the MPA Alumni Fund at https://giving.smu.edu.sg/campaigns/master-professional-accounting-mpa-alumni-fund.