Beta Alpha Psi to boost professional success

Accounting, finance and information systems students at Massey University can now join an internationally-recognised society which will boost their professional prospects.

The Massey Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi was formally installed recently with a ceremony on the Albany campus. Beta Alpha Psi is an international honours organisation which encourages academic and professional excellence in the financial information field.

The Massey Chapter is only the third chapter to be set up in the Oceania region, and is the latest of 292 Beta Alpha Psi chapters worldwide that have more than 300,000 members. Chapters can only run in institutions that have the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accreditation or the European Quality Improvement System accreditation. The other two chapters are the University of Sydney Chapter and the Auckland University Chapter.

Professor Asheq Rahman, of the School of Accountancy at Albany, is the faculty advisor for the Massey Chapter. “Being a member of the Beta Alpha Psi chapter creates opportunities for the students to connect with the business world through networking events,” he says. “The criteria for entry are based on academic ability and professional acumen.” He says members of Beta Alpha Psi go on to become successful professionals because of the networking they have done, exposure to professional speakers from industry and organisational skills.

The immediate Past-President of Beta Alpha Psi International, Professor Andrew Bailey chaired the installation proceedings, which were conducted by Professor Cassy Budd and Quentin Stoker from the Brigham Young University Chapter, in Utah, United States. They presented the chapter charter, official banner and chapter gavel to the Massey Chapter executives. The installation was sponsored by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and its representative Alana Pellow addressed the gathering.

Others who spoke at the occasion were College of Business Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Lawrence Rose, Professor Jill Hooks from the School of Accountancy, past-president of the Chapter Valeria Maw and Chapter co-president Maria Way.