Page 14 - IB November 2019

Advertorial Politics

REMOVING THE BARRIERS

Dr Anil Narayan is dedicated to making accounting accessible to Pacific students.

Dr Anil Narayan knows better than most how to help Pacific people succeed. proachable way, that actually then encourages them. I come from a Pasifika culture,
The Associate Professor in accounting has not only researched the subject, but his so I have a great understanding of that.
dedication to his students at the Auckland University of Technology was recently “Pasifika people learn very well with real life examples.”
recognised with its teaching excellence award. Narayan wants to lift the standard of living for the Pacific community, and he has
For more than two decades Narayan has been nurturing our next generation of had Pacific students who have gone on to be great accountants, bringing skills and
accountants, and helping the Pacific students is particularly dear to his heart, he says. qualities to the job beyond those of a traditional “bean counter”.
“The Pacific means a lot to me. I was once a student on a government scholarship “Pasifika people, from what I’ve experienced, have good communication skills and
studying overseas. I understand some of the difficulties Pacific students face in the often enjoy working in groups. These soft skills are more important than ever as
tertiary education environment.” technology is taking away the routine parts of an accountant’s job.
Narayan has classes at AUT’s South Campus in the heart of Manukau, where all core “We want them to be successful in business, and studying accounting is very import-
accounting papers are taught, and where more than half of his students are Pacific ant, very critical. We need more educated, qualified accountants who are Pasifika,
students. because we certainly don’t have many.”
As Deputy Head of the university’s accounting department, he feels responsibility to AUT graduates can be found working in the top four accounting firms and leading
ensure they are looked after. New Zealand companies, he says.
“In our research we found that a lot of Pasifika students were not coming to classes Originally a chartered accountant, Narayan has been at AUT for 23 years and was
because they had other family pressures, for example church-going or looking after motivated to pursue teaching after realising the enormous contribution he could
the younger siblings,” he says. make in the lives of many students who were not enjoying accounting.
The solution is to get those who place demands on their time to change their mindset “Students often comment ‘accounting tends to be pretty boring, and the way you are
so that they instead give the best support. explaining it to me – I’ve got it now’.”
“Church and family elders feel great pride in one of their family attending university, Narayan is a member of CA ANZ and a Fellow of CPA Australia and has just been
and they want them to succeed. If we can get that support network on board then awarded the CPA ANZ Divisional President’s Award for Excellence (Service &
the students have a much better chance.” Leadership).
Lecturers need to encourage Pacific students as well as look out for things that can In 2016 and 2017, Narayan also received recognition in teaching excellence from
trip up their studies, like not having access to a study room or computer at home. CPA Australia, one of the largest professional accounting bodies, for exceeding both
Narayan also monitors when a student’s attendance or performance dips and follows the national and global pass rates in CPA external examinations, averaging between
up with a friendly chat about what’s going on for them. 88 and 100 per cent.
As well as being in a convenient location, AUT’s South Campus often suits Pacific “Students come to us for accounting, and we have to make sure that we give them
students better than what can be intimidating large lecture theatres in the city, he good teaching,” he says.
says. “It doesn’t stop with their education though. We have to be part of their lives as they
“They can be shy, but the more you talk to them in a friendly way, in a nice ap- embark on their careers.”

14 Islands Business, November 2019