Experiential Learning weds Community Service Learning: A marriage made in

Heaven

I A MohanUniversity Of The Free State

South Africa

1

• 2003 To 2004 Research Project by the Dept: of Accounting, “Financial Record Keeping as a Tool for Small Business Success- A case of Qwa Qwa”.

• 200 small/micro businesses interviewed• Findings:• 96% did not have any proper records other than that of

their debtors and creditors• 92% had no idea how much profit they were making or

how much loss they were incurring

2

• 73% of these entrepreneurs were forced into this field due to unemployment / retrenchment

• 89% of the women entrepreneurs started their small business due to death of the breadwinner in the family (Aids?)

• 91% did not know how to decide their mark-up and to price their merchandise competitively

3

• Undoubtedly, there was a need for the University to do something to help these self-employed people

• Thus evolved the module “Functional Bookkeeping and Accounts for Small Scale Entrepreneurs”.

4

• In 2005, the course was advertised to the public and 39 entrepreneurs successfully completed the training

• Free State Development was approached to be a service sector partner which was readily accepted

• MOU was signed between the University and FDC in 2006

• FDC took over the advertising and recruitment of entrepreneurs to be trained. In 2006, 44 entrepreneurs were trained.

5

• In 2007, 46 entrepreneurs were trained• In 2008, SEDA (Small Enterprises Development Agency)

showed a keen interest in this project and expressed their willingness for support

• They also identified some needy entrepreneurs and together with FDC clients, 39 entrepreneurs were trained.

• 2009 training took place during last holidays with 33 trainees

• In 2010, 45 entrepreneurs were trained

6

• Every year a Certificate of Attendance is awarded to those who successfully complete the course

• The event is sponsored by FDC (and now SEDA as well) and the function is attended by dignitaries and leaders from the community

• Students who participate in the training are also given presents like T shirts, bags etc by FDC and SEDA

• IMPACT ASSESSMENT• This was another crucial step in our project. A central

feature of our programme was its emphasis on participation and organisational learning.

7

• So our approach was distinct from the usual after effect findings on short courses in that we wanted to emphasise ‘improving the service learning programme rather than proving its impact.

• There was general consensus that the training helped them to manage their finance more effectively.

8

• The course consists of Five Modules and each module is divided into two parts: Theory and Practical

• First, theory is presented by selected (trained) students and the trainees are free to ask questions

• After a short break the practical session starts where relevant exercises will be given

• Each trainee will be assigned a student who will sit them and clarify their doubts or questions

• Assignments will also be given to be submitted in the next session

9

• Summary of Modules:• Module 1- Overview of Accounting, Types of businesses

in South Africa and their legal requirements, Calculation of “How wealthy are you?”

• Module 2- Basic Accounting Equation, Concepts of Assets, Liabilities, Owner’s Equity, Withdrawals by the owner, Income and Expenses, Cash and Credit Transactions

• Module 3- Journals, CRJ, CPJ, Purchases Journal, Sales Journal, General Journal and Petty Cash Journal

10

• Module 4- Determining Profit, Sales and Cost of Sales, Stock-taking and Valuation of Stock, Mark-up and Gross Profit, Income other than Sales and Net Profit

• Module 5- Fixed Assets and Depreciation, Tangible and Intangible Assets, Different methods of calculating depreciation, Depreciation as a non-cash expense, Other non-cash expenses like Bad debts

11

• We do not make any claims that this CSL Project will uplift and enlighten the small business sector in Qwa Qwa as a whole because there are hundreds of thousands of them

• We do believe that, “Little drops of water make the mighty ocean and little grains of sand make the pleasant land.”

• So this little drop of water is our small contribution towards making a mighty ocean in South Africa.

• We have been doing it for the past five years and we will continue doing it.

12

• The time has come for higher education to go to the poor, and to demonstrate that it is not only individuals, but also communities- and indeed nations- that will prosper as a result.

“THANK YOU”

13

14

15

16

17

18