First ACCA student receives the newly launched Ummed Jain Scholarship

KATHMANDU: An ACCA student based in Nepal, Dikshya Lama, has been selected to receive the prestigious inaugural scholarship in memory of ACCA’s first Nepalese member.

Nepal’s first ACCA member, Ummed Jain FCCA, passed away in December 2020 at the age of 72. Mr Jain travelled to the UK in 1970 under a scholarship from the British Council to study for the ACCA Qualification, and after many years of inspiring future members into the profession, in 2006 he was the first recipient of the ACCA Achievement Award in recognition of his work to promote ACCA in Nepal.

‘Ummed Jain was an outstanding ambassador not only for ACCA but for the entire profession and the value it contributes to society,’ said ACCA chief executive Helen Brand. ‘His influence on the accountancy profession’s development is enormous.’

Rabin Katwal, head of ACCA Nepal, added: ‘Ummed’s passion and contribution to accountancy and accountancy education during the early days in Nepal will always be remembered.’

Continuing to inspire the next generation

Ummed Jain was a passionate ACCA member, as are his three surviving children who are all FCCA members. His legacy now lives on to inspire and support the next generation of finance professionals with the introduction of a new scholarship fund set up by his late family.

The scholarship, awarded to a deserving woman ACCA student in Nepal, covers the costs of exams, tuition, and annual subscription fees for a whole year from the date the scholarship is awarded, with a new winner being selected annually.

Ummed’s son Abhijay Jain said: ‘Dad was always a champion of women’s education and we are delighted that his legacy lives on via this scholarship. We are grateful for the support given by ACCA in the UK and in Nepal to launch this initiative and we look forward to supporting the next generation of ACCA students in the years to come.’

Applications to apply for the annual scholarship opened in February 2021 and received an overwhelming number of submissions.

Each applicant was asked to detail how the scholarship would make a positive contribution to their career, community, and the overall accountancy profession. A total of 65 students shared their passions, dreams, and aspirations for the future in a short essay.

An exceptional award, for an exceptional student

ACCA Nepal is pleased to announce that Dikshya Lama has been selected to receive the inaugural scholarship. Dikshya has been an ACCA student since 2018 and has completed 7 of her exams to date. In her essay submission she likens her education journey to coffee, both essential in her life, bittersweet at times, but with a rewarding feeling after.
The passion Dikshya has for her career and education shone through her essay submission, but what made her stand out to the judges from other applicants was her dedication and long-term view of how being ACCA qualified she can go on to support her community.

Quoted from Dikshya Lama’s essay submission, she writes: ‘ACCA has long adhered to the notion that with great power comes significant responsibilities; one most important responsibility is to commit to serving the community. I have always been taught to give back to the community. Using the knowledge and perspective I have gained from ACCA I have been volunteering to help the underprivileged prepare their tax returns.’

Dikshya continues: ‘As an ACCA student, I have an essential role in imparting the knowledge, skills, and ethical underpinnings of my profession to the community. I have realised that helping the community does not necessarily have to be glamorous. Often, the community is helped by students studying hard and giving back later on, which might be by becoming anything they want and paying tax or helping the community in whichever way they prefer.’

Rabin Katwal, concludes: ‘We congratulate Dikshya on being the first recipient of the Ummed Jain Scholarship, and we look forward to the opportunities this new scholarship will give our students in the years to come.’