KUCHING – A team of accounting students from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus made its mark by securing First Runner-Up at the National Inter-Varsity Accounting Quiz (NIVAQ) 2026, delivering the institution’s first-ever podium finish in the prestigious nationwide competition.
Organised by Multimedia University in collaboration with the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), NIVAQ is an annual nationwide competition that brings together top accounting students from higher education institutions to promote academic excellence, critical thinking, and professional readiness in accounting.
This year, NIVAQ attracted 200 participants from 27 higher education institutions across Malaysia, underscoring the competition’s stature as a leading platform for academic excellence in accounting.
The team from Swinburne Sarawak – coached by Su Sueh Ing, Fellow Certified Practising Accountant and Head of Department (Accounting) at Swinburne Sarawak – comprised undergraduate accounting students Keith Damian Singh Thind, Grace Bong Yi Ying, David Ong Kok Wei, and Chai Wai Boon.
After progressing through the earlier Qualifying Round, the team advanced to the highly competitive final round held at Multimedia University Melaka on 16 May 2026 as one of the Top 10 finalist teams, where they competed against nine other teams and demonstrated sharp technical expertise, critical thinking, and exceptional teamwork under pressure.
Their performance earned them the First Runner-Up title under the evaluation of a distinguished judging panel comprising leading industry and professional representatives from PwC, Lim & Lee PLT (Chartered Accountants), a Bursa Malaysia-listed company, and MIA.
This accomplishment represents the culmination of years of consistent participation and perseverance, as Swinburne Sarawak has sent different teams to compete in NIVAQ annually without previously securing a podium finish.
“This achievement is a proud and defining moment for Swinburne Sarawak and the School of Business. Our accounting students have shown extraordinary determination and resilience under pressure. This success reflects not only their intellectual capabilities but also their commitment to continuous improvement and excellence,” said Su.
She also expressed appreciation for Professor Dr Brian Wong Kee Mun, Dean of the Faculty of Business, Design, and Arts at Swinburne Sarawak, for his support of the team’s participation in the competition.
The Swinburne Sarawak team receives their award as First Runner-Up at NIVAQ 2026.
NIVAQ is renowned for its rigorous format, which tests participants across a broad spectrum of accounting disciplines, including financial reporting, management accounting, taxation, auditing, finance, current business developments, corporate governance, and professional ethics.
Contestants are required to analyse a simulated real-world case study within 50 minutes, including slide preparation, while demonstrating critical thinking and sound decision-making under pressure. They must also respond quickly and accurately during a question-and-answer session before an experienced panel of judges, who may challenge their responses, making the competition both demanding and prestigious.
Swinburne Sarawak’s achievement highlights the strength of its accounting program in nurturing industry-ready graduates equipped with technical competence, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills. The recognition by an esteemed panel of industry professionals underscores the relevance and quality of the institution’s academic training and enhances the university’s reputation at the national level.
Beyond the competition, this milestone serves as an inspiration to students and educators alike, reinforcing that perseverance, strategic preparation, and strong mentorship can lead to breakthrough success.
The participating students expressed their appreciation for their lecturer, Su Sueh Ing, for her unwavering support and guidance throughout this journey, which contributed greatly to their experience and success.
Reflecting on the experience, Keith commented, “Although we felt nervous, we focused on completing the competition and reminded ourselves that reaching this final stage was already an achievement. We were shocked when the results were announced and simply walked onto the stage, shook hands, and took photos – slowly realising we had achieved a historic win for our university by becoming its first team to achieve this milestone.”
Ong shared, “Participating in the final was a very valuable and memorable experience for me. The competition was challenging, allowing us to test our accounting knowledge, critical thinking without AI assistance, and teamwork skills against talented participants from different universities. The feedback from the judges was very inspiring, as they encouraged us to think beyond theoretical concepts and focus on how our solutions can be applied practically in real business situations.”
As Swinburne Sarawak’s School of Business celebrates this achievement, it remains committed to fostering academic excellence and empowering future talents and accounting professionals to thrive in an increasingly dynamic business environment.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website, Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), LinkedIn page (Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus), X page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak), YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak), or Xiaohongshu page (@SwinburneSwk).