The Degree That Became a Springboard
When Puthego Thabedi chose to study towards a BCom Accounting degree at Berea College of Technology in Durban, he was working towards more than a qualification, he was building a foundation for the future. Today, that foundation has taken him into a new academic chapter at Rhodes University, showing what can become possible when a Berea qualification is used as a springboard for further study. For students and families considering their higher education options, Thabedi’s journey offers an important reminder: where you begin your academic journey does not have to determine where it ends.
Berea College of Technology is a registered Private Higher Education Institution with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), registration number 2000/HE07/004. Its academic programmes are accredited through the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council on Higher Education (CHE), while its qualifications are registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
That credibility is reflected in the BCom Accounting degree completed by Thabedi. The qualification is a 360-credit National First Degree at NQF Level 7. Its curriculum provides students with knowledge across accounting and related areas, including financial accounting, auditing, management accounting and taxation. For Thabedi, that academic foundation became the starting point for his next opportunity.
“Berea College gave me a strong foundation in my studies and helped me understand what it means to be disciplined, committed and consistent,” he says.
Building confidence at Berea College
Completing a degree is about more than passing examinations. It requires discipline, consistency and the ability to keep going when the workload becomes demanding. For Thabedi, his time at Berea College helped develop those qualities while giving him a solid grounding in accounting and business. Those lessons became even more valuable when he progressed to Rhodes University. “Studying at Rhodes University has been a very different but exciting experience,” he says. The move required him to adapt to a new academic environment, meet new people and take greater responsibility for his studies. “It has pushed me to become more independent, manage my time better and take greater responsibility for my studies,” Thabedi explains.
Berea as a pathway to what comes next
his is where Thabedi’s story becomes particularly meaningful for Berea College of Technology. His journey demonstrates that a student’s first higher education institution does not necessarily have to be their final academic destination. A recognised qualification can provide a foundation from which students pursue further opportunities, including study at other universities. For Thabedi, moving from Berea College to Rhodes represents how far he has travelled academically. “Moving from Berea College of Technology to Rhodes University feels like a significant achievement for me,” he says. “It represents how far I have come and reminds me that every stage of my journey has played an important role in getting me where I am today. “The experience has also taught him that growth often requires leaving familiar surroundings. “I see the move as proof that growth happens when you are willing to step outside your comfort zone.”
A bigger future
Thabedi hopes to build a successful career, continue developing professionally and make a meaningful contribution to his community and the South African economy. He also wants other young people to recognise that their starting point does not have to place a ceiling on their ambitions. “I hope to inspire other young people by showing them that coming from a different educational background does not have to limit their future opportunities,” he says.
For Berea College, Thabedi’s journey is a powerful example of what its qualifications can help students do, build a credible academic foundation, gain confidence and open the door to the next opportunity. His story started at Berea. His BCom Accounting degree gave him the foundation. Rhodes became the next chapter.
Visit www.bereacollege.co.za for more on our BCom in Accounting degree.