Dear Prospective Staff Participant

My name is Tarish Jagwanth, and I am a senior lecturer in the School of Accounting at Nelson Mandela University and currently a registered PhD in Accounting candidate at Nelson Mandela University.

You are being requested to participate in this research study. The study focuses on whether classmark requirements for access to final assessments add value or contribute to the throughput rates in first-year accounting modules. The study, therefore, aims to provide a generic guidance framework on assessment practices with reference to classmark requirements, for first-year accounting students' access to final assessments after the research has been conducted.

Participation in the study will be through means of a semi-structured interview, with questions that will yield open-ended answers, which investigate the accounting academic staff members perception of the value of classmark requirements in first-year accounting modules. Interviews will take place preferably in person, or online if an in-person interview is not possible. The interview will last approximately 45-60 minutes in length, and participants will be asked to provide permission, confirming if they are willing to have the interview recorded using a voice recorder or electronic communication application software, being Microsoft (MS) Teams® or Zoom.

The research participant criteria are UKZN staff, specifically permanent academic staff members involved in the delivery of first-year accounting modules, first-year accounting module coordinators, academic leaders of the discipline that first-year accounting modules fall within and head/s of accounting department, at both the Westville and Pietermaritzburg campuses. Males and females of all races meeting the participant criteria are invited to participate in the research.

If you are interested in being part of the study, please email me at tarish.jagwanth@mandela.ac.za. After indicating that you voluntarily agree to participate, a mutually suitable date and time to conduct the interview will be arranged, taking into account the information that you provide regarding availability. Prior to the commencement of the interview, you will be required to complete the consent form attached to the interview guide, that will be sent to you through email.

Ethical clearance has been obtained for the research from the Nelson Mandela University Research Ethics Committee (Human), and the ethical clearance number is: REC-042508-025.

Kindly find attached UKZN gatekeepers permission letter, ethical clearance letter, and the participant recruitment letter which outlines further information and details of this study.

Thank you for your consideration - we look forward to hearing from you and your participation will be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards
Tarish Jagwanth