According to New Straits Time (2006), "if we do not modify the prevailing perception that local graduates are incompetent, the issue of quality and academic excellence in higher education will forever be criticized to the extent that public universities may never be at par with foreign counterparts". It went on to opine that "a qualification which focuses solely on academic skills is not attractive enough to today's employers of labour; employers want graduates who are excellent academically and are loaded with professional qualifications". What a big challenge to the school of accountancy of public universities!