Abstract:

Malaysia needs about 60,000 accountants to become a developed nation by 2020. However, despite hundreds of accounting graduates produced every year, the country is still facing the shortage of accredited accountant especially bumiputra accountant.  To date, there are approximately 32,000 professional accountant in Malaysia.  This shortage is perhaps due to many of bumiputra accounting students graduated with average performance and therefore not interested in pursuing professional accounting qualification or accounting career after graduation. This study forms part of an ongoing investigation into factors affecting accounting undergraduate program achievement at a Malaysia public university.  More specifically, the study examines students pre-admission qualification performance, their endogenous factors of motivation, effort, and learning styles.  The preliminary results of attributes of high achievers will enhance the university and educators understanding of issues which affect students' achievement within higher education.