Singapore, 27 August 2025 (Wednesday) – The Institute of Valuers and Appraisers, Singapore (IVAS), under the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), has appointed SMU Academy, the professional training arm of Singapore Management University (SMU), to design, deliver and administer the Chartered Valuer and Appraiser (CVA) Programme across Singapore, Jakarta, and Bangkok.
Launched in 2016, the CVA Programme is Asia’s first professional Business Valuation certification programme benchmarked against the International Valuation Standards (IVS) established by the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC), the global standards setter for valuation. This would be the first time the programme will be offered in Indonesia and Thailand.
The announcement was made at the IVAS-IVSC Business Valuation Conference 2025, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between ACRA, represented by Mr Wong Kee Wei, Divisional Director, Accountancy and Professional Development Division, and Mr Jack Lim, Executive Director of SMU Academy. The MOU signing was witnessed by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development; ACRA’s Chief Executive Mrs Chia-Tern Huey Min; and IVAS Council Chairperson Mr Lie Kok Keong.
The appointment of SMU Academy as the new training partner in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand marks a new chapter for the CVA Programme. SMU will take on the end-to-end delivery of the Programme – from development of the curriculum and training materials, to provision of training and assessment – ensuring consistency and maintaining high standards throughout. A new hybrid format will also be introduced, comprising a combination of weekday evening classes and in-person weekend sessions. Supported by SMU’s Overseas Centres in Jakarta and Bangkok, the programme will offer two intakes each year, with a planned launch in Singapore in January 2026, and Indonesia and Thailand in July 2026.
The CVA Programme offers a comprehensive and structured professional development pathway for aspiring and practicing professionals in valuation-related fields such as accounting, finance, law and economics – all of which are essential to performing a valuation well. It combines academic depth with practical application, covering areas including valuation for transactions, financial reporting, litigation, arbitration, intellectual property, and intangible assets.
Upon successful completion of the CVA Programme, learners will be conferred the Associate CVA designation; and upon meeting the work experience requirements, they can apply to IVAS for the CVA designation.
Mr Jack Lim, Executive Director of SMU Academy, said, “SMU Academy is honoured to be entrusted with this important mandate – not only in Singapore but also across the region. In partnership with IVAS and ACRA, we are committed to elevating the business valuation profession in Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok by empowering professionals with the expertise, competencies, and ethical grounding required to excel.”
Mr Lie Kok Keong, Chairperson of the IVAS Council, said, "We are pleased to partner with SMU Academy to expand the CVA Programme regionally. This collaboration will ensure aspiring professionals across Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand have access to comprehensive training that combines academic rigour with practical application, broadening the business valuation profession in the region."
For more details on the programme and trainers, please see - https://academy.smu.edu.sg/courses/chartered-valuer-and-appraiser-programme-cva
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