Students from the Centre for International Education at the Washington and Lee University in the US visited the University of Pretoria on a 10-day trip to South Africa in May 2015 as part of their Tax Service Learning Course. While in South Africa, the group conducted training workshops on SEC reporting requirements for financial statements related to the income taxes of US multinational corporations. 

At Washington and Lee University, the students have to develop the workshop training materials through a series of research projects and homework assignments.  While in South Africa, the students conducted two workshops on the UP campus on 12 May 2015. The specific topics included international tax planning strategies, SEC reporting requirements, attorney-client privilege, and tax social justice. The first workshop, entitled ‘Fin48 Roadmap to Increased Audit Efficiency’, was presented to SARS officials and led by Professor Raquel Alexander and Ms Pam Miller from Washington and Lee University. The second workshop, entitled ‘FIN 48 – Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes’, was facilitated by the W&L students for students from the University of Pretoria. In addition, the Washington and Lee students participated in activities designed to foster a deeper understanding of South Africa's culture, history, ecology, and business environment.

The opportunity to interact with students from Washington and Lee University was a wonderful networking opportunity for BCom Honours in Taxation students. A technical content assessment of the workshop and a pervasive skill assessment focusing on networking skills were incorporated into the curriculum of the BCom Honours in Taxation degree at UP. The day was rounded off by an informal social function, sponsored by Washington and Lee University and EY South Africa.