Much has been written about teaching and learning deficiencies in accounting education. Universities have grappled with the challenge and developed a number of strategies to address the concerns raised. Many of the recommended strategies for addressing these deficiencies have included a focus on the development of professional capabilities and skills. This paper reports on a study which has identified the capabilities which are considered to be the most important for successful practice in accountancy during the first years after graduation and identified the extent to which New Zealand universities have focused on these in the delivery of their study programmes. Most attempts to measure the nature and extent of change to accountancy degree programmes have collected data from current or graduating students or from the university itself. This study instead collected feedback from accountancy graduates employed in public practice with three to five years post graduation professional experience and from their workplace supervisors. This paper reports on the results of the graduate feedback, provides a useful insight into where progress has been made and identifies where further improvement is necessary.Professional capabilities, teaching and learning quality, accounting education reforms,
Rapid acceptance of, and changes in, information technology are revolutionizing the way educators teach and students learn. This study reports on the use of Blackboard as a tool for creating a virtual learning environment (VLE). Responses from undergraduate accounting students in New Zealand provide data on the use of the VLE as a learning aid. Findings suggest that the students have openly embraced the VLE and support its adoption by faculty members in other courses. However, students appear unwilling to actively participate in two-way online activities. This has implications for faculty contemplating the adoption of a VLE in their courses. Copyright (c) 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation (c) 2008 AFAANZ.
Purpose
This paper aims to explain the contextual basis for examining the accountant stereotype, describe the multiple influences on its development and propose directions for further research.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper takes the form of a review. It discusses a research paper published in the current issue of Meditari Accountancy Research which undertakes a content analysis using the General Inquirer to identify the image of accountants as represented in novels.
Findings
Several issues need to be considered when examining these results. The first of these is that the portrayal of accountants in the media has become more positive in recent times. Second, the media is just one influence on the development of stereotypes; third, the media may have limited influence on stereotype formation.
Research limitations/implications
The findings have implications for further research on the development and maintenance of the accountant stereotype.
Originality/value
This review contributes to the debate on possible interventions to create a more positive image of accountants.
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