Accounting educators play a pivotal role in strengthening the accountancy talent pipeline and shaping graduates for the workforce of the future.
Recognising this, MIA has always prioritised the importance of equipping accounting educators to become future-ready and relevant for the digital economy and society. Throughout the years, MIA has supported accounting educators in terms of upskilling through initiatives such as the Train the Trainer workshops in collaboration with professional accountancy organisations, facilitating digital adoption and pedagogical innovation, and providing opportunities for accountancy research through MIA’s collaboration with the Malaysian Accountancy Research and Education Foundation (MAREF).
Yet another specialised initiative is the National Accounting Educators Convention 2021 with the theme of Nurturing Future Ready Accounting Educators, which is the flagship programme for members in academia. Taking place virtually from 23-24 November 2021, this platform prioritises the latest and most relevant knowledge that accounting educators must know to be future-proof and in turn support the future-proofing of young accounting talents.
Featuring a stellar line-up of subject matter experts, speakers and panellists, the Convention will focus on the significant trends and developments impacting the accountancy profession and education, including:
• MIA Competency Framework
A key tool in future-proofing accounting talents, the MIA Competency Framework illustrates the benchmark required for the three proficiency levels for accountancy professionals in line with international standards.
• Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) Engagements for Future Accounting Professionals
Technical and professional sharing on AUP engagements which are gaining traction in many jurisdictions due to the high cost of audit or the inevitable increase of the audit threshold for private limited entities.
In an AUP engagement, management or a third-party user can specify the procedures they want conducted. The professional accountant in public practice will then carry out the procedures and issue an AUP report describing the procedures being agreed upon and the resulting findings, with the management or the third-party user concluding on the outcome of the process being carried out.
As AUPs are the wave of the future, this panel discussion will focus on what academicians need to know in order to train future accounting professionals on AUP engagements.
• Ethics and Trust in a Digital Age – Accounting Ethics Education and Ethical Awareness
Reiterates that ethics and professionalism are the foundation of the profession and familiarises accounting educators with the latest issues in ethics.
• ESG for Educators
As ESG issues gain momentum in business, accounting educators will need to be updated on sustainability matters and the importance of developing ESG competence among future accountants.
• Emerging Technology Adoption – An Imperative for Future Accounting Education Programmes and Educators
Presents findings of the Report of a Study of Emerging Technology Adoption within Accounting Programmes by Higher Learning Institutions in Malaysia, to be followed by a panel discussion on the impact of emerging technology adoption and value creation on accounting professionals.
This important report concluded that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science / Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing and Blockchain are crucial to be included in the accounting curriculum as these are considered necessary competencies for future accounting graduates.
• Industrial Revolution 4.0: The Readiness of Graduates of Higher Education Institutions for Fulfilling Job Demands
Discusses Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) which is the mass implementation of cyber physical systems in the industry. IR4.0 leads to an intelligent, connected and decentralised production system that influences the value chain related to the regulation of organisations. Identifies the requisite mindset and tools that accounting graduates must be equipped with to be productive in the IR4.0 environment.
• Why Is It Time for Educators to Prioritise Cybersecurity?
Emphasises cybersecurity awareness for undergraduates, as they will need a broad range of knowledge on the type of cyber threats, security policies, cyber law, and security framework to manage cyber risks effectively in the workplace of the future.
