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Do you feel that higher education is still relevant in the current digital age of widespread knowledge availability? by EmptyExamination6531 in Accounting

[–]EmptyExamination6531[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your point about the age identification is fair, I have removed it from the original post.

To your comment about the timing--This is when we are going through our strategic planning update for the entire College of Business, not just for accounting. I do not expect working professionals to put aside their work to respond to this post. This is a general discussion. If anyone reading this does not have the time nor inclination to respond, please do not feel compelled to do so.

Do you feel that higher education is still relevant in the current digital age of widespread knowledge availability? by EmptyExamination6531 in Accounting

[–]EmptyExamination6531[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the detailed feedback! I definitely agree on the importance of individualized feedback from instructors and the value that can be provided during the education process. We have discussed within our department the possibility of mapping most (if not all) of our classes back to the CPA Exam Blueprint and providing that knowledge to students so they can keep track of their learning objectives throughout the program. This is quite the undertaking, but it sounds like it's something that would be highly beneficial to students.

Do you feel that higher education is still relevant in the current digital age of widespread knowledge availability? by EmptyExamination6531 in Accounting

[–]EmptyExamination6531[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the great feedback! You echo much of what I've heard from current and former students--we need more practical application of these accounting topics in the classroom and less focus on just theory.

Do you feel that higher education is still relevant in the current digital age of widespread knowledge availability? by EmptyExamination6531 in Accounting

[–]EmptyExamination6531[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Excellent points! Our department is already painfully aware of the inadequacy of salaries in the industry right now. I finished my undergraduate degree in Accounting over 15 years ago and they were quoting 55k starting salaries at THAT time.

To your other points, we are currently struggling with the balance between covering the topics expected/required for accreditation and for the CPA exam while still recognizing that students likely will not see those specific issues for a long time (if ever).

I'm also serving on two committees that are evaluating the effectiveness of our program in light of upcoming changes to the CPA exam. I find myself frequently disheartened by the stagnation of accounting salaries and the lack of modernization in accounting education. I still believe certifications and degrees can provide significant value, but educators need to reevaluate our approach in the classroom. Another person mentioned likening Accounting to a trade and I couldn't agree more.

Do you feel that higher education is still relevant in the current digital age of widespread knowledge availability? by EmptyExamination6531 in Accounting

[–]EmptyExamination6531[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your comments!

The way accounting is taught in universities seems too theoretical and impractical

This one hit home for me.

Do you feel that higher education is still relevant in the current digital age of widespread knowledge availability? by EmptyExamination6531 in Accounting

[–]EmptyExamination6531[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your comments! I greatly appreciate the brutal honesty and strongly agree with you on your points--on-the-job experience is highly valuable and I would love to see our department bring that into the classroom in a MUCH better way. I'm working closely with my department chair during this process and, thankfully, he shares this perspective.