On Monday 14 July at Chartered Accountants’ Hall, we hosted the annual Higher Education Institutions (HEI) Conference – a flagship event for academic partners within the ICAEW Partner in Learning Programme. The conference is open to Partners in Learning across the globe and we had attendees on the day representing over 50 HEIs. The conference serves as a vital touchpoint between ICAEW and our Partners in Learning, offering a chance to collaborate, share best practices, explore emerging trends and strengthen the link between education and the evolving world of accountancy.
The agenda for the day had a variety of exciting speakers, from both ICAEW and externally within the HEI space, to share their expertise, with a series of thought-provoking sessions aimed at aligning academia with the future needs of the profession. Discussions reflected the rapidly changing landscape of accounting, tying into the main pillars of the Next Gen ACA technology, ethics and sustainability.
Spotlight on the future of the profession
A highlight of the morning was the session on ‘The Next Gen ACA’, which gave attendees an in-depth look at the evolving ACA qualification. The talk provided a valuable overview of the updated structure, with a focus on specialised learning and encouraging students to become lifelong learners. Tying into the future of the profession and with a focus on technology, we also had a session that delved into AI and its impact on both the current and future of the accountancy profession. This session covered how AI has adapted since it was first introduced and looked at how in the future both students and employers will be using AI in different ways and the different skillsets needed to future proof yourself using AI.
Embedding sustainability and ethics into the curriculum
Another key theme was the growing need to integrate ethics and sustainability into accountancy education. In a session titled ‘Embedding Sustainability and Ethics into Degrees’, speakers from Henley Business School explored how these crucial topics can be woven more effectively into undergraduate programmes. With increasing pressure on businesses to demonstrate environmental and social responsibility, it’s clear that today’s graduates must be equipped, not just with technical knowledge, but with the values and awareness to drive positive change. A highlight of this session was the research done by Henley Business School into Sustainability and most students wanting to learn and/or contribute towards sustainability on their course.
Collaborating for student success
Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from ICAEW’s early careers team, who shared strategies for engaging students more meaningfully. The session, ‘Meet the Early Careers Team at ICAEW’, focused on the tools and resources available to HEIs to support student engagement – including on-campus events, online webinars and resources tailored to aspiring finance professionals, as well as how we can connect with students.
Inspiring the next generation
After lunch, there was an energising roundtable session on ‘How We Can Inspire Students to Get Excited About a Career in Accountancy’. The session allowed the attendees to reflect on some of the sessions they had attended in the morning and to look at best practices from their institutes to help come up with ideas on how they can inspire students in accountancy, but also how ICAEW can support them. Some of the conversations on the tables focused on the importance of storytelling, real-world exposure and role models in changing perceptions of the profession. The conversation underlined the importance of collaboration between professional bodies, universities and employers to ensure the next generation is both informed and inspired.
Conclusion
The last session of the conference was hosted by Jennifer Rose and Toby York who are both academics but also sit on the Academia & Education Community advisory group at ICAEW. It provided a well-rounded conclusion to the event. Focusing on how HEIs have changed and must continue to change to teach, not just for today’s students but the markets they will be entering post-graduation. As the profession continues to evolve at pace, the role of educators in shaping the future of accountancy has never been more important. Through collaborative initiatives like this conference, ICAEW and its Partners in Learning are working together to ensure that graduates are not only technically competent but also have the right mindsets and tools to pursue a career in chartered accountancy.
If you wish to attend future conferences like this and work at a HEI, you can sign up to the PiL programme for free below. Please also use the website to check that your institution is not already a Partner in Learning. Any further enquiries please email me on at aidan.ward-hendry@icaew.com.
