On Friday 3 July, 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 worldwide, with attendees representing more than 45 HEIs on the day. It is an important touchpoint between ICAEW and our Partners in Learning, providing an opportunity to collaborate, share best practice, explore emerging trends and strengthen the connection between education and the evolving accountancy profession.
The agenda featured a range of engaging speakers from ICAEW and the HEI sector, who shared their expertise through thought-provoking sessions focused on aligning academia with the future needs of the profession. Discussions reflected the rapidly changing accounting landscape and linked closely to student engagement and the main pillars of the Next Gen ACA: technology, ethics and sustainability.
An insight into the conference
The conference opened with a welcome from Dana Day, Chief Learning Officer, who highlighted the vital role that collaboration between ICAEW and HEIs plays in developing the next generation of business professionals. This was followed by an insightful overview of the Next Generation ACA qualification from Shaun Robertson, Director of Qualifications & Credentials, providing attendees with a look at how the qualification is evolving to meet the changing needs of students, employers and the profession.
The morning programme featured eight engaging breakout sessions, giving delegates the opportunity to hear from a diverse range of speakers.
Topics included but not limited to: engaging large audiences in the classroom, rethinking ethics teaching, enhancing student engagement, the impact of AI on accounting education, employer engagement, and embedding real-world skills into the curriculum.
The afternoon continued with a practical LinkedIn and networking masterclass, equipping attendees with strategies to build their professional presence and connections. Attendees also heard a valuable employer perspective on graduate recruitment, offering insights into the skills and attributes organisations are looking for in future accounting professionals.
The conference provided an excellent opportunity to share ideas, strengthen relationships between ICAEW and academia, continue important conversations on the needs/challenges facing the industry and preparing students for successful careers in an evolving accounting landscape.
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.
