The founders of the Australian School of Accounting (ASA) have been actively involved in professional accounting education and training for many years. Over that time, they have seen a downward trend in the quality of accounting educational standards.
This has been reinforced by professional-level exam data that indicates that accounting graduates struggle with the content, complexity and rigour of the professional accounting qualifying standard. This situation is echoed by employers regularly voicing their dissatisfaction with the general lack of preparedness of accounting graduates for a career in professional accounting.
All professions, including accounting are facing challenges and disruption from increasing use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and impact of digital technology. This also impacts on not just what but also how students learn. Traditional accounting education is failing to adapt to rapidly changing dynamics of the business environment that graduates are entering.
In 2016, the founders realised that something needed to be done to improve the quality, relevance and work readiness of accounting graduates for the workforce of tomorrow.
In 2017, ASA was established with the purpose of becoming a quality focused higher education provider. it would provide an industry-focused accounting education by addressing the perceived weaknesses of traditional accounting education. It would focus on quality and excellence in teaching and learning as part of an aligned industry-relevant approach. Through a differentiated and personalised approach ASA will prepare the accounting and finance professionals of the future with the passion, demonstrated capabilities and transferable skills to continue lifelong learning.
In 2019, ASA was approved by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) to be a higher education provider.
On 1 July 2021 ASA had a provider category change under the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 from Higher Education Provider to Institute of Higher Education.
It is the founders’ intent that ASA graduates will develop a balanced, focused edge and industry know-how that will provide them with outstanding knowledge and skill base that make them the preferred choice of employers.
The governance and leadership teams at the Australian School of Accounting (ASA) are dedicated to ensuring that the School delivers a quality educational experience to all our students.
The Australian School of Accounting is governed by the Board of Directors. The Board appoints an Academic Board which has oversight of the School’s academic functions and policies.
Together with the senior management team, the Board of Directors and the Academic Board have oversight and responsibility for setting the vision, goals and strategic direction of at the Australian School of Accounting as well as decision-making around policies, courses, performance, operations and administration.
The Board of Directors’ role is to ensure that ASA is properly resourced and managed so it can deliver a high standard of education in compliance with the School’s strategic objectives and plans, internal policies and regulatory requirements.
With effective governance, the Board of Directors promotes and protects the reputation and interests of ASA. It fosters an environment that supports and protects freedom of intellectual inquiry and promotes the wellbeing of students and staff. The Board of Directors fulfils these responsibilities by overseeing the performance of ASA and making sure that it achieves its vision, values, aims and objectives.
The Board of Directors’ decisions are made in the best interests of the students and staff to support the quality of education and the learning environment offered by ASA and to maintain a culture consistent with the School’s strategic objectives. The Board of Directors ensures that ASA is well-governed and adequately resourced so the School’s strategic objectives can be met.
Is the principal policy-making and advisory body on all matters relating to and affecting the quality of ASA’s teaching and learning. The Academic Board will provide leadership in promoting a culture of academic excellence in teaching and learning at ASA, ensuring academic integrity and freedom of intellectual inquiry.
The Academic Board must ensure that ASA has appropriate academic standards, that these are reflected in its policies and procedures and that they are effectively implemented by management, monitored, maintained and reviewed. Academic governance should be based on consultation, collegiality and broad-based
representation and to achieve this, the Board should maintain a respectful working relationship with the Principal and the academic leadership of ASA.
The Committee assists the Board of Directors in discharging its governance responsibilities relating to the integrity of financial reporting, effectiveness of the systems of internal control and risk management and compliance with relevant regulatory and legal requirements. The Committee is an integral part of the corporate governance system of Australian School of Accounting (ASA).
