Another possible solution to the problem of skills deficiencies in graduates may be to
move some of the technical accounting skill educational requirements to the education
brief of the professional accounting bodies. If this were the case, reduced pressure on
the curriculum would allow universities to refocus their energies on a more broadlybased
course structure that enhances the educational experience and the development of
generic skills of accounting graduates. If this approach were adopted accounting education
would take on two distinct phases. During the first phase, at university, the primary objective
of the course would be to ‘educate’ and as such develop a range of generic skills.
In contrast phase two, largely administered by the professional accounting bodies would
be to ‘train’ graduates. It is during the training phase that students would learn a range
of technical skills applicable to the accounting profession. If this holistic model of
accounting education were adopted students would be firstly educated and subsequently
trained. As a result of the realignment of accounting education between universities and
professional bodies, it may well be that accounting graduates educated in this manner
would be better equipped to meet the demands of employers and the market place.