The Future of Education

This paper reports on the critical success factors necessary to promote sustainability in the integration of information and communications technology (ICT) in accounting education. The integration was implemented in order to better align accounting education to accounting practice in Higher Education.
The alignment is only possible through the use and understanding of accounting software packages (ICT) which are integrated into the entire learning experience of the accounting diploma student. Firstly, it is argued that the iterative cycles of design-based research in the implementation process together with action research facilitated the refinement process. The continuous feedback cycles are a learning process for the teaching and learning with ICT to be sustained.  Secondly, the close working relationship to industry, management support and staff interventions are integral parts of the alignment and it is argued that these are the more imperative key success factors in the sustainability of the alignment process of accounting education to accounting industry. Thirdly, best practices emanating from the refinements of the implementation processes over the past seven years will be presented. The teaching and learning practices that will be highlighted cover assessment practices, the knowledge and skills balance for the graduate and tutor roles and responsibilities. The results of an impact study of the integration of ICT on the graduateness and employability of the graduates will be highlighted. Finally, the need for further research in the dynamic work place, fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and the future of accounting education knowledge and skills alignment will be presented.

Keywords: Accounting, Education, Information and communication technology (ICT), Integration, Implementation of ICT;

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