CAN UNIVERSITIES HELP TO SATISFY ACCOUNTING PRACTITIONERS’ NEEDS: A SURVEY OF RESPONSES OF ACCOUNTING ACADEMICS’ TO ACCOUNTING PRACTITIONERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF WEAKNESSES AND STRENGTHS OF ACCOUNTING GRADUATES IN HONG KONG

Purpose:

This study seeks to obtain Hong Kong accounting academics’ responses to weaknesses and strengths perceived by major accounting employers of Hong Kong accounting graduates. Design/ Methodology/ Approach: This is a qualitative study consisting of two phases. The first phase relates to identifying the weaknesses and strengths of university graduates by sending a Likert-scale questionnaire to the big-4 accounting firms. The second phase consists of interviewing accounting academics. In areas where improvements are sought, suggestions for remedial activities from each surveyed institution as well as the reasons as to why some institutions cannot help are recorded. In areas where the graduates have done well, the institutions’ responses include whether these have been the results of their efforts, or that credit cannot be claimed. Findings:Common approaches suggested to enhance the skill sets in several areas include the use of case studies, instructional materials and exam questions that are unstructured and ambiguous, projects or presentations requiring interactivity and encouraging students to participate more in student and external activities with the universities arranging more internships, study tours and exchange programs. The use of the aforementioned factors also contributed to accounting graduates doing well in several areas. Research Limitations:This paper is based entirely on a survey of expert opinions from both major accounting employers and accounting academics. It would not be appropriate to use statistical tools under these circumstances. Practical Implications: The results of this study can be used as a reference by accounting academics in countries or jurisdictions where the educational and business environments are similar to those in Hong Kong. Social Implications:After reading this paper, accounting practitioners would have a clear understanding of what universities can and cannot do in the nurturing of the expected skillsets of accounting graduates. Hence, they should not point fingers at accounting academics for doing a less than adequate job for not being able to overcome some of the perceived weaknesses of accounting graduates. Originality: This is a topic that has never been explored previously.