THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING STANDARD NO. 3 IN THE COOPERATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

Abstract

This research is based on the accounting curriculum that is taught in the form of Co-operative Education Project (Co-op). This curriculum requires students to emphasize work-based learning in terms of professional accounting in business environment at least 16 weeks in order to enhance their professional skills before graduation. Therefore, the aim of this project are 1) to shed light on an importance of accounting professional skills in accordance with The International Education Standards for Professional Accountants-3 (IES 3) in the Co-operative Education Project and 2) to explore a guideline to improve the Co-operative Education Project of accounting students in the future. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used to collect data from graduates, students, and corporate trainers, who used to take part in the Co-operative Education Project in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Statistical measures were used in this research such as the average (mean), standard deviation, multiple regression analysis, and related data processing. The descriptive statistics and regression results show that the two most important skills are the interpersonal and communication skill, and the personality skill, respectively. However, in multiple regressions model for statistically significant at the 0.05 level shows that only the interpersonal and communication skill is associated with the accounting professional skills in the Co-operative Education Project.