Members of the STAREP Accounting and Auditing Education Community of Practice (EduCoP) are working together to modernize the education and development of accountants and auditors and develop a timetable for overhauling accounting education. Developing internationally compatible accounting education at both the university and professional development level is an underlying requirement for building the necessary capacity to support better quality corporate financial information.

The purpose of the Workshop was to advance the formulation of individual country initiatives in the area of accounting education to achieve greater compliance with the International Education Standards (IESs) published by the International Accounting Education Standards Board (IAESB).

The workshop was attended by 35 participants representing universities and professional accounting organizations in the STAREP Region. The key note address was delivered by Anne-Marie Vitale, Deputy Chair of the International Accounting Education Standards Board. The address discussed the expected benefits of the revised International Education Standards and especially the shift towards a learning outcomes approach required by the revised content based Standards. The impact of information technology on accounting practices, and the need to take these changes into account when updating accounting education programs was discussed. Anne-Marie introduced a survey on Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) which members of the EduCoP will be invited to participate in. The survey will allow IFAC to gain an in depth understanding of ICT issues in accounting and audit education and practice around the World.

Galina Kuznetsova, Senior Financial Management Specialist at the World Bank in Moscow was a guest speaker at the conference. Galina presented the accounting and audit regulatory environment in Russia, and its impact on the education and certification of professional accountants and auditors.
Members of the STAREP EduCoP from Moldova and Ukraine have been working with a broad range of stakeholders in their respective countries since the previous regional meeting held in Minsk in October 2016 to develop national strategies to strengthen accounting education in their respective countries. Representatives from both countries shared their progress and challenges with all EduCoP members.

Next steps will include the organization of replication events in remaining STAREP Countries to initiate the development of national education initiatives to strengthen accounting education. The results of discussions held in all six countries will be presented at a future EduCoP meeting.