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Effect of Professional Accounting Body Activities on Students’ Interest in Accounting

Abstract

Professional accounting bodies play an important role in promoting accounting standards, professional development, ethical conduct, and awareness of opportunities within the accounting profession, while students’ interest in accounting refers to their level of enthusiasm, curiosity, engagement, and willingness to continue learning and developing in the field. Activities organized by professional accounting bodies, such as career talks, student outreach programmes, professional seminars, workshops, competitions, mentoring activities, and educational programmes, can provide students with practical knowledge beyond the classroom. This study therefore seeks to examine the effect of professional accounting body activities on students’ interest in accounting. Professional accounting body activities expose students to aspects of the accounting profession that may not be fully covered through conventional classroom instruction. Through professional presentations, workshops, career events, accounting competitions, student programmes, and interactions with practicing accountants, students can gain information about professional responsibilities, career opportunities, emerging accounting practices, and the expectations of the profession. These activities may provide students with a clearer connection between their academic studies and real-world accounting practice. Students’ interest in accounting reflects their willingness to participate actively in accounting-related learning, explore accounting knowledge, engage with professional activities, and consider further development within the field. Exposure to professional accounting body activities may stimulate this interest by making accounting more practical, understandable, and connected to future professional opportunities. Direct interaction with accounting professionals may also help students develop a broader appreciation of the knowledge, skills, and responsibilities associated with accounting. The study will adopt a quantitative research design. The population will comprise Accounting Education students in selected tertiary institutions. Data will be collected using a structured questionnaire designed to measure students’ exposure to professional accounting body activities and their level of interest in accounting, including participation in professional events, engagement with accounting learning, willingness to explore accounting opportunities, and enthusiasm for further accounting development. The instrument will be subjected to appropriate validity and reliability procedures before administration. Data collected will be analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques, while the relevant hypothesis will be tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The study is expected to establish that professional accounting body activities have a significant positive effect on students’ interest in accounting. Students who participate in or are exposed to professional activities are expected to demonstrate greater enthusiasm for accounting, stronger engagement with accounting-related learning, and increased willingness to explore opportunities within the accounting profession. The findings are expected to have implications for teaching and learning in Accounting Education. Accounting lecturers may need to create stronger connections between students and professional accounting organizations by encouraging participation in professional events, career programmes, competitions, workshops, and other relevant activities. Such exposure can complement classroom teaching by giving students practical perspectives on the relevance and application of accounting knowledge. The study will be beneficial to Accounting Education students, lecturers, tertiary institutions, professional accounting bodies, curriculum developers, and accounting practitioners. Students may gain greater awareness of the professional dimensions of accounting and develop stronger interest in the field. Lecturers and institutions may obtain useful information for strengthening professional exposure within Accounting Education, while professional accounting bodies may gain insight into the importance of student-focused activities in developing future accounting professionals. The study recommends that professional accounting bodies should strengthen student-oriented programmes by providing regular career talks, practical workshops, competitions, mentoring opportunities, and professional awareness activities. Tertiary institutions and Accounting Education departments should also encourage students to participate actively in relevant professional programmes. The study concludes that meaningful engagement with professional accounting body activities can strengthen students’ interest in accounting and provide valuable connections between accounting education and professional practice.

Keywords: Professional Accounting Bodies, Students’ Interest, Accounting Education, Accounting Students, Professional Activities, Career Awareness, Professional Exposure, Accounting Profession, Career Development, Professional Workshops, Accounting Seminars, Student Engagement, Professional Development, Career Opportunities, Accounting Practice