Tomorrow today; 2010 - unesdoc - Unesco

this forum, the accounting profession’s clients – business and industry– expressed their need for accountancy graduates with skillssuch as communication, teamwork and problem-solving, which theyargue are necessary for accountancy professionals to engage with thechanging modern economic environment. High levels of flexibilityand creativity are increasingly required from accountancy graduatesif they are to contribute to the contemporary workplace.As an outcome of this project, ARIES has recommended thatsustainability principles become incorporated as part of a broaderstrategy for improving such skills, while exposing students tothe challenges of, for example, evaluating assets and services ina manner that takes account of resource usage, life-cycle analysisand polluter-pays principles, and assesses the risks to businessassociated with climate change. It has emerged that one way ofinfluencing such change in accounting education would be tointegrate sustainability into the accreditation requirements placedby the professional accountancy associations upon accountingundergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes. ARIEShas also conducted a baseline survey to identify the range ofsustainability-related topics currently taught in Australianaccounting schools.As a further outcome of this project, in collaboration withthe Business Higher Education Roundtable and the MacquarieKnowledge of nature and ecology is a key factor in ESDImage: Jenny Tomkins and DEWHAUniversity School of Accounting, ARIES is presentingan inaugural summit to explore the advancement ofaccountancy towards the integration of sustainabilityperformance measurement. The first day of thissummit will address such issues as: drivers to includesustainability throughout the industry; learnings fromthe global market; and employability and multi-disciplinaryskills in an increasingly sustainability-focusedindustry. The second day will consist of master classesin: teaching sustainability; sustainability auditingand assurance; water accounting; and modelling thefinancial risks attached to carbon and sustainability.With contributions from the Global ReportingInitiative, CPA Australia, the Institute of CharteredAccountants Australia, international accounting firmsand Australian universities, this summit will facilitatethe accounting profession’s progress along the path ofsustainable development.As many other professions would benefit froma similar approach, ARIES is now developing itsSustainability in the Key Professions Roundtable modelto drive the uptake of sustainability skills in otherprofessions such as engineering and law.Reaching more studentsTo reach a wider range of students, ARIES is currentlydeveloping a teaching unit on Energy Efficiencyand Renewable Energy as part of the AustralianGovernment’s Skills for the Carbon Challenge initiative.12 The ARIES unit is designed to be inserted at theDiploma or Graduate Diploma level across universityeducation and vocational education and training, andits modular construction will also allow teachers toutilize its material within existing courses.Education leading the wayThrough awareness and knowledge, and by buildingthe capacity to innovate and implement solutions, ESDhelps to re-focus the way we live and work in the movetowards a more sustainable society.“Through education and lifelong learning we canachieve lifestyles based on economic and social justice,food security, ecological integrity, sustainable livelihoods,respect for all life forms and strong valuesthat foster social cohesion, democracy and collectiveaction.” The Bonn Declaration 13With support from the Australian GovernmentDepartments of Environment, Water, Heritage and theArts, 14 and Education, Employment and WorkplaceRelations, 15 as well as NSW Government Departmentssuch as Environment, Climate Change and Water,ARIES has been able to inform and encourage theadoption of education for sustainability in Australia.Our research not only informs government policy,but has also provided international leadership to shiftpolicies and practices across the Australian business,education and community sectors so that we mightmeet the needs of the present without compromisingthe needs of future generations.[ 153 ]