The Accountant-Jan-Feb 2017

Business Practice and Development
IAESB ISSUES
Guidance on implementation of a learning outcomes
approach in professional accounting education
By CPA Isaac M. Njuguna
The International Accounting
Education Standards Board
(IAESB) is an independent
standard-setting board under
the International Federation of
Accountants (IFAC) that serves the public
interest by establishing standards in the
area of professional accounting education.
These standards prescribe technical
competence and professional skills,
values, ethics and attitudes. Through its
activities, the IAESB enhances education
by developing and implementing
International Education Standards (IESs)
which increase the competence of the
global accountancy profession and thus
contributing to strengthened public trust.
The IAESB is made up eighteen
board members who are competitively
selected following nominations by various
IFAC member bodies from around the
globe. To support the IAESB’s activities
are Technical Advisors who actively
participate and advise the Board on
various strategic issues revolving around
professional accounting education and
development.
As part of the initiatives to enhance
the competence of professional
accountants during the initial professional
development (IPD) and continuous
professional development (CPD) stages,
the IAESB adopted a learning outcomes
approach both in the development and
implementation of IESs. The learning
outcomes approach is broadly based
on clear achievement of specified
competencies which are demonstrated
through a reliable and objective assessment
or evaluation.
To this end, the IAESB has issued a
paper titled Guidance on Implementing
a Learning Outcomes Approach to act as
a reference to the IFAC member bodies,
professional and academic accounting
examinations bodies including universities
and other stakeholders with interest in
professional accounting education.
The key highlights of the Guidance
paper are presented below. Additional
details on the Guidance paper can be
accessed on the IFAC website www.ifac.org.
What is a Learning Outcomes
Approach in professional
accounting education?
A learning outcomes approach focuses on
the individual’s demonstrated achievement
of the learning outcomes at the targeted
level of proficiency and not on the learning
process. Learning outcomes for professional
accountants are prescribed by a number
of International Education Standards
including the following:
IES 2 – Technical Competence
IES 3 – Professional Skills
IES 4 – Professional Values, Ethics and
Attitudes
IES 5 – Practical Experience
Demonstrating the achievement of
these outcomes provides evidence of the
professional competence of the individual
to perform the role of a professional
accountant. A learning outcomes approach
embodies the idea that learning and
development experiences are most effective
when based on what the individual needs
to demonstrate. The learning outcomes can
therefore be used as a framework on which
to build professional accounting education
learning and development experiences.
The Guiding Principles
The guiding principles for implementing
a Learning Outcomes approach address
the following critical areas in professional
accounting education:
1. Design
2. Assessment
3. Governance
The above elements are consistent with the
30 JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2017