ABSTRACT: The purpose of this paper is to make readers aware of Accounting
Education Standards (IESs), which are developed by the International Accounting
Education Standards Board (IAESB). These standards are influencing accounting
education and training worldwide. Less than a decade old, the IESs are enforced through
the member bodies of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and
professional accountancy organizations throughout the world. The goal of the IESs is
to ensure that economic decision makers can rely on the competence of professional
accountants regardless of the country where the accountants received their education
and training.
Differing cultures, languages, and social, educational, and legal systems pose a
challenge for developing a globally applicable set of international accounting education
standards. Accounting educators can help the IAESB meet this challenge by responding
to IAESB exposure drafts, undertaking research relevant to issues being addressed by
the IAESB, becoming directly involved in the standard-setting process, and using IAESB
standards, practice statements, information papers, and other information on the
education and training of professional accountants in developing, assessing, and
evolving accounting education programs.