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Impact of Interaction with Practicing Accountants on the Professional Orientation of Accounting Education Students

Abstract

Interaction with practicing accountants refers to students’ direct or indirect engagement with accounting professionals through professional talks, seminars, mentorship, workplace visits, guest lectures, career discussions, and other professional learning activities, while professional orientation refers to students’ understanding of the accounting profession, career opportunities, professional responsibilities, ethical expectations, and workplace requirements. Meaningful interaction with practicing accountants can expose students to the realities of accounting practice beyond theoretical classroom instruction. However, limited opportunities for students to engage with professionals may result in inadequate knowledge of the nature and expectations of the accounting profession. This study therefore examines the impact of interaction with practicing accountants on the professional orientation of Accounting Education students. Practicing accountants can provide students with firsthand information about professional accounting responsibilities, career pathways, workplace expectations, ethical challenges, professional qualifications, and developments within the accounting profession. Interaction may occur through guest lectures, professional seminars, mentorship programmes, career fairs, internships, professional workshops, and workplace visits. These experiences can enable students to ask questions, receive professional guidance, and gain practical insights into the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours required for successful accounting careers. Professional orientation among Accounting Education students involves awareness of different accounting career areas, professional standards, ethical responsibilities, workplace expectations, professional qualifications, and the changing roles of accountants. Students who interact regularly with practicing accountants may develop a clearer understanding of how accounting knowledge is applied in professional environments. Such interaction can help students connect academic learning with actual accounting practice and develop more realistic expectations about their future professional responsibilities. 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’ interaction with practicing accountants and their level of professional orientation. The research 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 hypothesis will be tested at a 0.05 level of significance. The study is expected to establish that interaction with practicing accountants has a significant positive impact on the professional orientation of Accounting Education students. Students with greater exposure to practicing accountants are expected to demonstrate stronger awareness of accounting career opportunities, professional responsibilities, ethical expectations, workplace practices, and professional development requirements. The findings are also expected to show that direct exposure to accounting professionals can help students develop a clearer understanding of the realities and expectations of the accounting profession. The study will have important implications for the teaching and learning of Accounting Education. Accounting departments may need to create more opportunities for students to interact with practicing accountants through guest lectures, professional mentoring, career talks, seminars, workplace visits, and professional experience programmes. Such activities can complement classroom instruction by providing students with practical knowledge about accounting careers and the expectations of employers and professional organizations. The study will be beneficial to Accounting Education students, practicing accountants, accounting lecturers, tertiary institutions, professional accounting organizations, and curriculum developers. Students may gain greater professional awareness and clearer knowledge of potential career pathways, while lecturers may obtain useful insights for improving career-oriented accounting instruction. Tertiary institutions may also benefit by strengthening connections between academic accounting education and professional practice. The study recommends that Accounting Education programmes should establish regular opportunities for students to interact with practicing accountants through professional seminars, mentorship programmes, guest lectures, workplace visits, career events, and practical discussions. Practicing accountants should be encouraged to contribute their professional experiences and insights to accounting education. The study concludes that meaningful interaction with practicing accountants can enhance the professional orientation of Accounting Education students by providing practical knowledge and firsthand exposure to the expectations and realities of accounting practice.

Keywords: Practicing Accountants, Professional Orientation, Accounting Education, Accounting Students, Professional Interaction, Accounting Profession, Career Awareness, Professional Awareness, Workplace Exposure, Professional Practice, Career Development, Professional Responsibilities, Accounting Careers, Professional Development, Accounting Practice