Sustainability accounting education – a student’s perspective

Purpose: The objective of this paper is to examine whether accounting students foster changing attitudes and broader critical thinking when a new and transformative subject comprising sustainability, the environment, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is included as part of...

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Main Authors: Abdel K. Halabi, Alan Labas, Craig Hurley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Rada Naukowa SKwP 2024-12-01
Series:Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ztr.skwp.pl/gicid/01.3001.0054.8688
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author Abdel K. Halabi
Alan Labas
Craig Hurley
author_facet Abdel K. Halabi
Alan Labas
Craig Hurley
author_sort Abdel K. Halabi
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: The objective of this paper is to examine whether accounting students foster changing attitudes and broader critical thinking when a new and transformative subject comprising sustainability, the environment, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is included as part of their master's course. Methodology/approach: To determine these perceived transformative outcomes, this study relies on qualitative data derived through the written reflections of students. Reflective journals provide the voice of students, and the rich data were analysed the-matically through the NVIVO software. Findings: The reflections show that new and transformative student outcomes emerge that can stimulate meaningful action. These outcomes included changing attitudes, self-efficacy to bring about positive change, developing critical thinking, and a greater understanding of how business practices can impact the environment. Most students also noted that they would prefer to work for a business that does not harm the environment. Originality/value: There has been limited research on the attitudes of accounting students when contemporary issues such as sustainability, the environment, and the SDGs are presented in an accounting degree. The findings have added student opinions to the previous research that calls for developing a definition of accounting beyond its technical practice.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1641-4381
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language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości
spelling doaj-art-2bf768fda2964174955189d556e9061b2025-01-04T19:09:26ZengRada Naukowa SKwPZeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości1641-43812391-677X2024-12-01484335210.5604/01.3001.0054.868801.3001.0054.8688Sustainability accounting education – a student’s perspectiveAbdel K. Halabi0Alan Labas1Craig Hurley2Federation University Australia and University of the Witwatersrand South AfricaFederation University AustraliaFederation University AustraliaPurpose: The objective of this paper is to examine whether accounting students foster changing attitudes and broader critical thinking when a new and transformative subject comprising sustainability, the environment, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is included as part of their master's course. Methodology/approach: To determine these perceived transformative outcomes, this study relies on qualitative data derived through the written reflections of students. Reflective journals provide the voice of students, and the rich data were analysed the-matically through the NVIVO software. Findings: The reflections show that new and transformative student outcomes emerge that can stimulate meaningful action. These outcomes included changing attitudes, self-efficacy to bring about positive change, developing critical thinking, and a greater understanding of how business practices can impact the environment. Most students also noted that they would prefer to work for a business that does not harm the environment. Originality/value: There has been limited research on the attitudes of accounting students when contemporary issues such as sustainability, the environment, and the SDGs are presented in an accounting degree. The findings have added student opinions to the previous research that calls for developing a definition of accounting beyond its technical practice.http://ztr.skwp.pl/gicid/01.3001.0054.8688accounting educationsustainabilityenvironmentSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)transformative outcomesdefinition of accounting
spellingShingle Abdel K. Halabi
Alan Labas
Craig Hurley
Sustainability accounting education – a student’s perspective
Zeszyty Teoretyczne Rachunkowości
accounting education
sustainability
environment
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
transformative outcomes
definition of accounting
title Sustainability accounting education – a student’s perspective
title_full Sustainability accounting education – a student’s perspective
title_fullStr Sustainability accounting education – a student’s perspective
title_full_unstemmed Sustainability accounting education – a student’s perspective
title_short Sustainability accounting education – a student’s perspective
title_sort sustainability accounting education a student s perspective
topic accounting education
sustainability
environment
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
transformative outcomes
definition of accounting
url http://ztr.skwp.pl/gicid/01.3001.0054.8688
work_keys_str_mv AT abdelkhalabi sustainabilityaccountingeducationastudentsperspective
AT alanlabas sustainabilityaccountingeducationastudentsperspective
AT craighurley sustainabilityaccountingeducationastudentsperspective