The CGA Program of Professional Studies continues to be Canada's leading professional accounting program. The program prepares students for key positions in financial management by developing the skills required in the marketplace. Over the past year, there have been a number of developments that will complement the CGA curriculum through the online MBA, as well as continue the emphasis on program flexibility.
Laurentian Online MBA Partnership Goes Live
CGA-Canada supported Laurentian University in the launch of the Laurentian online Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, making the degree accessible to CGA members and senior CGA students across Canada and around the world. Courses began in June 2004.
Designed to enhance general management skills, the curriculum focuses on subjects such as organizational behaviour, marketing, operations, research, and strategy. The online degree uses a Web-based delivery system that enables MBA students to participate anywhere, at any time. Laurentian faculty promote a collaborative learning environment in which students are able to closely interact with their instructors and work together through the use of online discussion software.
The program allows for considerable flexibility, and qualified students will receive up to 30 credits of advanced standing. For more information on Laurentian's online MBA, go to cga.laurentian.ca.
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PACE and LU Courses to be Delivered Online
Building on CGA Ontario's success with its online learning environment, CGA-Canada launched the new Web-based edNET technology platform early in 2004. Developed specifically for the design and implementation of the CGA education program, edNET will ensure the Program of Professional Studies continues to be a leading distance-based accounting program.
A pilot project to test the new online delivery technology, originally known as the Learning Management System (LMS), was conducted in most regions in March 2004 using the Financial Accounting 1 (FA1) course.
edNET enables students to complete assignments online, track their progress and performance, and communicate with instructors or each other. Also developed was a Learning Content Management System (LCMS), which is used for the development of online course content.
edNET will complete the evolution of the CGA Program of Professional Studies to a fully online model, replacing the compact discs that are currently in use. edNET technology enhances the current flexibility and access of the CGA program. For the 2004-2005 academic year, four PACE level courses and all Laurentian University courses (10 in total) will be delivered using edNET.
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Practice Analysis Results Presented Internationally
CGA-Canada staff presented the findings of the Association's practice analysis survey to a conference of the Association of Business and Economics Research (ABER) in Amsterdam in July 2004.
Designing a practice analysis survey is a major undertaking and there has been interest at academic and professional conferences in CGA-Canada's successful experience. The report, titled Validating Competencies Underlying a Professional Accounting Credential, was also presented to the National Association of Competency Assurance in November 2003, with other presentations made to the Canadian Academic Accounting Association (CAAA) and the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) earlier that year.
ABER is a multi-disciplinary academic and professional organization. The conference attracted scholars and practitioners from various business-related fields for the purpose of promoting inter-disciplinary research.
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