Are higher education institutions preparing students for the public sector accountant position? – Case of Croatia

Purpose: The requirements for information in the public sector are continuously changing and there is a need for accountants who are capable to respond to these challenges. Universities, i.e. higher education institutions (HEIs), are recognized as institutions that provide fundamental knowledge, and...

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Main Authors: Martina Dragija Kostić, Ivana Pajković, Vesna Vašiček
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Faculty of Economics and Business in Osijek 2023-01-01
Series:Ekonomski Vjesnik
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/451620
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author Martina Dragija Kostić
Ivana Pajković
Vesna Vašiček
author_facet Martina Dragija Kostić
Ivana Pajković
Vesna Vašiček
author_sort Martina Dragija Kostić
collection DOAJ
description Purpose: The requirements for information in the public sector are continuously changing and there is a need for accountants who are capable to respond to these challenges. Universities, i.e. higher education institutions (HEIs), are recognized as institutions that provide fundamental knowledge, and a discussion of education in the field of public sector accounting is required. The purpose of this paper is to present the opinions of public sector accountants and expectations of students regarding education in the field of public sector accounting at HEIs in Croatia. Methodology: A survey was conducted among accountants employed in public sector entities and among students of faculties of economics at public universities in Croatia. The results of the aforementioned survey are analysed in the SPSS software package using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Results showed that students as well as public accountants agree that formal education is not enough for the position of public accountant. Furthermore, students are not interested in the position of public accountant. Therefore, public universities should rethink modifying the structure and programs of courses related to public sector accounting. Conclusion: The results are an invitation to public policy creators to work on the attractiveness of the position of public sector accountant by offering better conditions. The authors of the paper therefore highlight the necessity for better cooperation between accountants and the academic community in order to improve education in the field of public sector accounting and meet the needs for professional and trained accountants who are the future of the profession.
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spelling doaj.art-3bc2a94e6f8c4e18bc6d1fe38b3101bc2024-04-15T19:13:23ZengFaculty of Economics and Business in OsijekEkonomski Vjesnik0353-359X1847-22062023-01-0136231332610.51680/ev.36.2.7Are higher education institutions preparing students for the public sector accountant position? – Case of CroatiaMartina Dragija Kostić0Ivana Pajković1Vesna Vašiček2University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Zagreb, CroatiaUniversity of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Zagreb, CroatiaUniversity of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Zagreb, CroatiaPurpose: The requirements for information in the public sector are continuously changing and there is a need for accountants who are capable to respond to these challenges. Universities, i.e. higher education institutions (HEIs), are recognized as institutions that provide fundamental knowledge, and a discussion of education in the field of public sector accounting is required. The purpose of this paper is to present the opinions of public sector accountants and expectations of students regarding education in the field of public sector accounting at HEIs in Croatia. Methodology: A survey was conducted among accountants employed in public sector entities and among students of faculties of economics at public universities in Croatia. The results of the aforementioned survey are analysed in the SPSS software package using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Results showed that students as well as public accountants agree that formal education is not enough for the position of public accountant. Furthermore, students are not interested in the position of public accountant. Therefore, public universities should rethink modifying the structure and programs of courses related to public sector accounting. Conclusion: The results are an invitation to public policy creators to work on the attractiveness of the position of public sector accountant by offering better conditions. The authors of the paper therefore highlight the necessity for better cooperation between accountants and the academic community in order to improve education in the field of public sector accounting and meet the needs for professional and trained accountants who are the future of the profession.https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/451620public sector accountingeducationreformsaccountantsstudentssurvey
spellingShingle Martina Dragija Kostić
Ivana Pajković
Vesna Vašiček
Are higher education institutions preparing students for the public sector accountant position? – Case of Croatia
Ekonomski Vjesnik
public sector accounting
education
reforms
accountants
students
survey
title Are higher education institutions preparing students for the public sector accountant position? – Case of Croatia
title_full Are higher education institutions preparing students for the public sector accountant position? – Case of Croatia
title_fullStr Are higher education institutions preparing students for the public sector accountant position? – Case of Croatia
title_full_unstemmed Are higher education institutions preparing students for the public sector accountant position? – Case of Croatia
title_short Are higher education institutions preparing students for the public sector accountant position? – Case of Croatia
title_sort are higher education institutions preparing students for the public sector accountant position case of croatia
topic public sector accounting
education
reforms
accountants
students
survey
url https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/451620
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AT ivanapajkovic arehighereducationinstitutionspreparingstudentsforthepublicsectoraccountantpositioncaseofcroatia
AT vesnavasicek arehighereducationinstitutionspreparingstudentsforthepublicsectoraccountantpositioncaseofcroatia