14 public and private universities have expanded ties with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) to give graduates a faster route into the Chartered Accountancy profession while opening higher-education and research opportunities for partly qualified and qualified accountants.
Representatives of 25 departments from the 14 universities and institutions signed addenda to existing memorandums of understanding with ICAB at a ceremony in Dhaka on Thursday.
Under the expanded arrangements, eligible graduates and postgraduates will receive Credit for Prior Learning and exemptions in relevant papers of the CA programme, where applicable. This could reduce duplication between academic study and professional training and shorten the path to the CA qualification.
The agreements also establish a two-way academic pathway. Partly qualified and qualified ICAB members will have opportunities to pursue university degrees, higher education and research programmes, subject to the participating institutions’ requirements.
The universities and ICAB will also explore joint research, academic collaboration and knowledge exchange, with greater interaction among students, teachers, accounting professionals and other stakeholders.
The move seeks to narrow the gap between university education and professional qualification by allowing relevant academic learning to count towards the CA pathway while giving professional accountants greater access to higher education and research.
For ICAB, the arrangement could widen the pipeline of qualified accountants and make the profession more accessible to graduates. For universities, closer engagement with the profession could bring academic curricula and research closer to the skills demanded by employers and the wider economy.
ICAB President Sabbir Ahmed, Vice President Mohammad Redwanur Rahman and Director of the Education and Examination Directorate Masud Parvez addressed the programme. ICAB Chief Executive Officer Md Quamruzzaman delivered the welcome address.
ICAB said closer cooperation between universities and the accountancy profession is essential for developing competent, ethical and future-ready professionals and strengthening accounting and finance education.
