Development of human resources at the tertiary level: Lessons from an innovation in accountancy education in Jamaica

Abstract

This paper discusses the pre-independence, pre-UWI situation in professional education and presents a case study of accountancy in Jamaica from 1968-92. Until 1975, when an M.Sc. (Accounting) programme was introduced at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, the professional qualification in Jamaica was achieved through the British examination system of the ACCA. In 1986/87, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Jamaica (ICAJ) withdrew recognition of the M.Sc. as a qualification for membership, but this was re-instated in 1990. Based on this experience, the paper examines the following issues and lessons in the management of the change process: 1) relevant curriculum and the development focus, 2) innovation theory and the need for an innovation readiness stage to be built into the change process, and 3) the need for research and dealing with reality.