Accounting can be a formidable subject for high school students to take on but a QUT program now celebrating its tenth year has had great success in introducing Year 12 students to the profession.
Queensland University of Technology senior lecturer Ros Kent, from the School of Accountancy, said at least 50 schools had participated in the QUT Accounting in High Schools program since 2001 and 1078 students had successfully passed the university subject over the 10 years.
"The program offers Year 12 students the opportunity to study an accounting subject which is a core unit of the Bachelor of Business at QUT," Ms Kent said.
"If they pass the subject it gives them extra rank points on their senior certificate and if they choose they can do another QUT subject in semester two of Year 12 and if they pass both subjects they gain automatic entry to selected courses at QUT."
KPMG private enterprise assistant manager Anna Castrissios was in the program's first class of 2001 as a Year 12 student at Brisbane Girls Grammar, which has had students participate in the program every year since it began.
"Studying a university accountancy subject whilst in high school strengthened my intention to pursue an accounting career," said Ms Castrissios, who went on to graduate from QUT with a Bachelor of Business (Accounting).
"The program assisted me in deciding to choose QUT for my tertiary education because I was familiar with Ros and was impressed with the enormous support I had received throughout the duration of the program.
"I felt as if I had an edge on other students who started accounting studies the following year. The program makes you more aware of what uni life is all about and assists with the transition from high school to university."
Brisbane Girls Grammar Year 12 student Elizabeth Colbran, who received the top mark in the first semester subject this year, participated because she has her sights set on completing a dual degree in commerce and law.
"I really enjoyed it. I didn't think I would because of the negative stereotype but it's not boring. It's really interesting and there are so many new accountancy jobs you can do," Elizabeth said.
"We have styled the first-semester program so that the students can complete their high school work and QUT work at the same time without having to go to every lecture.
"We provide the learning materials to the Year 11 students who wish to participate in the program in mid-November and by mid-February we expect them to have covered four of the lectures."
Ms Kent said about 100 students successfully completed the program each year. One of the program's strengths was the ability to ease students into working independently as they would at university.
"It's been a wonderful stepping stone into university for the students and particularly those in lower socio economic areas by giving them the chance to see what uni is like and do the same exams as a uni student while receiving a lot of support," she said.
"The program is designed to promote accounting as a desirable career path - accountants are always in demand - but it can be pushed aside as a subject choice because students think it might be too hard."
Ms Kent said about 50 per cent of the high school students who passed the first semester core unit came to QUT to do a business-related degree.
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT media officer, 07 3138 1841 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au.
