(from CIMA press release)
On 30 May 2019, at the premises of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, an event entitled ‘Constitution for Science in Poland and Reinventing
Finance in a Digital World: Employability, Education and Partnership’ was held. The event was organised by the Ministry and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
(CIMA) – the world’s leading and largest professional body of management accountants.
The meeting was attended by eight Polish economic universities, in which CIMA and University Program was launched, and six best economic universities from Central and Eastern Europe: Ukraine,
Slovakia, Czechia, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary. To participate in this event representatives of global companies whose headquarters are located in voivodships represented by each Polish
university were also invited.
The event was aimed at developing good practices in cooperation between academic and business communities. One of its main assumptions was to enable participants to get the latest information on
the changing needs of employers concerning knowledge and skills gained by economic studies graduates. It was also important to show what kind of challenges universities around the world face in the
times of digital transformation and how they tackle them creating modern study programs and introducing new models of education.
The meeting begun with the speech by Andrzej Stanisławek, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, who talked about the reform of higher education in
Poland and the importance of aligning university curriculum with international employers’ needs.
– The Constitution for Science changes the system of higher education thoroughly. It focuses on the quality of education and research, internationalisation of Polish universities, as
well as greater degree of cooperation between the socio-economic environment and the academic community. The reform introduces a new advisory body at universities – University Councils in which
representatives of universities’ environment also sit. Entrepreneurs, experts, local activists will influence university's strategy, – states Deputy Minister of science
Andrzej
Stanisławek.
– However, this is not the end of the ministry’s undertakings to combine the needs of employers and business with the offer of science and higher education. We support
dual studies, we have introduced new form of implementation doctorates. We also plan to launch a digital platform that will facilitate contact between science and business. Thanks to this, we
enable intensive exchange of knowledge between researches, academics and entrepreneurs, – he adds.
Subsequent speeches were given by CIMA representatives:
Karen Phang CPA, FCMA, CGMA, Associate Director – Academic Engagement;
Jakub Bejnarowicz, Associate
Director, Europe;
Shane Balzan FCMA, CGMA, Senior Director, Curriculum Development; and
Dr Yvonne Hinson CPA, CGMA, Academic in Residence.
The final official part of the event was a panel discussion with employers entitled
‘Employability, Education and Partnership’, moderated by
Shane Balzan.
It was attended by senior finance professionals and Chartered Global Management Accountants (CGMA designation holders), who talked about the profile of graduates of economic faculties and the
skills finance specialists should have in the world of robotics and automation.
– In accordance with the title ‘Employbility, Education and Partnership’ we have managed today to create a platform for discussion between the Ministry, the academic and business communities.
We are very grateful to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education for the joint organisation of this truly international event, during which not only the universities’ voice and different
perspectives of global companies were presented, but also new methods of education and best practices from Great Britain, the United States and Malaysia, – says
Jakub
Bejnarowicz, Associate Director, Europe, CIMA.
One of the examples of modernising universities’ offer is adjusting study programs to a level that allows obtaining professional certificates such as CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting as part
of CIMA & University Program. This provides students with the opportunity to gain knowledge, confirmed by global CIMA exams, which responds to the needs of international employers. Some Polish
universities are now at a stage of establishing dedicated teams for the unification of their study programs with CIMA syllabus.
Previous successful academic discourses have been organised last year by CIMA in Johannesburg, Delhi, Jakarta and Lagos. Poland was chosen among European countries in which CIMA operates due to the
exemplary cooperation of Polish universities with global employers. The formula of the meeting in Warsaw was enriched with a new element – roundtable talks during which university, business and
CIMA representatives took part in a professional business game. The conclusions will serve as a basis of a report entitled
"Employability, Education & Partnership in CEE
Region", prepared by
Associate Professor Bartłomiej Nita from the University of Economics in Wrocław and
Associate Professor Remigiusz Napiecek from
the University of Economics and Business in Poznań.
Meeting international universities at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education was also a great opportunity to celebrate 100 years of leading the management accounting profession worldwide by
CIMA. Founded in 1919, it had its 100th birthday on 8 March 2019.
– Building on our 100 years heritage, we embrace our future. As CIMA looks to the next 100 years it can do so with confidence,
knowing it has the benefits of this combined strength, a truly global standard with the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation, and the means to provide the world’s most
highly-skilled accountants with knowledge, insight and foresight to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world – adds
Jakub Bejnarowicz.
In January 2019, CIMA announced updated CIMA Professional Qualification adapted to the requirements of the future of finance, updated CGMA Competency Framework covering topics including digital
skills, blockchain technology and cybersecurity, and Digital Mindset professional development course that will give finance professionals the resources they need to thrive in the digital age. This
improved set of competences is considered the most sought-after and up-to-date in the field of management accounting, which is one of the most dynamically developing area of business consulting and
whose specialists play an increasingly important role in their organizations.
The following universities and companies took part in the ‘Constitution of Science in Poland and Reinventing Finance in a Digital World: Employability, Education & Partnership’ event organized
by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and CIMA:
- Warsaw School of Economics
- University of Economics in Katowice
- University of Economics in Cracow
- University of Economics and Business in Poznan
- Wroclaw University of Economics
- Kozminski University
- Lodz University
- University of Gdansk
- University of Economics in Bratislava
- The University of National and World Economy in Sofia
- Budapest Metropolitan University
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
- Bucharest University of Economic Studies
- Prague College
- Infosys BPM
- Mazars Polska
- Alexander Mann Solutions
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Bridgestone
- DC Minerals part of Group De Cloedt
