The role of sustainability and innovation in constructing accounting education and future accountants

This study examines the effectiveness and extent of Sustainability and Innovation in shaping accounting education and future accountants at the tertiary level in Malaysia. As the business world evolves, accounting education is seen as a precondition for meeting societal challenges. The researcher employed a Mixed Method Approach, combining online surveys and interviews to gather perceptions from both academics and graduates. The findings indicate mixed views; while there is a general consensus that a start has been made, the integration of sustainability and innovation in the current curriculum is not yet sufficiently deep. However, both groups agreed on the importance of these elements and recommended that universities embed them more robustly into the syllabus. This would encourage students to address "big issues" regarding how accounting can support or hinder the sustainable direction of business and society.