CAs will now count their EQs

The number crunching keeper of accounts is getting new lessons on life skills and self-development along with conventional gyan on taxation and corporate law. The ICAI which is planning to roll out a new curriculum for C As is also revising the training programmes for practicing accountants.

Continuing Professional education is mandatory for practicing C As and includes 20 hours of learning in a year. For those in the industry , ICAI recommends 10 hours of learning per year. These training programmes, conducted at the regional council level, often look at offbeat and lateral subjects to drive home new perspectives. For example, a session on management lessons from the Vedas may feature a comparative analysis of the principles of good governance and corporate governance. ICAI President T N Manoharan says ? We are broad basing our training sessions in line with what practicing members want. Each regional committee designs theses sessions. Typically 15-20% of our training programmes include offbeat programmes. Also, there is an increased focus on soft skills training, effective communications, and leadership principles ?

Among the programmes that are attracting takers include soft skills, negotiation skills, management concepts, and work life balance. For every regular session of taxation, audit, service tax or FBT, there are programmes in public speaking, analysis of stock prices, and development of high emotional quotient. Some of these programmes were conducted in the western region. At a conference in tirupur, ICAI members spoke of complex matters like inbound and outbound investment, convertibility of currency, service tax and topped it with a session on ? Heart, help, humour and happiness?


Source: The Economic Times 26th August 2006