Relevance of Accounting Baccalaureate Degree Programs in Alberta: A Comparative Study of a Polytechnic Institution and a University

Academic administrators are challenged by a multiplicity of factors that impact both the current and the future operations of post-secondary institutions (PSIs). Issues, such as scarcity of funds, combined with the economic realities of the labour force, drive the need for change and promote that research is vital to inform strategies and fortify the responses of academic administrators. Utilizing the case study method, this research explored two post-secondary sites located in the geographic area of Calgary, Alberta. The work, underpinned primarily by Constructive Alignment Theory (Biggs, 1996) and supported by Curriculum Process Theory (Stenhouse, 1975) prompted the disquieting discovery in the findings that there was a clear discontinuity in the culture between the polytechnic institute and the university. The notion of the Ecosystem of Relevance was offered. Further, discussion to address the impact of real life elements and resources to teaching activities and assessment activities, collaboration of business schools and industry partners, collaboration of business schools with other business schools, and promotion of business school outcomes was presented. It is hoped that this work provides academic administrators the ability to more accurately inform strategies related to curriculum design and appropriate allocation of limited resources.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Research

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Sinal-Skelton, Perri

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Calvert, Ann

• Education--Higher

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/27612

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/2340