Accounting Education in a Transition Economy: A Case Study of Russian Universities

Abstract

Russia is in the process of converting its accounting system from the old Soviet model to one that resembles the systems found in developed market economies. The country is adopting international financial reporting standards but with a Russian flavor. To make the transition successful it is necessary to transform accounting education. Present practitioners must be educated in the new system and a new generation of accountants must learn the new system. This paper reviews the relevant accounting education literature and summarizes the results of interviews of accounting educators conducted in Russia during the summer of 2003.

Keywords: accounting, education, transition economy, Russia, International Accounting Standards, IAS, International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS

JEL Classification: I20, M41, M44, M47, M53, O16, P20