EMBEDDING SUSTAINABILITY IN AN UNDERGRADUATE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING MODULE USING A BUSINESS SIMULATION: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Despite growing recognition of the importance of integrating sustainability in business education, there is evidence that accounting and finance curricula lag behind other disciplines in this regard. One reason offered for this is that accounting and finance modules are often based on the principles of neo-classical economics and shareholder value creation which may not be consistent with the principles of sustainability. Another reason offered is that there is a lack of guidance and suitable resources available to accounting and finance educators to implement sustainability within their modules. The paper responds to these challenges by presenting a case study of a novel approach to embedding sustainability in a Undergraduate Introductory Financial Accounting and Reporting module through the use of Accounting Bissim, a business simulation activity in which sustainability plays a significant role in both student decision-making and the evaluation of team performance. The authors argue that rather than separating sustainability into stand-alone modules, it is more effective for sustainability to be embedded in existing modules so that students recognise sustainability as an integral part of management decision-making and performance evaluation and therefore relevant to both the entire senior management team and accounting and finance professionals, and not just relevant to those specialist staff involved in Corporate Social Responsibility activities. The paper presents student feedback on the use of this pedagogical approach over two academic years, which is extremely positive. The authors also demonstrate that by evaluating team performance in the simulation based on long term value creation for all stakeholders, and not just on short term profits, it is possible to incorporate sustainability within traditional accounting and finance modules.