The school has experienced the modularisation that has swept higher education - students can now pick and mix their own qualifications. But by giving them a grounding in the context of their learning, and adding the communication and IT skills essential in the modern environment, students receive a broad basis for further study. We have taken a leading role in the University in making skills development issues more important. Professor Robert Luther, who joined BBS last year as one of two new Professors of Accounting is leading a review of the School's MSc in Financial Accounting and MSc in Management Accounting. Meanwhile, his colleagues, Ursula Lucas and Sam Binks are conducting separate research examining the skills needed for accountancy education.
Research is a key feature of the school.
Internal staff research meetings are held on a regular basis. The School is to be submitted for a Research Assessment Exercise in 2001 and is expected to be a flagship performer. This work has been recognised by CIMA, which gave two grants last year to develop this area. The aim is to balance the need for education to meet the professional requirements, and the desire to further understanding of the profession by constant inquiry into how the profession creates the next batch of accounting practitioners. Staff are using the Internet to exchange research ideas and updates.