Training students to deal with ethical dilemmas in the workplace
Future business leaders need to be equipped with more than just technical skills, according to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. Students’ education needs to move beyond technical training, and incorporate real-life business experiences.
A key component in the education of professionals such as Chartered Accountants is ethics. Institute CEO Lee White says learning to deal with ethical challenges within a business environment is a vital skill in becoming well-rounded, high quality leaders.
‘In order to confidently approach the ethical challenges presented in a business environment when they graduate, students need experience in facing real-life business dilemmas,’ Mr White says.
In order to address this concern, the Institute’s 2012 Student Challenge enables students to gain experience in facing tough ethical conundrums. This year, students are asked to confront difficult issues in professional ethics,including the recently released question: ‘Does everything have a dollar value – even a human life?’
The Institute has partnered withS t James Ethics Centre for this year’s Challenge. Executive Director Dr Simon Longstaff says: ‘Ethical resilience depends, to a certain extent, on the wisdom of people with experience. But resilience also depends on the energy and interest of younger people who see the point of ethics as a practical part of living well. The Student Challenge underpins resilience of this latter kind.’
Macquarie Group Asia is also behind this initiative, with their Chief Financial Officer, Mark Shanahan, inviting Challenge winners to shadow him in his day-to-day activities for a week.
‘Macquarie Group and Mark’s involvement and enthusiasm for the Challenge demonstrates our shared values of nurturing future business leaders,’ Mr White says.
The Student Challenge is still open for registrations. For more information, visitstudentchallenge.com.au. |
