Bridging the gap between academic accounting research and professional practice

Why is academic accounting research still lacking impact and relevance? Why is it considered so detached and worlds apart from practice and society? These and many more questions are tackled in this new publication commissioned by the Institute and the Centre for Accounting, Governance and Sustainability (CAGS) in the School of Commerce at the University of South Australia. The forum on ‘The Relationship between Academic Accounting Research and Professional Practice’ was held in Adelaide in February this year when leading Australian and overseas academics, practitioners, public policy representatives and Institute members gathered and openly debated the need for relevance and the importance of an understanding of the impact of academic accounting research. Contemporary knowledge about the relationship is revealed in the current book, which comprises 18 authors drawing deeply into the many complex issues linking accounting research and the accounting profession. The Institute recognises the important role of accounting research and the potential costs to the accounting profession and the wider community if academic accounting research loses its relevance or does not have a demonstrated impact on public policy or practice. The current book will contribute to an on-going dialogue between academics, practitioners and public policy makers concerning the key challenges facing accounting academic research in 2011 and into the future