In his EGM letter to members, ACCA President states that " The new partnership with Oxford Brookes University will enable  ACCA students to obtain degrees in applied accounting. It marks a major milestone in the development of the ACCA qualification. It builds on ACCA’s core values of opportunity, accessibility, quality  and innovation, and we expect that it will have a real impact on the shape of accountancy education worldwide". In its 16 page statement, ACCA Council states that "Council has given wide publicity to its partnership with Oxford Brookes University, which will enable ACCA students to obtain BSc degrees in applied accounting. The relevant regulatory authority, the Quality Assurance Agency, is fully aware of the project and has been consulted and kept informed about the detail of the proposals. ".

Does the above suggest that all has been sorted out. Now read the response from Oxford Brookers University.

"In response to recent letters (THES, September 10 and 17) and a Whistleblowers column (THES, September 3) on links between the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and Oxford Brookes University, I would like to clarify a number of points.

Proposals to award the Brookes degree in Applied accounting to students completing certain parts of ACCA's new professional exam are still under discussion. No final decisions have yet been reached regarding the details of the degree programme.

Oxford Brookes will follow its normal validation procedures to ensure the contents and quality of its courses meet the university's own requirements as well as those of the QAA.

This is not the first link between a professional body and a UK university, but it is probably the largest and as such has the potential to make amajor contribution to widening participation".

Simon Williams, Head, School of Business, OxFord Brookes University

Source: Times Highers Eduation Supplement, 24 September 1999.