Certified Management Accountants Accelerated Program

Phases

Phase I

Phase I: Program Registration

  • Monthly information sessions were held at BVC in partnership with the CMA; information sessions were also held at other ESL providers in Calgary.
  • Learners who met both language and accounting prerequisites were admitted to the program.
  • Core ESL instructors and four content area specialist instructors were hired for the duration of the project (computers, pronunciation, intercultural communication, employment readiness).
  • The program coordinator and the admin assistant conducted follow up interviews with learners in both cohorts after their Entrance Exam.
Phase II

Phase II: Program Delivery

  • Delivery of this program was from Monday to Friday from 9:00 – 3:00pm. One day per week, the CMA delivered the AP program. The language support component of the program ensured that the materials were contextualized and learners were motivated to engage in them.
  • During this program learners were able to participate in an information interview project, a CMA for a Day job shadowing program, and a CMA mentorship program. These initiatives were developed as a response to the need for more workplace contextualized experiences as requested by learners and deemed necessary for workplace success by the instructional team and project coordinator.

Project Description

Certified Management Accountants Accelerated Program (CMAAP) provided opportunities for internationally educated accounting professionals to re-enter into meaningful employment in their fields. This integrated program which positions language needs as a central component of its delivery mode fostered learner success by breaking down the language and intercultural barriers which prevent internationally educated accounting professionals from entering their profession. The CMAAP program met learner needs by addressing skill deficits, accounting knowledge and gaps in language skills.

A scenario approach which incorporates intercultural awareness with sociocultural competencies and performance-based communication was used as a course enhancement. A literature review helped to inform the creation of four scenarios developed for an accounting workplace context. 

Phase I

Phase I: Program Registration

  • Monthly information sessions were held at BVC in partnership with the CMA; information sessions were also held at other ESL providers in Calgary.
  • Learners who met both language and accounting prerequisites were admitted to the program.
  • Core ESL instructors and four content area specialist instructors were hired for the duration of the project (computers, pronunciation, intercultural communication, employment readiness).
  • The program coordinator and the admin assistant conducted follow up interviews with learners in both cohorts after their Entrance Exam.

Phase II

Phase II: Program Delivery

  • Delivery of this program was from Monday to Friday from 9:00 – 3:00pm. One day per week, the CMA delivered the AP program. The language support component of the program ensured that the materials were contextualized and learners were motivated to engage in them.
  • During this program learners were able to participate in an information interview project, a CMA for a Day job shadowing program, and a CMA mentorship program. These initiatives were developed as a response to the need for more workplace contextualized experiences as requested by learners and deemed necessary for workplace success by the instructional team and project coordinator.

Phase III

Phase III: Program Evaluation and Successes

  • All learners were assessed at ILVARC using the ELTPA, and at BVC using the WLA and TOWES.
  • All learners wrote 4 CMA exams and soft topic online quizzes.
  • During cohort 1, two of the learners were nominated and won significant awards.
  • There have been employment successes for many of the learners in both cohorts of the program; some of the learners were able to move directly from our program to jobs in their field of expertise and commensurate with their international experience.
  • The program coordinator presented on the project at the ATESL conference in Edmonton, and one of the learners from cohort one was featured in a video for the presentation.