CQU has been reaccredited for its accounting programs for another five years by CPA Australian and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the two major professional accounting bodies.

Dean of Business & Law Professor Catherine Smith said this is excellent news for not only the Faculty, but also the University, as accounting programs account for a significant proportion of enrolments.

Beth Tennent, Head of School of Commerce, said the process for accreditation was quite rigorous.

"CPAA and ICAA have issued accreditation guidelines which seek information on the course development processes, assessment, quality assurance, staffing (including research profiles) and resourcing issues within the School and Faculty," she said.

"We have been gearing up towards the accreditation for several years and it has meant having to continuously improve the quality of the courses offered in both our undergraduate and postgraduate accredited degrees, as well as ensuring control over the results.

"CQU offers the same degree with the same assessment content and standards to each student in the accredited degrees, no matter where the student is located.

"We presently have 4641 students in the accredited accounting programs (term 1, 2005), and this actually equates to the EFTSU proportion within CQU being about 1 in 4.".

Accredited courses are the Bachelor of Accounting, Master of Accounting and, from term 2, Master of Professional Accounting.

All co-ordination of the courses offered occurs on the Central Queensland campuses by full-time staff members of the School of Commerce, Faculty of Business & Law.

"Responsiveness to changing national and international social, economic, technological and political trends is essential," Ms Tennent said.

"This objective requires effective co-operation between universities and the professional bodies."