Creating international accounting related educational materials with a local touch

In many international research, development and innovation projects, the creation of high-quality educational materials is a key objective. However, while these resources often provide a solid foundation for learning, their effectiveness can be enhanced through localisation. Adapting materials to meet the specific cultural, linguistic, and regulatory needs of local audiences ensures greater accessibility and relevance.

The balance between global content and local context is crucial for maximising the impact of educational initiatives, as demonstrated in the ACES project.

Accounting related teaching material on circular economy

The ACES (Accounting for Circular Economy and Sustainability) project addresses the growing need for education and training in circular economy principles, especially for accounting students and professionals.

As part of this initiative, we have created three comprehensive learning modules aimed at fostering a deep understanding of circular economy practices. These modules cover a wide range of topics, from global challenges to sustainable financial practices and integrated reporting. Below is an overview of the topics and skills we have chosen to focus on.

Global challenges and circular economy business models

The module lays the foundation for understanding circular economy by examining the global challenges that have driven policymakers to support it. Students will explore various circular economy business models and learn how standards and frameworks can facilitate the transition to these sustainable practices.

Management accounting for sustainable practices

The second module focuses on the role of management accounting in promoting sustainability. Students will learn how to apply accounting principles to support circular economy initiatives, enabling them to make decisions that are both financially viable and environmentally responsible.

Integrated reporting and current developments

The third module introduces integrated reporting and explores recent regulatory and academic advancements in sustainable accounting. It emphasises the importance of integrated reporting in the context of the circular economy and provides insights into the latest developments in circular economy and sustainable accounting.

The resources are comprehensive and include PowerPoint presentations, assignments, and quizzes. The teaching and learning materials are grounded in the Learning Arch Design pedagogy, which structures each teaching session into three phases: Set, Hold, and Land (Kavanaugh 2019). Accounting and business teachers can easily integrate these materials into their courses to enrich the curriculum.

To make these insights more accessible and sustainable after the project life span, we have created three open access online courses that correspond to the previously mentioned modules. These courses are currently in the pilot phase and can as such be completed or integrated into teaching.

Localised adaptations

While the ACES project materials are European-level and primarily in English, participating organisations have localised and translated parts of the content to better suit their local contexts.

In Finland, we created a unique Finnish-language online course combining all the previously presented three themes. Additionally, Finnish entrepreneurs and accountants have gained valuable insights through our webinars conducted in Finnish, allowing a deeper understanding of the material and addressing specific aspects of Finnish accounting legislation. We believe that we would not have got as many participants, generated as much interest, or gathered such valuable insights if the courses had not been offered in Finnish and tailored to incorporate local regulations.

In Spain, we have translated a substantial portion of the ACES project materials into Spanish to ensure that students and professionals can access key circular economy concepts without language barriers. Additionally, local case studies, examples, and regulatory references have been integrated into the modules, aligning the content with Spanish legislation and business practices.

This adaptation has not only improved comprehension but also as in the case of Finland, has significantly increased participation in the program-project. Furthermore, these localisation efforts have been reinforced through several dissemination and piloting events across Spain. Notably, workshops such as the Sustainable Tourism Strategies Workshop in Sigüenza and dedicated pilot sessions at the University of Alcalá have provided valuable insights into how circular business models can be effectively applied in different sectors.

The events in Spain have played a key role in fostering discussions on circular economy practices among students, educators, and industry professionals, further strengthening the practical relevance of the ACES materials in the Spanish context. By aligning content, ACES ensures that learners can engage more effectively, leading to improved educational outcomes and broader adoption of circular economy principles in Spain.

The added value of localisation

Our localisation efforts have proven invaluable in enhancing participants’ comprehension and engagement with the educational materials by integrating country-specific regulations, business practices, and cultural nuances into the learning process.

Contextualizing global knowledge to local settings significantly improves knowledge retention and applicability. Adapting content to align with national languages, industry-specific frameworks, and regional business environments, can make learners better relate to the material, making its practical implementation more seamless and effective.

Furthermore, from our experience we have notice that localised learning approaches foster higher levels of participation and motivation, as they reduce cognitive barriers linked to unfamiliar legal and economic contexts. In the case of circular economy and accounting education, incorporating local regulatory policies, economic incentives, and case studies enables students and professionals to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world business applications.

Adaptation efforts contribute not only to improved learning outcomes but also to the wider adoption of sustainable business models and they integrate circular accounting practices at the local and regional levels.

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