ICAI Hosts Global Education Summit In Commerce And Accountancy 2024

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) has hosted the 4th Global Education Summit in Commerce and Accountancy (GESCA) 2024 in New Delhi. The event has featured 36 Vice-Chancellors from various universities, representatives from 115 top universities and 30 autonomous colleges. Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed with various institutions.

The two-day summit, inaugurated by Harsh Malhotra, Hon’ble Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport and Highways, brought together Vice Chancellors, Chairmen, Directors, Principals, Deans, HoDs and Professors from renowned Indian universities and colleges specialising in Commerce and Accountancy. The focus was on sharing insights to enhance the employability of Commerce graduates through upskilling initiatives. Guests of Honour included Dr Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman of AICTE and Shashikala Wanjari, Vice Chancellor of NIEPA.

CA Ranjeet Kumar Agarwal, President of ICAI, highlighted, “ICAI celebrates 75 years as a global benchmark in commerce education, entering into MRA/MoUs with 24 countries. It has awarded scholarships to 11047 students, ensuring accessibility and affordability. ICAI empowers the nation and women, with 43.5 per cent of CAs students being female and 30 per cent of membership being women Chartered Accountants.”

CA (Dr) Rajkumar S Adukia, Chairman of the Board of Studies, remarked, “This summit symbolises the essence of education, with each letter representing a key attribute: E for Energy, D for Discipline, U for Unity, C for Confidence, A for Aim, T for Talent, I for Interest, O for Opportunity and N for Nationality. Through GESCA 2024, we aim to inspire and equip future leaders in Commerce and Accountancy to drive positive change and growth in our nation.”

Dr Abhay Jere, Vice Chairman of AICTE, said, “At GESCA, our focus is on pushing quality education by recognising the immense talent present in tier 3 and tier 4 cities. We urge institutions to explore collaborative opportunities. While we address existing problems, our primary focus should be on generating innovative ideas to transform India into a knowledge economy.”

Shashikala Wanjari, Vice Chancellor of NIEPA, stated, “If we do not prioritise 'Manthan' in the Board of Studies, our efforts will be in vain. The National Education Policy (NEP) aims for a Viksit Bharat, with Chartered Accountants as key pillars of this vision. This conference highlights 'Manthan' as a catalyst for academic growth, with CAs playing a crucial role in achieving NEP's goals. They are essential for advancing financial understanding and accelerating economic progress. Citizens need to understand the importance of commerce and accountancy. Building a robust educational ecosystem is critical and CAs significantly contribute to this effort.”

GESCA 2024 is a transformative event fostering collaboration between academic institutions and the professional accountancy sector. It aims to pave the way for innovative educational practices and curriculum development. The signing of MoUs with universities demonstrates ICAI's dedication to enhancing commerce and accountancy education in India.