Curriculum Innovation in Accounting Education and Industrial Competitiveness for Graduate Employment in Rivers State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Curriculum Innovation, Accounting Education, Industrial Competitiveness, Employment, GraduatesAbstract
This study investigated curriculum innovation in accounting education on industrial competitiveness for employment of graduates in Rivers State. Two objectives, two research questions, and two null hypotheses guided the study, both tested at the 0.05 significance level. A survey research design was adopted. The study population consisted of 116 final-year accounting education students from three universities, and the entire population was studied through census enumeration. Data were collected using two structured questionnaires, namely the Curriculum Innovation in Accounting Education Questionnaire (CIAEQ) and the Industrial Competitiveness for Employment of Graduates Questionnaire (ICEGQ). Both instruments were validated by experts, while reliability coefficients of 0.74 and 0.83 were obtained using the Cronbach Alpha method. Of the 116 questionnaire copies administered, 112 were retrieved and analysed. Mean and standard deviation answered the research questions, while regression analysis tested the null hypotheses at the 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that integrating digital competency into the curriculum had a significant positive effect on graduates' industrial competitiveness and employment prospects. The use of accounting software, cloud-based platforms, spreadsheet applications, and financial data management systems improved graduates' workplace readiness and employability. The findings also showed that modernising pedagogical approaches through group discussions, project-based learning, student-centred teaching, and real-life financial case studies significantly improved students' understanding and preparedness for employment. Digital competency integration contributed more strongly to industrial competitiveness than pedagogical modernisation. The study concluded that curriculum innovation in accounting education supports industrial competitiveness and improves graduates' readiness for employment. It was recommended to strengthen practical training in digital accounting tools and increase the use of interactive and modern teaching methods to enhance students' employability skills.
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