INTRODUCTION
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has created an urgent need to produce
graduates with a strong knowledge of national accounting systems, business practices and
cultural systems in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Thus, the governments of Canada,
Mexico and the United States have funded the North American Mobility Program (NAMP)
in Higher Education. The theme of the project is entitled “Accounting and Business in the
21st Century: The Integration of the Curriculum in North America”. The purpose of this
projectis to create an active consortium to explore and expand on the curricula and research
agendas of partner universities while encouraging the exchange of students and faculty across
a consortium network.
OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM
The objective of this project is to contribute to the standardization of the accounting systems
through the development of comparative accounting studies and participation of students in
academic mobility to help develop an integrated curriculum in accounting in the region of North America.
The participating universities are united in their efforts at developing the skills, talents and
international awareness of students, faculty and their constituent communities. Each institution
participating in this project will target seven students over a three-year period for a total of 42
students. The length of studies for students will be one semester per the institution’s schedule.
The consortium members will also meet annually to address and update curricula in maintaining
the program.
In addition, the NAMP student will also have an opportunity to study an integrated, joint tri-country
course in Comparative Accounting and Taxation Systems with support of videoconferences, student
exchanges in accounting and business programs and participation of students in internships at a local
business or economic organization.
Highlights of the NAMP project for students include the following:
ORIENTATION SUPPORT
- Cultural and academic orientation session for both incoming and outgoing students
- Same classes, cultural experiences and rights as non-NAMP students
- Lodging and accommodation support
- Travel (airfare) stipends
- Language training provided in French, English or Spanish if required. Attention is also devoted to accounting and business terminology
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The NAMP student will have the opportunity to:
-
acquire and further develop multicultural knowledge awareness needed to understand
business practices in North America and Mexico to integrate and participate in the global
marketplace
-
participate in coursework designed to highlight the major issues and differences in cultural
and business practices
-
participate in a tri-country comparative accounting and taxation course during the third and
subsequent years via videoconferencing
-
participate in internships with and visits to local businesses
Doing Business in North America: Accounting and Taxation:
Facultad de Contabilidad y Administracion Licenciatura en comercio Internacional
Université du Québec à Montréal
www.registrariat.uqam.ca
Windsor University
http://www.uwindsor.ca/units/liaison/admissions/admissions2005.nsf/inToc/02E2495A5AA9F97785256F
CD005BC927
Niagara University
http://www.niagara.edu/courses
Southern Oregon University
http://www.sou.edu/cgi/schedule.cgi
NAMP students are encouraged to provide frequent feedback to exchange administrators
and to promote the program to other students interested in international accounting practices and university exchange.
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