Factors influence students' choice of accounting major in Cambodian universities

Abstract

Purpose The recent significant economic growth and development in Cambodia has created a growing demand for qualified and professional accountants. Despite such demand, there are still inadequate number of students enrolling in accounting major, which lefts the National Accounting Council (NAC), Kampucha Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Auditors (KICPAA), and academic institutions with question on how to develop strategies and plans for attracting students and in turn meeting the level required. This paper attempts to determine factors that influence Cambodian business students’ decision to choose accounting as a major for their tertiary education. Design/methodology/approach The paper hypothesizes that Guidance, Career Expectation, Perception, Personal Characteristic as factors that would influence students selection of accounting study. With a sample size of 240 business students, Turkey HSD Post Hoc Test and logistic regression methods are employed to ascertain the influential factors. Findings The results from ANOVA Turkey HSD Post Hoc Test showed that there is a statistically significant difference among universities with respect to Guidance, Career Expectation, and Personal Characteristic factor, but no significant difference was found among universities in terms of Perception factor. The logistic regression result indicated that students’ choice of accounting major has a positive and significant relationship with Guidance, Personal Characteristic factor, and age. Conversely, the results demonstrated that choice of accounting major has a negative but significant relationship with Career Expectation factor, and a negative but insignificant relationship with Perception factor. Finally, the results revealed a positive but insignificant relationship between accounting major and individual gender. Originality/value This paper contributes to the limited study on accounting education in Cambodia. Furthermore, it provides insights for the NAC and KICPAA and universities in Cambodia to develop strategies and plans to create a balance market of professional accountants.