A case of an accountancy study programme in Sri Lanka to improve relevance and quality of undergraduate education: a new dimension on institutional view

Abstract

The quality enhancement of undergraduate education is presently, a much discussed area in Sri Lanka, with the implementation of the World Bank funded Improving the Relevance and Quality of Undergraduate Education (IRQUE) Project. In this context, this study explores the case of IRQUE Project of Department of Accounting (DA), University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) in relation to the institutionalization of good practices resulted through its interventions. The study examines the institutionalization of these practices in DA by drawing inferences from New Institutional Sociology (NIS) (Scapens, 2006) with specific reference to the works of DiMaggio and Powell in relation to institutional isomorphism. The study finds that DA has developed and adopted many good practices through the interventions made through the IRQUE Project to improve the quality and relevance of B.Sc. Accounting (Special) Degree Programme. Further, the study suggests that institutionalization of these good practices in DA, reflects all three forms of isomorphism viz. coercive, mimetic and normative as proposed by DiMaggio and Powell (1983).