New Approach to Teaching of Ethics in Accounting : 'Introducing Islamic Ethics into Accounting Education'

Recent accounting scandals and financial frauds led to a focus on accounting ethics and the need for reviewing of accounting ethics education. Accountants have obligations to shareholders, creditors, employees, suppliers, the government, the accounting profession and the public at large; therefore, they have to remember responsibility in accounting profession. The existence of accounting standards and rules per se does not guarantee sound and appropriate financial reports, and lack of professional ethics can give an unrealistic picture of financial reports. Despite accounting standards and rules, without values and responsibilities, accountants can provide manipulated financial reports. Although, textbooks, case studies, articles and journals about accounting ethics have been used in accounting education programs, it seems that for developing and promoting ethical thinking, a reengineering in accounting education for identifying and planning ethical behavior based on ethics including humanizing accountants and self regulation in their work environment must be used. It needs a social planning to make accounting students in public or private universities and accounting organizations aware of ethical behavior. This study is a survey study that explores the theories and various approaches used for teaching ethics in accounting. The aim of this study is to introduce a new approach to ethics education in accounting profession by incorporating Islamic ethics in all courses of accounting education