The goals and objectives of the FATS program, amongst other things, would be to:
- Promote accounting education amongst college and university students by ensuring that:
- ICAN-USA launches FATS Associations in North American colleges and universities.
- Provide mentorship programs for the FATS Associations inside the colleges and universities.
- Provide professional training opportunities (internship) for accountant students in the “junior” and “senior” levels at post-secondary school institutions.
- Offer academic and professional scholarships for students who have achieved academic excellence together with exemplary leadership either on campus or within the community.
- Provide opportunities for “international professional exchange” programs outside the United States. This will allow the student to be abreast with global trends in academic and professional accounting practices.
Strategies
The FATS programs shall comprise of three major sub-programs or initiatives:
- Internship
- Academic Scholarship Awards
- Student Accountancy Body (Tertiary Schools of Higher Learning)
How It Works
- The District Society shall solicit and enlist member firms and any other accounting and/or non-accounting firms willing to participate in the FATS program.
- Interested STUDENTS may apply through the membership or PTC committee, indicating the intention to participate in the FATS program, either for college credit or non-credit (practical experience only).
- The PTC shall review the profile and resume of each applicant alongside existing openings with participating member firms.
- The profile and/or resume of the shortlisted STUDENT applicant shall be sent to the participating member firm for final review and approval.
- Upon placement, the membership monitors progress and attends to STUDENT inquiries during the program.
- Upon completion of the program, a certificate of participation shall be issued to the STUDENT, while a certificate/letter of appreciation is sent to the participating firm.
Academic/Professional Scholarship Awards
The type and amount shall be determined by a scholarship committee approved by the board of directors.
Student Accountancy Body (Tertiary Schools of Higher Learning)
ICAN-USA plans to organize, implement, and promote the formation of ICAN-USA student accountancy bodies in the institution of higher learning across many states in the United States. Similar student body organizations can be promoted either by ICAN-USA and/or ICAN-HQ.
The effective founding and implementation of student accountancy bodies in tertiary institutions of learning both in the Americas, Nigeria, and across the globe should provide ICAN the opportunity to be the forerunner of the accounting profession, at least in Nigeria.