CGA-Quebec Makes Major Gift to Create Research Centre in Accountancy

The Ordre des comptables généraux accrédités (CGA-Québec) has donated $250,000 to establish the CGA Research Centre at Concordia’s John Molson School of Business (JMSB). The centre is the first of its kind in Quebec and will be led by Department of Accountancy Associate Professor Emilio Boulianne who, along with an advisory board and scientific committee, will shape the think-tank’s strategic direction. JMSB was shortlisted against sister institutions province-wide before winning the competition.

The CGA Research Centre is earmarked to become a national reference point in research in accountancy and will focus on CGA competencies such as organizational effectiveness, ethics and trust, leadership, accounting policy, management accounting, environmental organization and information technologies. It will also produce educational materials, articles for scientific journals, and strengthen ties between JMSB and CGA-Québec.

Five-year mandate

For a five-year period, beginning in 2012, $50,000 will be available annually for research, student awards and conferences with keynote speakers in the field of accountancy. The CGA Research Centre will also benefit from visiting professors and accountancy professionals who will lead research projects and run courses. JMSB currently has seven professors who hold the Certified General Accountant designation.

“We are grateful to CGA-Québec for this gift and are proud to serve as international thought-leaders in this area of applied research,” says Marie Claire Morin, Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Relations. “Accountancy students in Quebec and beyond Canada’s borders are the immediate beneficiaries of this tremendous initiative whose scope reflects Concordia’s global vision to deliver exceptional education to promising scholars.”

“Concordia is enriched by the creation of the CGA Research Centre,” says JMSB Interim Dean Alan Hochstein. “This timely initiative recognizes our Faculty and its leaders who are in lock-step with business professionals to develop, produce and deliver outstanding research that advances our students and society.”