Chartered Accountants Ireland’s accounting “Boot Camp” is now accessible to individual students via Ireland’s fasting growing app for students – Exit Entry. The Boot Camp programme, which was launched in 2019, gives Transition Year and Senior Cycle students the opportunity to develop valuable skills in accounting, finance and business decision-making. Exit Entry, which was created to help students connect with courses and employers, was launched in late 2019 with over 45,000 students having availed of the service to date.
So far, over 2,000 students have enrolled in Boot Camp through their schools or as solo participants. The Exit Entry app will now allow students to complete the course through self-directed learning. All the video tutorials are pre-recorded and “bite-sized” which allows students to complete their learning at their own pace. Boot Camp can be accessed on any device giving students the opportunity to learn from the comfort of their own home and costs just €10 per student to enrol. On completion of the course, students will receive a certificate from Chartered Accountants Ireland.
For students considering doing accounting for their Leaving Certificate, Boot Camp will give them the best possible head start. Accounting is growing in popularity as a Leaving Certificate subject choice, with nearly one in seven students now choosing it in Senior Cycle.
Commenting on the new initiative Lewize Crothers, CEO of Exit Entry, said,“At Exit Entry, the team is very excited to announce a new collaboration with Chartered Accountants Ireland. It has never been more important for students in Ireland to have access to self-directed learning and this new partnership will now enable and support our growing community of 45,000 students to understand and develop vital skills needed in the world of business and finance.”
Brian Feighan, creator of the Chartered Accountants Ireland’s Online Accountancy Boot Camp said, “Boot Camp was originally designed to give students with no prior knowledge of accounting a firm grasp of the fundamentals. This foundation is essential for students who want to hit the ground running for Leaving Cert Accounting. Following on from its initial launch success, the team has since broadened the course to give it a wider appeal to any student with an interest in business and the essential role finance plays in business decisions.
In addition to the foundation element, Boot Camp includes a “real life” business simulation (The Boot Camp Challenge) in which the student takes on the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of their own company. As CEO, the student is faced with a major strategic decision with far reaching consequences for their business. Students are given the guidance to help them analyse the problem and develop solutions using a critical thinking approach. Now, more than ever, we need creative problem solvers. We hope Boot Camp will inspire the next generation of business leaders, leading us into a brighter and more sustainable future.”
Chartered Accountants Ireland’s online accounting Boot Camp is now available on the Exit Entry Secondary schools App through the WORK X section.
Students can download the Exit Entry App on the App Store or the Google Play Store and have access to an array of tools designed to help students unlock their future goals and discover their next opportunity. The Exit Entry app is a free tool for students, as the team believes that every student deserves equal access to career information and opportunities. No barriers, just equal opportunities for all.
