Aloha and Welcome to the School of Accountancy
It is my great pleasure to serve our students and the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa as the director of the School of Accountancy (SOA) at the Shidler College of Business. The SOA continues to play a vital role in preparing students for successful careers in accounting and business. Many of our graduates hold leadership positions not only in Hawai'i but across the United States and around the world.
Our curriculum continues to evolve, integrating advancements in accounting and technology. Recently, we began exploring the impact of AI on the accounting curriculum to further enhance our offerings. Our goal is to ensure our curriculum remains relevant to stakeholders in Hawai'i while equipping students with essential skills. In collaboration with accounting professionals, the SOA provides flexible and relevant learning opportunities. These include professional development for graduating students and continuing professional education (CPE) seminars.
In addition to the School of Accountancy's extensive course offerings, our students benefit from a rich array of social, academic, and professional development opportunities. Through student organizations, study abroad programs, and internships, they gain valuable experiences that complement their classroom learning. Many SOA students participate in exchange programs through the Study Abroad Program, broadening their global perspective. Our excellent learning facilities and small class sizes foster an optimal environment for academic success, with a maximum enrollment of 20 students in writing-intensive courses and 40 in upper-division courses.
Since 2018, the School of Accountancy has made significant strides in shaping global accounting research. We have successfully hosted the Hawai'i Accounting Research Conference (HARC), an annual event organized by the Shidler College each January. HARC has seen continual growth, with attendance now exceeding its 300-participant capacity, attracting top researchers from around the world.
Building on this success, the SOA has launched a pioneering initiative: the Hawai'i Accounting Research Doctoral Institute (HARDI). This intensive three-week Ph.D. consortium welcomes up to 25 doctoral students from top-tier national and international accounting programs to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Participants engage in interactive research seminars, refining their proposals under the guidance of distinguished accounting scholars and with insights from professional accounting boards.
Beyond academics, Hawai'i’s mild climate and natural beauty offer students an exceptional living and learning experience. We continue to see many students from outside the Hawaiian Islands choosing to study with us.
Our state's mild climate provides many opportunities to explore Hawai‘i's natural beauty, and we continue to witness increases in the number of students from locations outside the Hawaiian Islands.
I invite you to connect with us—whether in person, online, or via email (hamid@hawaii.edu)—to explore the latest developments and opportunities at the School of Accountancy within the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa.