With a new skills development framework and the introduction of a state-of-the-art learning and development platform, the Next Generation ACA will facilitate early career specialisation.
The ACA professional development framework has been designed to:
- Drive career longevity with a focus on key transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking and leadership
- Celebrate diversity by creating personalised views of students’ professional development
- Empower employers to hold holistic and valuable development conversations with students
- Encourage lifelong learning and development, by helping students and employers to identify development opportunities and supporting them with relevant resources
- Compliment the UK Level 7 Apprenticeship* by improving alignment with apprenticeship standards.
* More information will be released once the revised UK Level 7 Apprenticeship Standards have been confirmed.
Specialised Learning
New to the Next Generation ACA, we are developing an e-learning platform that will host a wide range of content relevant to students working across all sectors and specialisms. This content will be brought to life in a practical and engaging way and will cover both technical and non-technical skills. This new feature of the ACA will embed the mindset of lifelong learning and prepare students for membership.
Students will need to complete a minimum of 30 units of Specialised Learning from the platform. Each unit will roughly equate to an hour of learning. By choosing which content they complete, students will be able to personalise their experience to fit with their individual learning needs and role.
The content will feature a blend of interactive activities, quizzes, videos, voice recordings and articles. Students will receive personalised feedback as they progress.
Students can expect the platform to:
- Be regularly updated, hosting content at the cutting edge of the profession
- Offer content that is relevant to their role
- Provide a mixture of technical and professional skills content e.g., communication, specialist tax, or sector specific.
How does this impact existing students?
See transitional arrangements here. Specialised Learning will be a requirement for students registering after 1 July 2025 but some students may need to do Specialised Learning if they transition to new modules.