A Role for Compulsory Study of Fine Literature in Accounting, Finance and Management Education

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Fine literature offers a multifaceted contribution to higher education in all fields, especially vocational subjects and particularly - within vocational subjects - in accounting, finance and management. In a field which suffers unduly from pressure to impart ‘marketable skills’ literature reinforces original, creative, imaginative and multicultural thought. By adding a disciplinary dimension literature encourages reflective consideration of ideas in terms of the difference which they make to other ideas. Literature militates against the threat of de-disciplining in one of the most vocational areas in the whole university curriculum. Studied holistically literature sets important issues of management into the context of human endeavour and choices. Not least literature is prophetic. Literature hones and enriches expression. The labour market will in the long run penalise those who lack the qualities which can be uniquely imparted by literature.

Stream: Economics and Management

Paper: A paper has not yet been submitted.

Roger Lister is a Fellow of the Insitute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and an associate member of the Institute of Taxation. He holds an MA of the University of Oxford where, as a Major Open Scholar of Oriel College, he read French and German language and literature. His PhD in finance is from the University of Salford where he now works. Throughout his career he has thought about the links between arts and social sciences, making no distinction between his own work and leisure, enjoying the luxury of spending untold hours on this favourite occupation alone and with his family and limited only by the extramural demands of 13 grandchildren.