Accounting Cafe Cafe

Admittedly, this initiative is not unique. It follows a similar but less structured pattern to The World Cafe, Mastermind Groups, and a more direct influence is John-Paul Flintoff’s The Whizzy Group. 

Its purpose is to provide a place to say what’s really going on for you and how you feel. It’s not about looking good, showcasing successes or expanding your network (although all those things are likely). 

The focus is on seeking and providing support. Tell people what you need and they will try to help you. It’s really that simple. I take inspiration from a quote attributed to the anthropologist Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

While I’m not suggesting that Accounting Cafe Cafe will change the world, I believe that strength, creativity and connections will come out of the group, probably in ways we can’t yet imagine.

Accounting Cafe Cafe is open to anybody associated with the delivery of accounting education: school teachers, university lecturers, tutors and trainers, regulators, or institute staff. 

It’s unsuitable for students — not because their voices are unimportant, but because we wish to create a space for educators to speak freely about their particular challenges and vulnerabilities.

Mutual support is fundamentally based on being there for each other, if only for this session. If you register, it’s important that you attend and that you arrive on time. If that’s not possible, please don’t register or cancel your spot.

These are read aloud at the beginning of each session.

• What other people show or say is confidential to the group.
• We are here to encourage and support others.
• Everybody has a valuable contribution to make.
• Value is gained from actively listening, not just contributing.

A discussion can be difficult to start in these situations, so beforehand, it’s worth thinking about what you want from the session and how other people might help you. 

— Might simply talking about a problem be enough?

— Do you want feedback? 

— Would being introduced to someone with particular experience or expertise help? 

— Are you looking for collaboration?

What to bring to the cafe

— setting out a problem and inviting perspectives

— pose a challenge for the group

— presenting an idea or opportunity 

Well, we’re not entirely sure because we haven’t run one before, but following the experience of other groups, it may look something like this.

Depending on the number of people, we’ll create break-out rooms so each group will be small. These rooms might be themed and you may choose one, or just numbered and you’ll be allocated to one. 

Accounting Cafe publishes articles, offers courses for educators and hosts online and in-person events. Most importantly, it is a community seeking excellence in accounting education, wherever it’s encountered by learners.

A tiny group of people started Accounting Cafe. Initially, we weren’t entirely sure what we intended, but through conversations, mutual encouragement, and support, it has become a widely recognised and valued community in accounting education (and beyond).