Postgraduate Education for Internal Auditors Versus Employers’ Expectations

Abstract

The article analyses the content and structure of postgraduate courses in internal auditing to compare them with Polish employers’ expectations about internal auditors’ competencies. It was prepared based on a review of the literature and analysis of 43 online job ads for internal auditors and 19 postgraduate internal auditing courses available from 17 higher schools in Poland. The comparative analysis of postgraduate courses for internal auditors and employers’ expectations regarding the professionals’ characteristics revealed the weaknesses of the former and their limited ability to provide public and private organizations with the right types of specialists. Educational institutions were found to underestimate the importance of internal auditors’ soft skills.