Appendix 8 Project Consent Information Statement

Project Consent Information Statement

Project Title: Convergence process of Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS) towards International Accounting Standards and International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS)

Investigators: Dr. Nicholas Mroczkowski (Coordinating Supervisor) Dr. Meropy Barut (Associate Supervisor) Ms. Duc Hong Thi Phan (PhD Student)

Introduction to Project and Invitation to Participate This project is being undertaken to examine the extent of convergence progress of Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS) towards International Accounting Standards and International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS). The study also evaluates the support given to the convergence process by standard setters, practitioners and scholars in Vietnam specifically. The findings of the research will be used for a PhD thesis and for related publications. I invite you to participate in this unique research project. Participation is completely voluntary.

What this project is about and why it is being undertaken Vietnam is seeking to be an increasingly active and successful participant in the global economy and with an average annual GDP growth of 7.2% in the first decade of the 21st century (World Bank 2010); the country has made substantial progress in becoming a market-oriented economy. Accounting reform since 1996 together with the issuance of Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS) in 2002 marked an important milestone in Vietnamese accounting history demonstrating the Vietnamese governments willingness to bring local accounting practices closer to international accounting standards. Since 2002, Vietnam has progressively converged local accounting standards with globally acceptable International Accounting Standards and International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS). However little is known about the extent of convergence progress in Vietnam. By being involved in this project, you will assist in contributing to knowledge regarding the potential advantages, and disadvantages of IAS/IFRS; the

Faculty of Business and Enterprises Cnr William and Wakefield Street Hawthorn Mail H25 PO Box 218 Hawthorn Victoria 3122 Australia Telephone +61 3 9214 8000 Facsimile +61 3 9819 5454 http://www.swin.edu.au

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challenges of the IAS/IFRS implementation process; the potential factors impacting on the accounting convergence process in Vietnam; and what the best approaches for the future evolution of Vietnamese accounting standards are available in light of the current global movement towards IAS/IFRS. It is hoped that the findings of the project will assist the Vietnamese Accounting Standard Setters in making favourable decisions affecting accounting practice, which will in turn support social and economic development in Vietnam.

Project and researcher interests This project is being undertaken to satisfy the requirements for the completion of a PhD qualification currently being undertaken by the investigator at Swinburne University of Technology. However, it is hoped that this activity will also give participating accountants, auditors, financial analysts, bankers, accounting /tax consultants, accounting lecturers, etc. an opportunity to contribute to the convergence process of Vietnamese Accounting Standards (VAS) towards International Accounting Standards and International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS). What participation will involve time, effort, resources, costs, compensatory payments, etc We anticipate that between 30 minutes to an hour of your time will be required during the interview process, in which we will seek to: Collect demographic data on you and your current organisation Collect your opinion with regard to the rationale for Vietnams approach towards IAS/IFRS convergence. Collect your perceptions regarding major advantages/ disadvantages and critical challenges and influencing factors on IAS/IFRS implementation process in Vietnam.

Participant rights and interests Risks & Benefits/Contingencies/Backup Support The investigators conducting this research abide by the principles governing the ethical conduct of research. This form provides an outline of the research project and benefits to yourself and the community. You will be asked to sign the Consent Form. If so, your response should indicate that: You have received the Consent Form and have read its contents You clearly understand the nature of this study and that you have been given an opportunity to discuss the project with the researcher prior to your participation.

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 Your participation over the duration of the project is voluntary and may be terminated by yourself in writing at any time without explanation. Participant rights and interests Free Consent/Withdrawal from Participation Participation is completely voluntary, and free from any coercion or perceived coercion. You are free to participate or not. You are free to not answer any questions you do not wish to answer and you may withdraw from the study at any time without question or explanation.

Participant rights and interests Privacy & Confidentiality Your responses will be guaranteed anonymity and confidentiality, and your name will be replaced by a random code. Hence, the potential identifiably of your participation in the list of contributors as per your written consent in section 2(d) and 2(e) of the Interviewee Consent Form will not impact on confidentiality and anonymity. All identifiable data will be kept in secure, locked conditions at Swinburne Research Office. Electronic data will be stored with password protection. Following completion of this study, all identifiable data will be destroyed. Only de-identifiable data will be kept, and this will be stored in a locked cabinet at Swinburne University as required by ethical approval procedures. Your signed consent form will be stored separately to the data collected and only accessible to the listed researchers. No information about any individual will be given to Swinburne University, or to another individual or organisation.

Research output Research output will include PhD thesis, journal articles, conference papers and presentations. It is possible that data will be used in longitudinal studies in the future. While results from the study may appear in publications, it will not be possible to identify individual participants through these publications or otherwise without your written consent. Participants are welcome to ask for, and receive, an executive summary of the final research findings, as well as copies of any publications arising from this research.

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Further information about the project who to contact If you would like further information about the project, please do not hesitate to contact: Duc Hong Thi Phan (PhD Student) Room AGSE 337, Hawthorn Campus Tel: + 61 434 281 833 Email: duchongthiphan@swin.edu.au Dr. Nicholas Mroczkowski (Coordinating Supervisor) Room BA 1104, Hawthorn Campus Tel: +61 3 9124 5316 Email: nmroczkowski@swin.edu.au Dr. Meropy Barut (Associate Supervisor) Room BA 1224, Hawthorn Campus Tel: +61 3 9124 8207 Email: mbarut@swin.edu.au

This project has been approved by or on behalf of Swinburnes Human Research Ethics Committee (SUHREC) in line with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research. If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this project, you can contact: Research Ethics Officer, Swinburne Research (H68), Swinburne University of Technology, P O Box 218, HAWTHORN VIC 3122. Tel (03) 9214 5218 or +61 3 9214 5218 or resethics@swin.edu.au

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