The Adequacy of Accounting Education in the Development of Transversal Skills Needed to Meet Market Demands

Abstract

With the ongoing digital transformation, accountants will need a more technological profile and greater mastery of transversal skills. In this context, higher education institutions (HEIs) assume a fundamental role, as they must adapt the teaching methodologies of accounting courses to meet new market demands. This study aims to identify the transversal skills most needed by accounting professionals to meet market demands and analyze the suitability of higher education in Portugal for the development of those skills. To this end, semi-structured interviews were carried out with people who directly or indirectly deal with accounting professionals and focus groups that included lecturers, students, and recent graduates. Conclusions indicate that communication is the most valuable transversal skill to respond to the new requirements of the profession, followed by being proactive, showing initiative, successful teamwork, and the ability to adapt to new contexts. Accountants are also required to invest more time in information and communication technologies (ICT) training. Evidence indicates that accounting education in Portugal does not seem to adequately prepare students with these skills, continuing to rely on traditional approaches to teaching and assessment.

An Innovation in Teaching and Learning of Accounting Concepts Using Accrual Spin Wheel Game

“…One of the challenges that education providers are constantly faced is to rethink teaching methodologies and programs that they must meet in order to fulfill the market needs. This is consistent with the study by Carvalho and Almeida (2022), who mentioned active learning is a teaching methodology that places the student at the center of the entire teaching and learning process, promoting greater involvement and participation in the process of acquiring knowledge. One of the ways to promote active learning in an accounting education environment is through game-based learning.…”

The importance of soft skills in accounting: student´s and employer´s expectations

“…For employers, the most important skills for accounting graduates are analytical skills or problem-solving skills, then basic awareness of business and accounting, and last but not least, communication and ethical behavior Kavanagh & Dennan (2008). According to Carvalho & Almeida (2022), the most important skills include communication, proactivity, initiative, teamwork and the ability to adapt to new things. According to Ragusa et al (2022), assertiveness, networking skills, teamwork, sensitivity, socialization are considered key soft skills.…”

TICs en la enseñanza de la economía y la administración

“…Nuevamente, estos conceptos permitieron definir 3 clúster (figura 3). El primero se enfoca en la adopción y aplicación de TICs en el proceso enseñanza aprendizaje, por las instituciones de ES y docentes, en particular (Carvalho and Almeida 2022;Labarca Marquez et al 2013). El segundo clúster se relaciona al rendimiento resultado obtenido en el proceso de formación profesional.…”