Analysis of Skills Acquired by Auditing Students Through the Project-Based Learning Approach

Abstract

This study aims to contribute to practical teaching and learning approaches adopted in institutions of higher learning to ensure that students acquire the skills required of them in the workplace. It is imperative that higher learning institutions adopt teaching and learning approaches that will equip students with skills required for the workplace. Therefore, this study analyses the project-based learning approach, to determine whether Auditing students will acquire the skills required of them in the workplace as auditors. Higher learning institutions are a platform where students should be prepared for the workplace. Thus, it is necessary for these institutions to adopt teaching and learning methods that will ensure students have the skills required of them in the workplace. Traditional teaching and learning methods often limit the learning of students to the theoretical knowledge based on prescribed textbooks, which is not likely to respond to the skill-set required in the workplace. This study will investigate the skills acquired by students through the project-based learning approach. These skills will then be mapped to the skills required for auditors in the workplace. This is done to determine whether through the project-based teaching and learning approach, Auditing students will acquire the skills required of them in the workplace as auditors. This is going to be achieved through the mixed research methods where the skills required of Auditing graduates are extracted from analysing documents, and the results are quantitative in nature. The study established that through the project-based learning approach, Auditing students would develop up to eighty nine percent (89%) of the skills required of them. The remaining eleven percent (11%) represents only one element of skills, which is visual skills. This study joins an ongoing debate in academia about incorporating practical elements in modules to enhance students' understanding and success. These factors may be critical when students enter the workplace.