Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
submittedVersion
Publication Date
4-2025
Abstract
This study examines whether a university capstone course focused on accounting data and analytics equips undergraduate accounting students with the relevant professional and technological skills for future work. There is concern that the traditional accounting curriculum, which often emphasizes theoretical knowledge and technical skills, may not sufficiently prepare students for the complex, data-driven environment in the workplace. Therefore, our study is important because professional and technological skills are essential skills that students need to thrive in complex, data-driven environments, and our study provides insights into whether a capstone course can equip students with these skills. To examine these issues, we conducted focus group interviews with 12undergraduate students and five industry professionals who had participated in the capstone course. We find evidence that the capstone course equipped students with professional and technological skills that are relevant for future work by (1) promoting integration across major-related courses, (2)providing opportunities for reflective learning, and (3) facilitating students' transition from university studies to professional workplaces. Our study contributes by highlighting how accounting educators and industry practitioners can benefit from the implementation of capstone courses in the accounting curriculum with respect to enhancing the accounting curriculum and developing accountants who are workplace ready.
Keywords
undergraduate accounting capstone, integration and transition, reflective learning, industry-ready, professional and technological skills
Discipline
Accounting | Educational Methods
Research Areas
Corporate Reporting and Disclosure
Areas of Excellence
Digital transformation
Publication
Accounting Education
ISSN
0963-9284
Publisher
Taylor and Francis Group
Citation
LEW, Duan Ning, Magdeleine; GOH, Clarence; SEOW, Poh Sun; and PAN, Gary.
Undergraduate accounting capstone: Enhancing integration, reflective learning, and workplace transition for future professionals. (2025). Accounting Education.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soa_research/2076
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
