On Thursday 29 May, Chartered Accountants and Sia launched our new Virtual Reality training programme aimed at developing Professional Scepticism skills in junior and trainee auditors.
The launch provided us with the opportunity to break down barriers and perceptions that exist around VR in Learning & Development and allowed us to demonstrate what is possible when you take a chance on innovation!
Trish O’Neill, Head of Member Innovation at Chartered Accountants Ireland said:
“When you spend so much time working on the finer details of a project you can forget the importance and potential impact of the final result. For the past year I have worked closely with Aisling Mooney, Catherine O'Doherty, and Charles Lonjaret on developing our second Virtual Reality programme. On Thursday 29 May we had the pleasure of sharing our VR design experience with colleagues and members from Chartered Accountants Ireland and Sia”.
Speaking at the launch, Aisling Mooney, Learning Design Specialist at Chartered Accountants Ireland, shared some insights on the benefits of learning through immersive technology, saying that it “gives learners a consequence-free space to make mistakes, get real-time feedback, refine their approach, and even test the outcome of a wrong approach. This promotes active skill application and helps learners build confidence in their skills, which is essential for a well-rounded professional accountant”.
The atmosphere at the launch was full of positivity and excitement and it was a great reminder that what the team has created is quite exceptional. Gary O'Sullivan, Managing Partner UK & Ireland at Sia noted that "it is the only one of its kind in the world!". Eamonn Siggins, Chief Integration Officer at Chartered Accountants Ireland remarked that “teaching professional scepticism through immersion in virtual reality is innovation in action.”
More about the programme:
We have created an on-site audit simulation training programme designed to help junior and trainee auditors develop their Professional Scepticism skills.
Through Virtual Reality, learners are immersed in realistic audit scenarios, allowing them to practice professional scepticism in a safe environment where they are able to make mistakes, learn from their mistakes, and try again without the risk of real-life repercussions. By combining cutting-edge technology with deep industry expertise, we’ve created a global first in professional accounting education.
For anyone with trainee accountants looking to improve their Professional Scepticism skills, we would be delighted to bring this training experience to your organisation. You can contact Trish O’Neill on patricia.oneill@charteredaccountants.ie to learn more.
This initiative was made possible thanks to funding from Skillnet Ireland and our Network Manager Niamh Sheehan.
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