Do Your Students Know What They Don't Know? An Accounting Competencies Strategy

This experiential learning strategy engages students to increase awareness of professional core competencies recommended by professional organizations. This activity allows students across the accounting curriculum to explore competencies to bridge the professional skills gap and develop a plan to acquire these necessary skills. The strategy activities include (1) initial class discussion; (2) personal SWOT analysis; (3) research of a professional competency framework; (4) personal assessment of competencies, including demonstrative examples, analysis of personal skill development experiences and self-rating of skills; (5) reflective group discussion to identify gaps in individual student's skills assessment; (6) individual competency development plan for underrated skills; and (7) summary discussion of strategies for how to acquire/improve skills for career success. The result of this activity is that students are introduced to a process they can use throughout their academic and professional careers to facilitate the acquisition of necessary skills for success as an accounting professional.