BUV’s Head of Business School Presents Research on Student-Centered Teaching Methods at ICFAA Conference

Scientific conferences like ICFAA, featuring the participation of senior international experts, play a crucial role in providing updated trends and practical insights in the fields of accounting, auditing, and finance to professionals and universities in Vietnam. 

Recently, the 7th International Conference on Accounting, Auditing, and Finance (ICFAA 2024) was jointly organized in Hanoi by the National Economics University (NEU), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), and Cardiff Metropolitan University (United Kingdom). 

The conference brought together scholars, experts, and researchers from Vietnam and abroad to share new research ideas and discuss key global trends in accounting, auditing, and finance. 

As a longstanding partner of ICAEW, Dr. Mark Wheaton, Head of the Business School at British University Vietnam (BUV), attended the event as one of the two keynote speakers and presented his research on enhancing the learning experience for accounting students in Vietnam. 

The 7th International Conference on Accounting, Auditing, and Finance gathered scientists, experts, and researchers from Vietnam and abroad. 

Dr. Wheaton’s study, titled “Enhancing the Learning Experience for Accounting Students in Vietnam,” emphasized the importance of student-centered learning approaches in improving academic performance, critical thinking skills, and active classroom engagement. 

Based on survey data collected using the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) model, the study found that nearly 70% of students in student-centered classrooms actively participated in discussions, compared to only 50% in traditional lecture-based classes. Additionally, the approach significantly enhanced students’ analytical and critical thinking skills, as well as their ability to retain and deeply understand subject knowledge. 

The study highlights that active participation and collaboration among students lead to significantly better learning outcomes than traditional teaching methods and underscores the urgent need to shift towards student-centered pedagogies in accounting education. 

Dr. Wheaton’s research also reinforces BUV’s commitment to continuously improving its academic programs and enhancing the quality of human resources in the accounting, auditing, and finance sectors. This commitment is particularly evident in BUV’s degree programs awarded by the University of London, academically directed by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), ensuring that Vietnamese and regional students receive an internationally recognized education. 

Dr. Mark Wheaton, Head of the Business School at BUV, presented his research on student-centered learning methods at the ICFAA 2024 Conference. 

On behalf of ICAEW, Mr. Mark Jerome, Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA), delivered a keynote speech titled “Assurance Services for Sustainability Reporting: Technical and Practical Issues.” He emphasized the growing demand for reliability and transparency in sustainability reporting and the critical role of accountants and auditors in shaping a sustainable economy. His presentation reinforced ICAEW’s ongoing mission to promote integrity and excellence within the profession. 

The conference featured contributions from scholars and researchers worldwide, with 287 papers submitted, of which 235 high-quality studies were published in the ICFAA proceedings. In addition to the plenary session, the event included four parallel discussion sessions divided into subtopics on accounting, auditing, and finance. During these sessions, scholars shared practical, research-driven insights on current and pressing issues in the field. 

In the context of Vietnam’s economy integrating deeply with regional and global economies, accounting, auditing, and finance remain vital not only to economic development but also to the education system. Conferences like ICFAA provide a platform to update international trends and offer opportunities for universities, including BUV, to learn from the practical experiences shared by international experts. Through such participation, BUV continues to assert its pioneering role in innovating curricula and enhancing the quality of human resources in accounting, auditing, and finance in Vietnam during this era of global integration.