The use of 5.0 Technologies to foster the development of skills in accounting – The case of the Model of Simulator of Business Environment

This article aims to address technical, transversal and digital competences and their development in the context of accounting. The development of artificial intelligence and digitalization technologies has significantly changed the world. Higher education institutions are not yet prepared for this reality. They must find a way to equip their teachers with digital skills in the first instance, and then move on to make changes to the course curriculum to adapt the content to 5.0 technology. At Porto Accounting and Business School of Porto Polytechnic, these technologies have been implemented in a pivotal environment called the Model of Simulator of Business Environment. This model includes two curricular units that are part of the final year of the degree course in accounting and administration, Business Simulation Project I and II. This model is characterised as an active methodology in the teaching and learning process. Students are at the centre of this process and responsibility for their learning lies with them. Technical, transversal and digital accounting skills are the basis for building this model. This article presents the competences worked on to prepare students for the labour market. A set of activities proposed to the students in the working sessions is presented, with an explanation of the competences that are intended to be powered. The theoretical basis and the experience of more than 20 years working with this Model leads us to reflect on its future. This future includes the introduction of AI and tools that bring digitalisation in its true sense.