When Khiya McElwain (Bachelor of Commerce ’22) signed up for Athabasca University’s artificial intelligence-powered virtual business co-op, she didn’t know what to expect. What she did know was that the experience provided important access to learning that shouldn’t get anywhere else. It truly was like no other.
“Without this virtual co-op, I would not have had an experience of any business co-op,” said McElwain, now a senior accountant at a global firm based in the Toronto area. “I have family commitments. I had a full-time job while I was going to school, and the virtual co-op was the only opportunity to have that experience—to bridge the gap between learning and applying what you've learned.”
The course, ADMN 405, uses AI characters and puts students in life-like situations they likely wouldn’t get to experience until well into the workforce. It challenges students to not only understand the theory of what they’ve learned during their courses, it teaches students how to apply that knowledge—sometimes in surprising ways.
“The virtual co-op provided me with an incredible experience to look at my blind spots, to take a look at my biases and things that would affect my eventual decision making. Sometimes textbooks give you the answer …. this course does not give you the answer. It gives you yourself.”
CPA Education Foundation honoured with philanthropy award
Developing a groundbreaking business co-op experience that harnesses leading technologies like generative AI would not be possible without the critical support of donors like CPA Alberta and its non-profit offshoot, the CPA Education Foundation. The foundation’s support of education was celebrated Nov. 14 at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Edmonton and Area Chapter’s annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon.
“The CPA Education Foundation exists to really advance business and accounting education in the province and create situations where students can excel,” said Gord Beal, senior vice-president of outreach.
The foundation supports learning in numerous ways, including student scholarships, but also by supporting post-secondary institutions themselves. The organization's support of AU helps improve access to education like no other.
“Accessibility is a really important element for us making sure that students who want to get this education can get this education, and I think that's where Athabasca University has been a real leader in so many ways,” Beal said.
‘Together we’re making a difference’
That access ultimately helped McElwain learn about herself and how to make better decisions as a professional accountant and auditor. For that, she is deeply grateful to the CPA Education Foundation.
“It pushed me. It emotionally pushed me. It intellectually pushed me,” she said. “I would say to the CPA Education Foundation, thank you.”
Richard Dixon, interim dean of the Faculty of Business, said the partnership with CPA Education Foundation has unquestionably had a positive impact on learning inside and outside the virtual classroom.
“Together, we're making a difference. The impact we've had on our students, for their careers, their livelihoods, for their professional lives, and, quite honestly, for their personal lives, has really evolved thanks to the partnership that we've had with CPA. The CPA Education Foundation is so critical for those reasons.”