PwC INQuires
Since INQuires was created in 2007, we have awarded through our INQuires program almost $8.6 million in funding to over 200 schools for faculty research, diversity initiatives and curriculum development.
Focus on Emerging Technologies:
Over the last twelve years, our INQuires funding has included the awarding of over $2.5 million to over 100 schools to incorporate emerging technology into their curriculum. PwC encourages Accounting Programs to incorporate emerging technologies and related skills into their curriculum to help prepare students for the demands of our profession. We are very pleased to support these curriculum development efforts through our INQuires program.
Sharing resources:
We encourage schools receiving INQuires funding for curriculum development - particularly in the area of emerging technology - to broadly share the outcome of these projects to make resources available to other universities. Many recipients have done so through presenting at faculty conferences and publishing articles.
We have listed below several specific examples of curriculum development projects PwC is happy to have funded to incorporate data analytics and technology into curriculum. These academics have done great work in this area and we encourage you to explore these potential resources.
Organization |
Primary contact |
Summary |
|---|---|---|
Auburn University
|
Eric Negangard
|
Developed a multi-session undergraduate analytics case in which students use generative AI across Excel, Access, Alteryx, and Tableau to investigate a suspected revenue anomaly. Students are then challenged to "audit the AI." Students document every AI interaction in a graded prompt log using a prompt → verify → refine loop and fact-check AI-generated formulas and narrative against source data, tying findings to ASC 606 and AU-C 240 fraud-risk considerations. The rubrics, dataset, and prompt-log materials are reusable by other instructors, making skepticism, ethics, and professional judgment graded requirements rather than aspirations. |
| Brigham Young University - Provo | Scott Summers, David Wood | Created a publicly available technology hub featuring challenges and learning resources in Excel, Alteryx, Python, SQL, Tableau, Power BI, process mining, and other emerging technologies used in accounting and business analytics. To access TechHub, click here. |
| California Polytechnic State University | Leida Chen, Kevin Lertwachara | Integrated generative AI into business analytics and accounting education through curriculum materials, data-driven case studies, and hands-on learning experiences that help students build analytical, problem-solving, and AI literacy skills. Learn more here. |
| North Carolina A&T State University | Octavia Allen, Tia Hastye | Redesigned the Professional Accounting Career Exploration program, a free five-day residential experience to expose high school students to the dynamic world of accounting, to integrate foundational accounting principles with emerging technologies. Delivered dedicated prompt engineering classes to equip students with skills to leverage generative AI tools. Guided participants in applying these AI skills to analyze complex accounting cases, culminating in formal presentations at the end of the program. The updated program demonstrated measurable success, with the inaugural cohort achieving a 20% conversion rate of students matriculating to North Carolina A&T State University to pursue degrees in Accounting and Finance. |
| San Diego State University | Valerie Li, Yan Luo, Jeff Wang | Machine Learning Project (Dr. Valerie Li) Developed a machine learning project in Accounting Information Systems that introduces students to decision trees, neural networks, and clustering techniques. Using Python, students analyze large datasets to identify patterns, detect anomalies, and build practical skills in emerging accounting and audit technologies.
Prompt Engineering Project (Dr. Yan Luo) Integrated prompt engineering and generative AI activities into the auditing curriculum, enabling students to use large language models to analyze financial information, assess audit risks, identify anomalies, document findings, and draft professional accounting communications.
Financial Analysis Project Using Generative AI (Dr. Jeff Wang) Developed a financial analysis project in which students use Python, XBRL-tagged SEC filings, and generative AI to extract, analyze, and interpret disclosures and forward-looking information from 10-K and Proxy statements, gaining hands-on experience with AI-enabled financial analysis tools. |
| University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign | Joshua Herbold, Wei Zhu | Developed a new course focused on AI and critical thinking for accounting professionals and integrated AI concepts into a graduate-level data analytics course. Learn more here. |
| University of Iowa | Carolyn Reddick | Developed AI-enhanced learning experiences across Advanced Auditing and Undergraduate Accounting courses. In Advanced Auditing, created AI-based auditing simulations that require students to utilize AI tools to develop test plans, identify and propose corrections for financial reporting errors, assess materiality, and complete audit workpapers. In Undergraduate Accounting, developed responsible AI learning projects that teach students to leverage AI for practice and feedback, strengthen critical evaluation of AI-generated content, and apply professional judgment rather than relying blindly on AI outputs. |
*Legal Disclaimer
Certain materials on this site are owned by third parties. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not responsible for any errors or omissions in, or for the results obtained from the use of, such third party materials. The third party materials are provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind. In no event will PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, or its partners, principals, employees, or agents, be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in the third party materials or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.
Certain links on this site connect to other web sites maintained by third parties over whom PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has no control. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP makes no representations as to the accuracy or any other aspect of information contained in other web sites.
The information contained on this site is intended solely to provide general guidance on matters of interest for the personal use of the reader, who accepts full responsibility for its use. The information on this site is provided with the understanding that the authors and publishers are not herein engaged in rendering financial, tax, accounting or other professional goods or services.
Contact us
