The Audit Simulator is a new digital tool that allows auditors of all ages and experience levels to try out their skills at any time and place that they choose. It also represents a unique opportunity for trainers to design auditing scenarios to deepen student understanding of situations that they may face in the real world.
As a collaboration between Exemplar Global and software provider QLBS, the Audit Simulator was soft launched with a special presentation at the Online Auditor Expo, which runs until July 31. To see this presentation along with more than 30 others running the gamut from integrated audits and quality through to food safety and auditing skills, register for the Online Auditor Expo here.
In this introductory presentation, Exemplar Global President and CEO Andrew Baines, along with QLBS President and CEO Keith Phillips, gave a fine overview of why the Audit Simulator was created and what it means for the future of lifelong learning within for those within the auditing space.
“As an organization, as a community, and an industry, we want to promote and present auditing as an interesting and fulfilling career that will attract new auditors,” says Baines during the presentation. “Recruiting new talent is becoming an ongoing challenge which is being faced by a lot of employers.”
Phillips agrees, particularly as it regards technological tools that enhance lifelong learning within the sector.
“The Audit Simulator is intended to help auditors build up their confidence by gaining experience,” says Phillips. “We developed this digital tool to enable audit collaboration, remote audits, and digital connectivity so that auditors can grow comfortable now with the technology that will become standard across the industry within the next five years.”
One of the key concepts that Baines and Phillips brought up during the Audit Simulator presentation at the Online Auditor Expo was the importance of learning by doing.
“Humans are interactive, multimedia learning machines, but most of the time when we are learning, we only use our eyes and our ears,” says Phillips. “Making the experience interactive is invaluable so the learner can get feedback and explore scenarios and make mistakes without fear.”
“As an internal auditor, you can go on a training course, but when you are back in the office you are often on your own with people who have not done the training,” states Baines. “You may be stuck in a situation where you think, ‘What do I do now? How do I really do that?’ It felt easy when we did the role play, but now I am here on my own and I’m not so sure I feel comfortable asking questions. But the Audit Simulator can give learners the opportunity to have a go at it again.”
Again, to learn more about the Audit Simulator, please register for the Online Auditor Expo and view the session titled, “Introducing Simulator.” You should also be sure to check out the Audit Simulator online at Exemplar LINK, where the first scenario experience will be launched in August.