It is clear that the opportunities presented by immersive technology are extraordinary.

RPA, more commonly known as digitalisation, is a complex and, to some, an uninteresting topic that can be challenging to understand.

Virtual Reality has the power to make difficult, abstract concepts more concrete, making it an ideal learning channel for training accountants on the organisational applicability of RPA. In the CPA Metaverse we have created engaging and fun ways to understand the benefits, opportunities and challenges of implementing RPA in an organisation.

By requiring learners to work as a team and using gamification, experiential learning and data visualisation, CPA Ireland has created an environment that greatly increases the engagement, understanding and confidence of the user. This is the foundation on which the CPA Metaverse, School of Innovation is built.

Research conducted by PWC on the effectiveness of VR training highlights its many benefits:

• Increased Confidence:
  Virtual reality (VR) learners were up to 275% more confident to act on what they learned after training—a 40% improvement over classroom and 35% improvement over e-learning.
• Improved Focus:
  VR learners were up to four times more focused than e-learners.
• Speed of Learning:
  VR learners completed training on average four times faster than classroom training and 1.5 times faster than those learning though more traditional online learning tools.
• Connection with Material:
  VR learners were 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the content than classroom learners and 2.3 times more connected than e-learners.

Additionally, immersive learning creates an exceptionally engaging learning experience.

• Provides a psychologically safe environment to try new things, make mistakes and practice new skills and behaviours.
• Enables members and students to collaborate and learn together in an entirely new way no matter where they are physically located.
• Provides multiple ways to learn – from practical application, to engaging with and observing simulations, to reflecting on what went right/wrong, to real-time feedback.

In order to do this, learners must articulate their own understanding of a topic which, in turn, helps all team members to grasp new concepts.

A key challenge some of our accountancy students face is the lack of opportunity for on-the-job training in Digitalisation, or Robotic Process Automation (RPA). This issue is significant because those students who select Data Analytics as one of their Strategic Level subjects may not have the opportunity to apply their academic learning in the workplace. Data visualisation within the VR platform will build on the content of the Data Analytics Syllabus.

The students will be able to integrate their learning in VR within the overall “on the job” training requirements needed to become fully qualified. Training in the Metaverse will then be demonstrated through real life application within their workplaces.

A key benefit of learning in VR is the ability to replicate real world scenarios in the virtual world. This provides learners with a hazard-free environment to make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and try again. By practising in virtual reality, we reduce the potential for the negative impact incorrect decisions have in the real world.

We had found the ideal scenario to pilot a programme using immersive technology: Robotic Process Automation (RPA)