USING VR TO INCREASE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS WHEN TEACHING TAXATION

Engaging students in the practical uses of taxation through problem-based learning (PBL) can be an effective learning technique to improve student engagement and transferable employability skills. This research extends PBL to provide final year undergraduate students with a “real” client experience through using VR as part of a capital allowances taxation exercise. Students explored their “clients” premises through VR to identify assets that were eligible for their capital allowances claim. Feedback from students was very positive and although most had not used the technology before they thought that it enhanced their learning of the topic and found it fun to use. Furthermore, students requested more use of VR in their studies and thought it helped them to better understand the real applications of UK taxation.