GSAFE CONFERENCE

The GSAFE virtual conference will explore games, simulations and playful learning in accounting and finance education. The conference theme has a broad scope and will cover presentations regarding both the pedagogical techniques in learning and teaching practice, and also research into this area of accounting education.

DATE: 20th April 2021 (9:30-13:30 BST)

LOCATION: Virtual

Stay Connected

Please click below to download the conference schedule:

GSAFE Schedule79.12 KB

Registration

The conference operates with a voluntary, variable fee structure. Participants may choose how much they wish to donate towards covering the running costs of the conference. We therefore have a three-tier system:

£0 (mainly aimed at PhD students and those without financial backing)
£5
£10

Click here to register.

Call for papers

Paper submissions:

Please email all submissions to: gsafe2021@aston.ac.uk

Submission deadline 20th March

We aim to interpret the theme of our research group as broadly as possible.We therefore invite contributions from teachers, lecturers, tutors, trainers, developers, and researchers in this field, with all sectors welcome (e.g. higher education, further education, corporate programmes, etc.).regarding topics that could include (but are not limited to):

• The presentation of a particular game/simulation for educational purposes

• How you/colleagues have used business games/simulations in your learning and teaching practice (including online delivery)

• Observations regarding student performance, satisfaction, learning outcomes or other potential benefits/drawbacks of utilising games/simulations

• Conceptual/theoretical stances on games/simulations and/or gamification in accounting and wider education

• Playful learning techniques

• The use of quiz/polling software such as Vevox, Kahoot etc.

• Any other application or research concerning of games/simulations or playful learning.

Keynotes

Professor Jordi Carenys: Jordi Carenys holds a PhD in Business Administration and Management from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, a degree in Economic and Business Sciences from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and an EMBA from EADA.
He is currently Full Professor at EADA and Visiting Professor at Aston University. Jordi is also the Head of the Department of Finance and Management Control at EADA.
He is the author of 15 books and more than 25 cases and technical notes on accounting and financial issues. He is currently developing different research projects related to management control and gamification in the field of accounting and financial education, the results of which are reflected in various conferences at congresses and more than 30 academic articles, published in Accounting in Europe, Journal of Accounting Education, The Spanish Accounting Review or The Spanish Accounting and Finance Review, among others. He has been a professor at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and Linköping University.
Matt Davies: Matt re-joined Aston as a lecturer in Finance and Accounting in January 2006. Matt is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, having qualified with Price Waterhouse in 1992.
In 1993, Matt joined Aston for the first time, before taking up a position as Director of ATC’s Continuing Professional Development Division in 1999. Following ATC’s acquisition by FTC in 2003, Matt became a Senior Training Consultant in FTC’s Corporate Training Division.
He is currently developing a Mobile Accounting Application: Count FEFE.
Susan Whittaker: Dr Susan Whittaker is a Senior Lecturer and specialist in audit education currently teaching at Cardiff University.
Her specialism has led her to develop an innovative on-line audit simulation (Audit Sim), which is used in over twenty universities across the UK and further afield.
The AuditSim was the topic of Her PhD research, and She often speaks about applications for the AuditSim at conferences hosted by educational and professional organisations.
She has been recognised as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in light of the leadership she has offered via an AuditSim interest group which organises an annual student competition.
Helen Scott: Helen is a chartered accountant having qualified as auditor with PwC. She worked in the Audit and Assurance department in the Liverpool office, working on a range of clients including local manufacturers, a betting and gaming company and a premier league football club. During her time at PwC, she began teaching auditing to new graduates and to more experienced staff.
She really enjoyed teaching so when the opportunity to move into higher education arose, was very excited to take it. She is now a senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool teaching in a number of areas but mainly in Auditing.
Helen has a have a keen interest in developing student engagement and learning through innovative activities.
Darren Sparkes: Darren spent thirteen years working in industry during which time he qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) and progressed to a number of management positions in a range of industries and locations.
After a career change in 2001, he worked as a tutor for a commercial accountancy training company and ran his own training business. By 2010 Darren had moved into the HE sector full-time at De Montfort University (DMU) and has since received a number of teaching awards and nominations.
Darren has been using simulations in Accounting and Finance education for over 15 years. In collaboration with Matt Davies (Aston Business School) and Lisa Weaver (Warwick Business School), Darren is a co-developer of the Accounting Bissim simulation specifically designed for Accounting and Finance education. The simulation has been used very successfully with A Level, undergraduate, postgraduate and Executive students.
In 2019/20, Accounting Bissim was a finalist in the prestigious ‘Finance for the Future Awards’ and for the PQ Magazine ‘Innovation in Accountancy Award’.
Toby York: Toby’s current teaching interests focus on the development and use of concept maps in accounting education. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1989 with a firm which is now part of Baker Tilly.
After spending time in audit, corporate finance and corporate recovery, Toby moved to Speciality Retail Group becoming its Finance Director between 1996 and 2003, a period of rapid expansion and success for the company.
He joined Middlesex University in 2003 but continues involvement with private companies through corporate consultancy and advising social enterprises. Toby sits on the board of a social enterprise, is Treasurer of St Matthew's Westminster and was Chair of Finance at Queens Park Community School until 2018.