UNAB Signs Agreement with PwC to Strengthen Professional Training for Accounting and Auditing Students

The Office of Outreach and Alumni and the School of Business and Economics at Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB) signed an agreement with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Chile, one of the country’s leading audit and consulting firms, with the aim of strengthening professional training, employability, and early engagement of students and graduates with the labor market.

Among other initiatives, the partnership includes the installation of a co-working space at the Los Leones campus, where students and graduates from the School of Accounting and Auditing will be able to complete their professional internships with PwC, with the opportunity to continue working at the company after graduation.

The agreement was formalized at a ceremony held at UNAB’s Los Leones campus. Attendees included Ignacio Guerrero, Dean of Outreach and Alumni; Juan Pablo Torres, Dean of the School of Business and Economics; Roberto Carvajal, Director of the School of Accounting and Auditing; and Fernando Orihuela, Audit Lead Partner at PwC Chile.

“We are very pleased with this partnership with PwC, which is part of our university’s strategy to connect our students early on with their future employers and to ensure that, during their academic training, they gain practical experience for their professional development,” said Ignacio Guerrero.

Strengthening Links with the Business Sector

For Juan Pablo Torres, Dean of the School of Business and Economics, this collaboration “is central to our educational model of engagement with society. We want our students, from the beginning, to understand how the labor market works, while also strengthening our connection with the business sector. We believe the labor market is evolving so rapidly that understanding what companies need from their professionals is essential.”

In that regard, he noted that this partnership “will give us insight into the key changes taking place in the market, allowing us to incorporate them into our courses and curricula.”

“In addition, we will be able to guide our students in preparing for the labor market, which is not only about knowledge, but also about interpersonal and personal skills that can help them lead major projects,” he added.

Active Learning

Roberto Carvajal, Director of the School of Accounting and Auditing, emphasized that “modern auditing is no longer limited to mastering accounting and tax standards. It requires analytical skills, professional judgment, technological proficiency, collaborative work, and a deep understanding of international standards. These competencies are difficult to develop solely in the classroom.”

He added that “the co-working space with PwC will allow students to experience professional culture early on, become familiar with real working methodologies, and understand the ethical and technical standards that define these organizations.”

“Sharing a space with practicing professionals transforms the learning process. Students move from being passive observers to becoming active participants in their own learning,” he said.

Connecting with Real-World Work

Fernando Orihuela of PwC explained that through this agreement, “we aim to engage with students from an early stage and begin preparing them for the real world and real work while they are still at university.”

He noted that this goal is particularly relevant in an industry that has evolved rapidly through technology, which, in his view, “is changing the nature of what we do as auditors.”

He emphasized that beyond technical knowledge, skills such as critical thinking, analytical ability, and interpersonal skills have become essential. In his view, UNAB is already fostering these competencies in its students.

The partnership also includes internship opportunities, visits to PwC offices, and collaboration in the development and execution of joint research and technology transfer projects.