The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FCSH) at ESPOL continues to strengthen the comprehensive education of its students through the creation of AUDEX (Applied Intelligent Auditing and Analytics), the new research seedbed of the Auditing and Management Control program. This initiative is designed to develop competencies in digital auditing, data analytics, process automation, and applied research.
Research seedbeds are extracurricular academic spaces where students and faculty collaborate to foster a scientific culture from the early stages of university education. Through these initiatives, participants strengthen their research skills, develop critical thinking, generate solutions to real-world challenges, and gain practical experience in areas related to their professional interests.
In this context, AUDEX emerges as an innovative initiative that responds to the evolving demands of the auditing profession. The program will enable students to develop research skills while exploring tools and methodologies related to data-driven auditing, risk management, predictive modeling, and process automation through Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technologies.
The program is aimed at students of Auditing and Accounting, as well as related disciplines, who have successfully completed the courses Fundamentals of Programming and Statistics I. AUDEX combines specialized training with the development of applied projects, bringing participants closer to the challenges organizations currently face in control systems, data analysis, and decision-making processes.
As a first step, a training program has been organized, consisting of six in-person modules. Throughout these modules, students will learn how to contextualize auditing challenges in real-world environments, formulate research questions, analyze data to identify risks, apply basic predictive models, design automated solutions, and communicate results in a professional, evidence-based manner.
The initiative will involve the participation of ESPOL faculty members and professionals from the financial sector, who will share their knowledge and practical experience with students. Among them are professors Martín Bustamante León and Jessica Espinoza, as well as invited specialists from the private sector.
As a result of their participation, students will develop applied outputs such as exploratory data analyses, predictive models, automated workflows, and analytical dashboards, strengthening competencies that are highly valued in today’s labor market. Those who successfully complete the program will receive the digital badge “Junior Auditor in Analytics and Intelligent Auditing – AUDEX” and will be eligible to officially join the research seedbed.
Through the creation of AUDEX, the Auditing and Management Control program reaffirms its commitment to academic excellence, applied research, and the education of professionals capable of addressing the challenges of digital transformation and the evolution of auditing in an increasingly data-driven environment.
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