Collective Learning Communities for Internal Auditors

February 19, 2021

Forward by College and University Auditor Journal Editor:

Members of ACUA receive many benefits, such as Connect ACUA, an online community of internal audit, risk, and compliance professionals from higher education institutions sharing higher education-focused knowledge and experience. ACUA strives to share useful resources with its members to help them build their knowledge base and expand their network. We hope our readers will engage in discourse across many platforms to build their repertoire of awareness and intelligence. A growing and interactive community for internal audit professionals is AuditWithoutWalls!

Learn, Share, Explore, and Grow…

AuditWithoutWalls!, established in 2017, is a free virtual collective learning community for sharing knowledge and exploring ideas on technical issues, including governance, risks, and controls. The community began in Asia, and has since expanded across the world. It now has a global reach, connecting over 1,200 public sector internal auditors from more than 110 countries across all continents. While initially geared toward public sector internal auditors, it is now expanding into the private sector to provide more opportunities for developing professional and supportive relationships.

AuditWithoutWalls! fosters a democratic ethos, where all members play a vital role in the community's learning.

A collective learning community enables individuals to learn without a hierarchal structure—learning is triggered and motivated by common interests, not by rigid rules. The needs and goals of members set the course of conversation and out-of-the-box thinking. AuditWithoutWalls! fosters a democratic ethos, where all members play a vital role in the community's learning. The environment encourages members to share their personal knowledge and expertise, motivates one another to learn, commits to mentoring new auditors, and cultivates relationships by listening compassionately and exercising empathy.

AuditWithoutWalls! primarily uses a social media platform, Yammer, to collaborate and network, but also has a presence on LinkedIn. By using online discussions, members can ask questions and share information anytime, anywhere. Since members are from all over the world, this platform truly never sleeps! Interaction and participation is constant and thought provoking, making it a great resource to learn a myriad of new things. Hot topics discussed lately include leveraging digital technology in audit and adapting the audit plan to current risks (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, cyber hygiene).

Interaction and participation is constant and thought provoking, making it a great resource to learn a myriad of new things.

The community also shares information on relevant continuing education opportunities, videos that provide useful information to internal auditors, and other useful internal audit services. The monthly bulletin called AuditorsHelpingAuditors! provides practitioners with up-to-date studies published by academics and researchers.

Join Today

AuditWithoutWalls! has an open-form membership concept, which allows members to join the community by requesting an invitation and also allows members to leave voluntarily. For more information, or to request an invitation to join, email auditwithoutwalls@adb.org.

About the Author

Hock-Chye Ong

Hock-Chye Ong is a founding member of AuditWithoutWalls! Hock-Chye has over 30 years of broad-based international experience in governance, risk, and internal controls at the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and Ernst & Young. He holds a Doctorate in Auditing from the Universiti Sains Malaysia with professional certifications in Auditing and Accounting.

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Collective Learning Communities for Internal Auditors