Enhancing student engagement to reduce absenteeism— proposal for the Technology-Enhanced Accounting Engagement Model (TEAEM)

Student absenteeism remains a serious problem in accounting education, influencing learning outcomes and overall academic performance. The traditional lecture-based teaching style can be disengaging for students, leading to lower rates of full participation and missed learning opportunities. In the digital age, higher education institutions could rethink accounting education by incorporating technology to improve student engagement and learning experiences. This proposal presents the Technology-Enhanced Accounting Engagement Model (TEAEM) that conceptualizes personal, environmental, and social factors as key influencers of student engagement and positions technology-enhanced learning as a critical enabler. The model shows that increased student engagement mediates the relationship between these factors and absenteeism. Technology-based interventions may reduce absenteeism and encourage active learning. The study will employ a quantitative research design and involve undergraduate accounting students of Universiti Teknologi MARA. The data will be collected using a structured Likert-scale questionnaire. The data will be analyzed through SPSS or SmartPLS to test the proposed relationships and hypotheses. The technology-enhanced learning tools considered in the study include learning management systems, interactive accounting simulations, virtual collaboration platforms, and AI-supported learning applications. This research is expected to provide a practical, innovative framework for educators to demonstrate how technology can transform accounting education, promoting participation, reducing absenteeism, and preparing students for a digital-ready accounting profession. The study highlights how technology-driven teaching methods can transform accounting education in line with the competition theme. It aims to bridge the gap between the traditional ways and the expectations of modern learners. It also adds to the wider conversation on digital transformation in higher education.