The benefits of providing contact with practitioners in round table forums: Undergraduate student perception of the experience

•Extra-curricular activity presents auditor’s role in hot topics cases.•Study collects and analyses data from a survey with 388 students.•Evidence of the validity of activity designed to show practitioners’ experiences.•Clear verification of undergraduate’s positive enthusiasm for this kind of activities.•Real life contact brings positive and attractive image of the auditing profession.

The aim of this paper is to analyse university students’ perceptions about the role of auditors presenting some ‘hot topics’ as a part of an extra-curricular activity at the university. In particular, we want to test (1) the perception undergraduate students have of those auditing real-life focused activities and (2) the factors that affect this perception in undergraduates. This paper evidences, through a survey with 388 students, the validity of professional experience activities in order to encourage undergraduates’ employability in auditing and accounting firms from the beginning of their studies. Implications for stakeholders are also presented.