"The Effect of Financial Accounting Knowledge and Digital Competencies on Academic Performance of Accounting Students: The Moderating Role of Learning Motivation"

Authors

Alhassane Diallo

Department of Accounting, Faculty of Business and Economics, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (Indonesia)

Eris Tri Kurniawati

Department of Banking and Finance, Faculty of Vocational, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (Indonesia)

Article Information

DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2026.1026EDU0421

Subject Category: Banking and Finance

Volume/Issue: 10/26 | Page No: 5729-5742

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-06-21

Accepted: 2026-06-26

Published: 2026-07-10

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of Financial Accounting Knowledge (FAK) and Digital Competencies (DC) on the Academic Performance (AP) of accounting students, with Learning Motivation (LM) as a moderating variable. Using a sample of 200 master’s accounting students from the University of Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM), Indonesia, and the Université Générale Lansana Conté de Sonfonia (UGLC-S), Guinea, data were collected via a structured Likert-scale questionnaire, and Data were analysed using STATA. The results show that Financial Accounting Knowledge, Digital Competencies, and Learning Motivation each significantly and positively predict Academic Performance, together explaining 50.9% of the variance (R² = 0.509), with Learning Motivation emerging as the strongest predictor, followed closely by Financial Accounting Knowledge. However, the moderating effects of Learning Motivation on the relationship between the independent variables and Academic Performance were not statistically significant. Theoretically, these findings validate Human Capital Theory and Self-Determination Theory within the context of accounting education, offering an integrated perspective on how cognitive, digital, and motivational factors shape student success. Practically, institutions should embed digital skills training alongside foundational accounting content and adopt motivational pedagogical strategies. Future research should employ probability sampling, objective performance indicators, and longitudinal designs to strengthen generalizability across diverse educational contexts.

Keywords

Financial accounting knowledge, digital competencies, learning motivation, academic performance, accounting education

Downloads

References

1. Basileo, L. D., Otto, B., Lyons, M., Vannini, N., & Toth, M. D. (2024). The role of self-efficacy, motivation, and perceived support of students’ basic psychological needs in academic achievement. Frontiers in Education, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1385442 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Becker, G. S. . (19831975). Human capital : a theoretical and empirical analysis, with special reference to education. University of Chicago Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Craig, R. S. A. (2020). Insights into accounting education in a COVID-2019 WORD. In Accounting Education (Vol. 20, Number 6, pp. 583–584). https://doi.org/10.1080/09639284.2011.632910 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Creswell, J. W. , & C. J. D. (2023). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (6th ed.). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Diez-Busto, E., Palazuelos, E., San-Martín, P., & Montoya del Corte, J. (2023). Developing accounting students’ professional competencies and satisfaction through learning experiences: Validation of a self-administered questionnaire. International Journal of Management Education, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2023.100859 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Firdaus, M. I., & Furqorina, R. (2024). Accountant Skill Gen Z Fresh Graduates in Digital Era: A Systematic Literature Review. Jurnal Akuntansi Aktual, 11(2), 160. https://doi.org/10.17977/um004v11i22024p160 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Hanif, A., & Ahmad, A. (2025). Preliminary Investigation of Financial Technology and Financial Information System in Microfinance Institutions. Journal of Development and Social, 6(1), 2709–6262. https://doi.org/10.47205/jdss.2025(6-I)85 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Hendrilia, Y., Stie, S., Kerinci, S. A., Judijanto, L., Nahdaltul, U., Cirebon, U., & Fauzi, M. S. (2025). Learning Motivation as a Predictor of Academic Success: A Literature Review in Educational Psychology MOTIVASI BELAJAR SEBAGAI PREDIKTOR KESUKSESAN AKADEMIK: STUDI LITERATUR PSIKOLOGI PENDIDIKAN Endang Yuda Nuryenda. The Future of Education Journal, 4, Page. https://journal.tofedu.or.id/index.php/journal/index [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Juneja, N., Nanda, S., Singh, R. K., & Singh, H. (2025). Impact of dimensions of financial literacy and business innovation on the performance of women entrepreneurs. In Int. J. Work Innovation (Vol. 6, Number 1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Kroon, N., Do Céu Alves, M., & Martins, I. (2021). The impacts of emerging technologies on accountants’ role and skills: Connecting to open innovation-a systematic literature review. In Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity (Vol. 7, Number 3). Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc7030163 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Legault, L. (2017). Self-Determination Theory. In Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences (pp. 1–9). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1162-1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Lei, H., Chen, C., & Luo, L. (2024). The examination of the relationship between learning motivation and learning effectiveness: a mediation model of learning engagement. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-02666-6 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Liu, Y., Ma, S., & Chen, Y. (2024). The impacts of learning motivation, emotional engagement and psychological capital on academic performance in a blended learning university course. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1357936 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Ma, N., & Ruannakarn, P. (2024). The Application of Digital Transformation in Accounting Education: A Case Study of Internet + Technology Improving Academic Performance. Higher Education Studies, 14(2), 62. https://doi.org/10.5539/hes.v14n2p62 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Martins, O. A., & A.S., O. (2024). Board characteristics and tax planning of quoted companies in Nigeria. International Journal of Applied Economics, Finance and Accounting, 19(1), 186–195. https://doi.org/10.33094/ijaefa.v19i1.1581 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Osman, M. N., Turmin, S. Z., Saidin, S. F., & Rahmat, M. M. (2025). Accountıng And Financial Management Digital Competence of Malaysian Future Accountants. The Proceedings of the ASEAN School of Business Network International Conference, 2, 396–405. https://doi.org/10.64458/asbnic.v2.87 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Phornlaphatrachakorn, K., & Kalasindhu, K. N. (2021). Digital Accounting, Financial Reporting Quality and Digital Transformation: Evidence from Thai Listed Firms. Journal of Asian Finance, 8(8), 409–0419. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2021.vol8.no8.0409 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Putra Danaya, B., Kurniawan, D., Sahlan, F., Wibowo, A., Fikri, N., Indra, C., & Putra, W. (2025). Pengaruh Work Life Balance dan Pengembangan Karir terhadap Kinerja Karyawan pada Biskop XXI Grand Kota Bintang (Vol. 1, Number 2). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Sugiri, U., & Ma’shum, S. (2022). The leadership of The Head of Madrasah in Improving Quality of Education. Nidhomul Haq : Jurnal Manajemen Pendidikan Islam, 7(2), 295–306. https://doi.org/10.31538/ndh.v7i2.2184 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Sumartini, A. R., Suprapti, N. W. S., Piartrini, P. S., & Sukaatmadja, I. P. G. (2024). Digital financial literacy and self-efficacy in increasing intention to use digital bank with the technology acceptance model theory approach. International Research Journal of Management, IT and Social Sciences, 11(6), 252–263. https://doi.org/10.21744/irjmis.v11n6.2474 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Utami, W., Sugiyanto, C., & Rahardjo, N. (2024). Artificial intelligence in land use prediction modeling: a review. IAES International Journal of Artificial Intelligence, 13(3), 2514–2523. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijai.v13.i3.pp2514-2523 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. van Laar, E., van Deursen, A. J. A. M., van Dijk, J. A. G. M., & de Haan, J. (2020). Determinants of 21st-Century Skills and 21st-Century Digital Skills for Workers: A Systematic Literature Review. In SAGE Open (Vol. 10, Number 1). SAGE Publications Inc. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019900176 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Wild, S., & Neef, C. (2023). Analyzing the associations between motivation and academic performance via the mediator variables of specific mathematic cognitive learning strategies in different subject domains of higher education. International Journal of STEM Education, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40594-023-00423-w [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Yang, P., Liu, Y., & Li, Y. (2025). The mediating role of self-regulation in fostering Intelligent-TPACK and ethics in physical education teacher education students. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-21795-9 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles