The persistent work-readiness gap between accounting education and practice highlights the urgent need to develop stronger critical-thinking skills in graduates. This qualitative study was conducted to explore how a cocurricular online program at a South African, private, higher education provider contributed to the development of critical-thinking skills in accounting graduates. Kolb's experiential learning theory was used as the theoretical framework for this study. Data were collected from interviews with 10 recent graduates who completed a work-readiness program. The results revealed that the work-readiness program bridged the theory-practice divide by integrating accounting software in the curriculum. The program developed graduates' professional competencies, confidence, open-mindedness, and motivation as well as improved their problem solving and reasoning. The findings aligned with the body of literature emphasizing the need to adopt student-centered pedagogies to develop stronger critical thinking in students. The results informed the development of a unique professional development training project directed at university administrators and accounting educators. The professional development intervention aims to upskill participants in effective learning strategies and the effective use of technology to advance the development of critical-thinking skills in graduates. Equipping university administrators and educators with the confidence, knowledge, and skills to effectively integrate enabling technologies in accounting courses can cultivate work-ready graduates with the strong critical-thinking abilities needed to narrow the graduate work-readiness gap and succeed in the disruptive 21st-century workplace. This study has the potential to create positive social change by improving the work-readiness of accounting graduates, leading to increased employability. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]