ACCR
EDITA
TION
ACCREDITATION
Engagement Innovation Impact
www.aacsb.edu
ABOUT AACSB INTERNATIONAL
AACSB conducts research, assesses trends, hosts more than 100 global
professional development events annually, and gathers business school leaders
from around the world to network and share experiences. To realize an institution’s
potential while creating academic excellence is a fulfilling and challenging
experience with long-lasting rewards. Explore what AACSB Accreditation can do to
enhance the quality of your business programs, faculty, staff, and students.
102
Accredited
institutions
555
Accredited
institutions
79
Accredited
institutions
Institutions that have earned AACSB Accreditation work hard to ensure
that they continuously improve and sustain a high level of
quality across all their business degree programs.
SPECIALIZED ACCREDITATION
As a specialized accreditor, AACSB works with institutions to ensure their
business schools or units provide the highest quality education and preparation
for success. Specialized accreditors focus on a set of standards or criteria solely
relevant to a particular discipline or field of study. Most specialized accreditors
use a peer review process, whereby teams of subject matter experts perform the
on-site accreditation reviews.
AACSB standards are rigorous, relevant, and benchmarks of quality. The
accreditation standards drive engagement, innovation, and impact. In order to
earn and sustain accreditation, a school must be in alignment with 15 Business
Accreditation Standards. To obtain Accounting Accreditation, institutions must
align with an additional nine accounting standards.
ABOUT AACSB
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is a global
membership organization of educational institutions, businesses, and other entities
committed to the advancement of management education. Established in 1916,
AACSB provides its members with a variety of products and services to assist them
with the continuous improvement of their business schools.
Americas
Europe, Middle East, and Africa
Asia Pacific
Distribution of schools as of July 2015.
AACSB BY THE NUMBERS
as of July 2015
1,479
736
182
MEMBER INSTITUTIONS
& ORGANIZATIONS
BUSINESS
ACCREDITED SCHOOLS
ACCOUNTING
ACCREDITED SCHOOLS
The process leading up to achieving accreditation
helps the entire organization refine its strategic
direction, improve overall program and faculty
quality, and provide an organized framework for
tracking and supporting day-to-day operations.
1
Establish AACSB educational membership.
2
Submit an Eligibility Application. In preparation, review the webinar on completing an
Eligibility Application and consult with AACSB Accreditation staff at
accreditation@aacsb.edu. Access the application on the myAccreditation platform at
www.aacsb.edu/myAccreditation.
3
The Eligibility Application is reviewed by the Initial Accreditation Committee (IAC). Once
accepted, a mentor and AACSB accreditation staff liaison are assigned. Mentors provide
guidance in the development of an Initial Self Evaluation Report (iSER) and the AACSB
accreditation staff liaison serves as the point of contact between the institution and AACSB
International and can answer accreditation related questions.
4
Develop the iSER, a plan of action showing how the school will align policies, practices,
and expected outcomes with AACSB accreditation standards. A school may take up to two
years to submit the iSER.
5
The IAC reviews the iSER and provides feedback. During this iterative process, the IAC
works with the school, the mentor, and the staff liaison to help the school bring policies,
practices, and expected outcomes into alignment with AACSB accreditation standards.
6
The IAC invites the school to submit an application for an Initial Accreditation Peer Review
Team (PRT) visit. AACSB appoints a volunteer to serve as the Peer Review Team chair and
two additional members to form the PRT. The PRT chair replaces the mentor and guides the
institution as it completes the final Self Evaluation Report and prepares for the accreditation
review visit.
7
Prior to the accreditation visit (within 4–6 months), the institution submits the final SER to
the PRT and IAC. Based on the final SER, the PRT prepares a Pre-Visit Letter for the school.
The purpose of this letter is to clarify issues identified by the PRT and to request additional
information not provided in the final SER.
8
Following the accreditation visit, the PRT prepares and delivers a Team Visit Report to the
applicant institution and to the IAC. This report conveys to the IAC one of three possible
recommendations:
a. Initial Accreditation
b. Deferral of Initial Accreditation
c. Denial of Initial Accreditation
9
The IAC reviews the Peer Review Team report and makes a recommendation.
10
The AACSB Board of Directors reviews and votes on the institutions recommended for
initial accreditation by the IAC.
A detailed description of this process can be found online at:
www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/process.
ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
An institution moving through the accreditation process will track and document progress
in meeting the accreditation standards. Quality assessment is based upon 15 business
accreditation standards addressing four areas of performance that drive engagement,
innovation, and impact. Accredited institutions will demonstrate overall high quality and a
focus on continuous improvement in four performance areas, which are:
•
•
•
•
Strategic Management and Innovation
Participants: Students, Faculty, and Staff
Learning and Teaching
Academic and Professional Engagement
ACCREDITATION PROCESS
BUSINESS ACCREDITATION PROCESS
VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF
Once accredited, the institution is expected to sustain a
commitment to high quality and alignment with the spirit
and intent of the accreditation standards.
AACSB’s global volunteer network plays an essential role in the accreditation
process and assures that all phases are driven by the input of peers.
The Continuous Improvement Review (CIR) process
involves an on-site visit every five years. The CIR visit is
not a standard-by-standard review procedure, but focuses on changes since the
last Peer Review Visit and the institution’s progress in sustaining engagement,
innovation, and impact.
95%
OF AACSB ACCREDITED AND IN-PROCESS SCHOOLS SAY
THAT AACSB ACCREDITATION ULTIMATELY IMPROVES
THE QUALITY OF THEIR BUSINESS PROGRAMS.
Currently, less than 1% of business schools worldwide hold both
AACSB Business and Accounting Accreditation.
ACCOUNTING ACCREDITATION
Accounting Accreditation can be achieved either simultaneously with Business
Accreditation or after Business Accreditation has been achieved. Similar to the
Business Accreditation process, the Accounting Accreditation process includes a
rigorous self-evaluation and peer review, and begins with the submission of an
Eligibility Application, followed by an Initial Accreditation process that requires
the development of an initial Self-Evaluation Report and review by the Accounting
Accreditation Committee, which is comprised of accounting department chairs,
deans, and practitioners.
Volunteers from AACSB-accredited institutions provide individualized mentoring,
on-site peer review visits, and participate in committees that review the
reports and recommendations from Peer Review Teams and mentors. When an
institution enters the initial accreditation process, an AACSB volunteer mentor
is assigned to provide guidance and support to the institution. The mentor not
only works closely with the institution, but also maintains a link between the
institution and the appropriate decision-making committee of volunteers.
The AACSB accreditation staff is responsible for training, supporting, and
managing this extensive network of individuals, who are committed to the
advancement of quality management education worldwide.
volunteers are the lifeline
“ Theof AACSB.
They complement
the excellent work of the
AACSB staff ensuring the
overall quality and integrity
of our processes and act as
outstanding ambassadors
globally for the organization.
”
Iain Watson
Executive Dean and Professor
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
The University of Queensland
Chair, Initial Accreditation Committee—AACSB International
For more information contact us at:
accreditation@aacsb.edu
www.aacsb.edu/accreditation
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
ACCR
EDITA
TION
The Benchmark of Quality
for Business Education Worldwide
www.aacsb.edu