How Does Accreditation Work?

There are two types of educational accreditation: institutional and specialized. In most countries, some form of institutional accreditation is mandatory for schools to obtain the authority to grant degrees. Institutional accreditation generally applies to the entire organization and ensures that it meets and maintains a set of minimum criteria for faculty, administration, instructional and financial resources, physical facilities, students, and curricula. In the United States, institutional accreditation is only mandatory for an institution to receive federal funds and is conducted by six regional accreditation associations.

Once institutional accreditation is achieved, schools can apply for additional accreditations or specialized, professional accreditation for their professional schools or colleges. Specialized accreditation demonstrates true quality and a strong commitment to excellence within professional programs. Nursing, medicine, engineering, business, law, and a variety of other disciplines have specialized accreditation that is provided by various accrediting ensuring graduates are well-prepared for their chosen professions. Specialized, professional accreditation is an external validation of quality and should be a factor in choosing a school to attend.

In the field of business, AACSB International - the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business - is the largest and the longest standing specialized accrediting agency for business and accounting programs in the world.

Why is AACSB Accreditation Important to Students?

Schools achieving AACSB accreditation meet the highest standards worldwide demonstrating their on-going commitment to quality through continuous improvement. Accredited schools can attract more funding, higher caliber faculty, and better students.

AACSB accreditation recognizes each school's distinct mission. The nearly 600 AACSB-accredited schools around the world pursue a variety of strategic goals in teaching and research while sharing one powerful value: educational excellence based on continuous improvement and high-quality. Graduates of these schools are prepared to compete in a global economy based on a set of required learning outcomes.

Source: http://www.aacsb.edu/

More about the AACSB!

AACSB International was founded in 1916 and began its accreditation function with the adoption of the first standards in 1919. Additional standards for programs in accountancy were adopted in 1980. AACSB International members approved mission-linked accreditation standards and the peer review process in 1991. In 2003, members approved a revised set of standards that are relevant and applicable to all business programs globally and which support and encourage excellence in management education worldwide.

Accreditation is a process of voluntary, non-governmental review of educational institutions and programs. Institutional accreditation reviews entire colleges and universities. Specialized agencies award accreditation for professional programs and academic units in particular fields of study. As a specialized agency, AACSB International grants accreditation for undergraduate and graduate business administration and accounting programs.

AACSB International accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools, worldwide. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. AACSB International accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in management education.

The Accreditation Process

Accreditation is a process of voluntary, non-governmental review of educational institutions and programs. Institutional accreditation reviews entire colleges and universities. Specialized agencies award accreditation for professional programs and academic units in particular fields of study. As a specialized agency, AACSB International grants accreditation for undergraduate and graduate business administration and accounting programs.

Any appropriately authorized collegiate institution offering degrees in business administration and accounting may volunteer for AACSB International accreditation review.

AACSB International accreditation assures stakeholders that business schools:

• Manage resources to achieve a vibrant and relevant mission.
• Advance business and management knowledge through faculty scholarship.
• Provide high-caliber teaching of quality and current curricula.
• Cultivate meaningful interaction between students and a qualified faculty. Produce graduates who have achieved specified learning goals. Produce graduates who have achieved specified learning goals.
• Source: http://www.aacsb.edu/