ABOUT US

The Association of MBAs was established in 1967 and is the advocate for the MBA.  

Our accreditation service is internationally recognised as the global standard for all Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Doctorates in Business Administration (DBA) and Masters in Business and Management (MBM) programmes.  We currently accredit MBA, DBA and MBM programmes at 145 business schools in 68 countries.

We also offer the only professional membership organisation for MBA graduates and students. Our membership network currently includes 9000 members living in 88 countries.

VIDEO CLIP: Jeanette Purcell presents an introduction to the Association of MBAs.

A unique service to the MBA community

We provide support and services to prospective MBA students, MBA students and graduates, business schools and MBA employers.

• Our strong brand is internationally recognised as the quality kite-mark for the MBA
• Our networks and insights mean we are positioned as the international authority on MBA issues
• We are seen as independent and impartial in a complex business environment
• Our accreditation philosophy is based on a developmental approach and is designed to meet employers’ changing needs
• We are in touch with our members and their concerns as practising business leaders

Association of MBAs' vision

The Association’s vision for the future is to become the international authority on business and management education. We are working to establish a tripartite network to improve the lines of communication between members, employers and leading business schools.

Our history

The Association of MBAs was founded in 1967 by eight UK graduates from Harvard and Wharton. Realising the fundamental strength of the qualification in terms of business and leadership, but seeing little knowledge of it in Europe, they decided to form a lobby and membership group. This started as the Business Graduates Association (BGA) and coincided with the setting up in the UK of London and Manchester Business Schools and the growth of management education in the rest of Europe at IESE and INSEAD. The BGA developed into the Association of MBAs which began to accredit the growing number of MBA programmes through the 1970s and 80s while also developing a strong membership brand.