TESTIMONIALS

We strive to make our accreditation process developmental and advisory, and we work closely with schools to make sure they are achieving their full potential in all areas of delivery. Representatives from some of our accredited programmes have provided us with feedback about their experiences of accreditation.

MBA PROVIDERS

Santiago Iñiguez de Onzoño, Director of External Relations, Instituto de Empresa

The accreditation of Instituto de Empresa by a respected international body like the Association of MBAs has brought numerous advantages with far-reaching implications. Self-evaluation brings the opportunity to obtain an unusually integral view of how your organisation works and where it is heading. Furthermore, it is a unique exercise in that it requires teamwork on an organisational scale, serving as an invaluable tool to measure real levels of progress in key areas. The aspirant school's own conclusions plus the observations of the Association's peer review team constitute a powerful combination that makes for continuous improvement and constantly higher standards.

As for the accreditation itself, reactions of candidates, students and recruiters make it clear that the Association's logo is seen as more than an accessory. It stands for a firm commitment to quality in management education, and it does so on an international scale.

Professor Eon Smit, Director, Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa

The University of Stellenbosch Business School is situated close to Cape Town in South Africa – far removed from world markets and international flows of MBA students. Over the years we have built up a high quality MBA degree but have always found it difficult to convince prospective international students that we can offer a world-class MBA at a fraction of the international rate.

International accreditation of our degree programmes has changed all that. We find ourselves inundated with e-mails from prospective international students and the composition of our student body has changed dramatically. International academics regularly visit our campus and our lecturers regularly lecture at overseas institutions. The accreditation provides the quality guarantee that not only makes international co-operation possible, but actually acts as a driver and accelerator of the process.

Kai Peters, CEO, Ashridge, UK

Ashridge has benefited considerably from accreditation from the Association of MBAs. Benefits arise in a variety of ways. The self-assessment process brings Ashridge's academic community together to reflect on our performance, and to define targets for coming years. Peer reviews allow us to benchmark our programme against other high quality programmes. Finally, the actual accreditation communicates the quality of our MBA programme portfolio to candidates around the world and informs employers of the high standards at Ashridge.

Professor Larissa Kartashova, Vice-dean for International Affairs and Development, "Sinerghia" Economics and Finance Institute, Russia

The MBA programme delivered by "Sinerghia" Economics and Finance Institute, Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics has benefited immensely from accreditation from the Association of MBAs. The process of accreditation has allowed us to benchmark our programme against an international MBA standard. The accreditation team's peer review demonstrated deep understanding of the rapidly changing Russian environment and a commitment to fostering diversity in MBA programmes. The guidance for improvement that we received has helped us to reduce complexity, manage change, and cope with new challenges.

Accreditation provides our MBA programme with international credibility and enhances our school international dimensions, developing a new platform for international co-operation. Our students and graduates can join worldwide contact networks and take advantage of a full range of benefits and services, including new job opportunities.

Professor Evan J. Douglas, Head, Brisbane Graduate School of Business, Queensland University of Technology

Going through the process of accreditation helped tighten up our quality control processes and to communicate these to all parties. The visit from the accreditation team provided wise counsel on a number of related issues - e.g. that we should negotiate with the central university administration for a larger share of the tuition dollars that the MBA program generates - and this advice has provided very useful information for subsequent negotiations.

Professor Elena Zoubkova, Pro-rector of International Relations, MIRBIS Moscow International Higher Business School

Accreditation from the Association of MBAs was attractive for a number of reasons. It has enhanced the image of our MBA programmes and the competitiveness of the business school in the world market, and positioned the school's MBA among the leading international providers accredited by the Association. In addition, accreditation has provided an opportunity for the institution's graduates to join the Association, giving them a market advantage in applying for the best jobs internationally.

The accreditation procedure itself was extremely useful and valuable for the school. It facilitated critical evaluation of the School's work and stimulated serious reflection on its development strategy. It was a rare chance to gain a critical external review to boost the School's growth and development, creating an environment of intelligence across a network of like-minded people - faculty, students and staff.

Alexander Mertens, President, International Institute of Business (IIB), Kiev

IIB management, faculty and staff realised that the Association of MBAs' accreditation process is demanding and complex. The accreditation criteria set high-level but realistic thresholds and challenge the school to pursue continuous improvement in processes and service, but most importantly the standards provide guidance to enhance the quality of programmes.

The self-audit process has assisted IIB to achieve a vigorous strategic development and growth; to contribute significantly towards the introduction of new processes; to implement a number of academic policies and to raise the standards of education. The self-audit process required very careful planning, gathering information from various sources, and plenty of cooperative efforts.

DBA PROVIDERS

Dr Thérèse Woodward, Director of Doctoral Programmes, Kingston University

When The Association of MBAs decided to introduce accreditation for DBA programmes, Kingston ’s DBA was in the first tranche to achieve this important seal of approval in 2006. Some months earlier, we also gained the Association’s accreditation for our MBM programme in business and management, which gave Kingston the distinction of being the first Business School to achieve triple Association of MBAs accreditation.

The value of the DBA to students and employers is becoming increasingly recognised worldwide, as evidenced by the students from all over Europe who have joined the Kingston DBA programme. The accreditation by the Association of MBAs of the Kingston DBA provides an independent test of quality and demonstrates that our DBA meets the rigorous standards that are expected of a high quality Business School by the corporate world. The accreditation of our DBA serves as further confirmation of Kingston ’s standing as a leading provider of Business education.

Dr Patrick Tissington, DBA Programme Director, Aston Business School

Going for the Association’s DBA accreditation requires the generation of evidence against set headings, submitting to an external audit visit and receiving detailed assessor feedback. I am in no doubt at all that this process has been an enormous help to me as Programme Director in setting the right direction for development of our programme as well as helping us understand where our existing strengths were. Holding the accreditation quite rightly reassures students – especially from overseas – that the programme is of a very high quality.

MBM PROVIDERS

Professor Roland Van Dierdonck, Dean, Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School

The landscape of higher education in management is becoming increasingly international and choosing the right institution tremendously complex. The MBM accreditation is an important asset to distinguish our school among the many schools that appear in that landscape. It is a real guide post for potential students in their selection process.

Tony Gibbs, Professional Development Programme Director, Business School , Oxford Brookes University

Accreditation can make a considerable difference to students who must choose from a vast array of programmes on offer worldwide, and although it is not possible to quantify the accreditation’s contribution to recruitment, what is certain is that the demand for the programme has remained strong in the face of increasing competition at home and abroad.

The help and advice we received from the Association during the accreditation made it a useful learning process for us.  The ‘critical friend’ approach adopted allows for honest and productive reflection both in terms of the MSc (ISM) and our other MSc offerings.  We are striving for ‘distinctiveness’ both as a Business School and in terms of the different programmes we offer to students and this helps provide an impetus, requiring us to think and plan across the Business School.