THE PROCESS

Step One: Initial Contact

i) The Association welcomes an initial discussion with an institution offering an MBA seeking first time accreditation, in order to establish whether it is appropriate for the institution to be invited into candidacy for accreditation. To begin the accreditation process, or for further information, please contact Dr Robert Owen, Director of Accreditation Services.

Step Two: The Self-Audit

i) If appropriate, the institution will then be asked to complete a self-audit. The self-audit document provides the basis for determining if an on-site assessment is appropriate. Subsequently, the self-audit facilitates the process during an assessment visit.

Guidelines for the preparation of the self-audit document are available on request.

ii) A pre-assessment visit to the institution may be undertaken to evaluate facilities and to advise on the preparation of the self-audit document.

iii) An agreement is signed between the Association and the candidate institution, outlining the rights and obligations of both parties.

Step Three: The Assessment Visit

i) The on-site assessment visit, arranged at some point during term-time convenient to both the assessment team and the institution, takes one and a half days and follows a pre-arranged agenda.

ii) The assessors undertaking the on-site assessment comprise four to five members; typically, two or three senior academics from institutions offering accredited MBA programmes, specialists from the Association and possibly one corporate representative who holds an accredited MBA.

iii) The Association of MBAs will appoint one member of the assessment team as Chair. The assessment team is always mutually agreed with the institution.