Accreditation is a means of standardizing and creating a common format or a set of regulations for an industry or group to follow. Accreditation certifies the competency and credibility of those receiving it. AACSB is an accreditation organization for higher educational institutions teaching business administration and accounting. Accreditation is not the only focus of AACSB.
AACSB
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB International) is an organization supporting higher education in the area of management education. AACSB assists academics in creating a better learning environment. The AACSB is also an accreditation organization that qualifies business administration and accounting schools on an international level. Accreditation is given for undergraduate and graduate programs. Membership in the organization does not require accreditation, although you must become a member before being accredited.
History Of AACSB
AACSB began its history in 1916. Its first standards for business administration were put into effect in 1919. Accounting standards were not adopted until 1980. AACSB has continued to refine and stay on top of changes in education and the business world at large by adjusting its standards on a regular basis. It adopted a peer review process in the early 1990s and, in 2003, revised its standards to fit a global business perspective.
Knowledge Services
In addition to accreditation, AACSB follows and researches trends and issues that affect the improvement of business education. Through a series of reports, surveys and publications, AACSB informs its membership and interested parties about their discoveries. Most information is created for members only viewing or by purchasing a copy through the AACSB website. Reports include statistical data on business schools and effective business practices for universities and college business departments and career services offices. Students searching for an accredited university can access AACSB's guide directly from its website.
Management Education
AACSB's main audience is university and collegiate business school administrators and decision-makers. The organization supports management education through continual education opportunities delivered via conference and seminars. Topics include connect senior executives to academic careers, student learning as a way of life, and faculty development and ethics education in academia. Publications include BizEd (a magazine for Business Education), job search postings, electronic newsletters and what AACSB calls Thought Leadership Reports. AACSB helps academics make informed decisions on managing their educational programs.
Membership Benefits
Membership benefits includes access to AACSB publications, advertising and networking opportunities with colleagues, discounted prices for seminars, electronic access to databases, surveys and special reports. Members are not only educators and educational institutions but also include corporate, government and non-profit companies and organizations that work with business and accounting schools. These organizations include Oracle, L'Oreal, KPMG and McGraw-Hill.
