In 2013, AACSB International, the globally respected accreditation body, announced its new accreditation standards that focus on Innovation, Engagement, and Impact in management education. AACSB is also aggressively propagating its accreditation standards in Asia, having set up a dedicated office in Singapore a few years back. Taking one step forward, for the first time in its 100 year history, AACSB International is getting ready to host its International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM) in Singapore on April 7-9, 2014.
To understand the current global Accreditation scenario, MBAUniverse.com interviewed Dan LeClair, EVP and Chief Operating Officer of AACSB Interview. LeClair leads AACSB’s efforts to advance quality management education worldwide through a wide range of data, education, research, and communication services. He leads the teams of AACSB and the Global Foundation for Management Education (GFME), a think tank joint venture of AACSB and the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and serves on the steering committee of the UN Global Compact’s Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).
MBAUniverse.com asked LeClair about how Asian peers like China & South Korea are pursuing AACSB accreditation, and what Indian B-schools must do to complete globally.
Edited excerpts:
Q1. After a decade, in 2013, AACSB announced its new Accreditation standards that are based on Innovation, Engagement, and Impact. How has been the response at a global level?
The response to the new accreditation standards has been very positive. Business and business school leaders from around the globe have applauded the new standards, describing them as necessary for the emerging management education landscape.
The new standards are designed to build on scholarship by strengthening engagement with practice, foster innovative approaches to management education, and draw attention to the critical role business schools have in creating a better society.
Q2. About 5 years back, AACSB established its Asia office in Singapore with Dr Eileen Peacock leading the efforts. How has been the impact?
The Singapore office has substantially increased our capacity to advance quality management education in Asia. AACSB Membership and Accreditation in the region have grown 118% and 147%, respectively.
Now AACSB delivers more than 20 conferences and seminars in Asian region each year to help business schools to plan and make decisions. The office also enabled AACSB to involve deans of Asian business schools in providing leadership globally.
Q3. Coming to India, how does AACSB look at the Indian MBA market? We are quite different from US or Chinese MBA market…
AACSB has always been a champion of diversity. There are many different missions and structures among business schools, especially in a vast country like India. AACSB approaches every business school in context, seeking to understand its environment and what makes it distinctive.
However, AACSB Accreditation is relevant only where (and when) there is a commitment to high quality, reflected in scholarship as well as teaching, and demonstrated through the strategy, finances, faculty, students, staff, and curricula.
Q4. Are more Indian B-schools pursuing AACSB Accreditation? How many Indian B-schools are AACSB members today, compared to say five years back?
Yes, there are more Indian B-schools that are engaged with AACSB today. Currently there are 43 members, including two accredited members – ISB & TAPMI. Five years ago, there were 15 members and none were accredited.
Q5. China has a lot more AACSB-accredited B-schools, compared to India. What has been their strategy? Has it helped Chinese B-schools…What does it mean for India?
Currently, China has 16 Accredited B-schools if you include B-schools in Hong Kong region too. India has just two accredited B-schools.
In China, there is a definitive drive to achieve international quality standards and develop global reputations amongst leading business schools. And the government has supported their efforts to engage in the valuable accreditation process.
By earning international accreditation, Chinese business schools have become more capable of attracting top scholars, as well as talented students who might have gone overseas. Accreditation has also helped schools to benchmark and collaborate internationally.
The lessons for India are to invest more resources in its business schools to achieve international standards, reduce regulatory burden to enable innovation, and encourage engagement in the AACSB International network.
Q6. Which are the other Asian countries, apart from China and India, which are rapidly pursuing AACSB Accreditation? Where does India Rank…
Especially given its size, India could be much more involved with AACSB, especially in accreditation. Currently there are 43 AACSB members in India, second only to China at 46, or 54 with Hong Kong included. But only two schools in India are accredited by AACSB, less than China (16 including Hong Kong), South Korea (13), and Chinese Taipei (9).
Q 7. Finally, for the Indian B-schools who are considering becoming an AACSB Member and pursuing its Accreditation, what are the key benefits?
There are numerous benefits. When a school becomes an AACSB member, they gain access to numerous networking opportunities, customizable data and reports, professional and educational development opportunities, as well as free access to publications, resources, and other tools. After becoming a member, schools can apply to take part in the accreditation process. The AACSB Accreditation Standards challenge schools to pursue excellence and continuous improvement throughout their business programs. AACSB Accreditation provides many advantages for business schools and the educators that work in them, anywhere from higher quality students to a concrete framework for continuous improvement
Q8. Coming to ICAM, your flagship conference, what is the idea behind hosting it in Singapore?
AACSB’s ICAM is the largest annual gathering of business school leaders in the world. Holding our most important event in Singapore is a milestone for AACSB, and for business schools based in Asia. It recognizes the increasing importance and potential of the region—and the idea that by bringing together the international community in Asia, we can shape the future of business education worldwide.
Also read:
AACSB to hold its flagship annual conference ICAM in Singapore
http://www.mbauniverse.com/article/id/7516/AACSB-Conference
Q9. What is the theme of your convention? What is the rationale?
Reflecting the 2013 AACSB Accreditation standards, the overarching objectives of the conference are to strengthen the connection between academe and business practice, foster more innovation in business education, and encourage schools to focus more on their impact. International collaboration and education in sustainability are also woven throughout the conference.
Q10. How do Indian B-schools, who wish to attend ICAM, stand to benefit?
First, we expect more than 1,000 management education leaders from over 50 countries, including representatives from the most prestigious business schools. ICAM happens only once each year and will not be back in Asia for several years—missing it would mean foregoing a rare opportunity to learn from the other business school leaders from around the world and develop new relationships that could lead to valuable collaborations.
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