AMBA ACCREDITATION GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESS SCHOOLS

Transcription

1 AMBA ACCREDITATION GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESS SCHOOLS

2 Contents Page INTRODUCTION 3 SECTION 1: CORE PRINCIPLES OF AMBA ACCREDITATION Rationale Guiding principles 5 SECTION 2: ACCREDITATION PROCESS New Schools Re-Accreditation Advanced Accreditation The Accreditation Visit Accreditation Outcomes Finalising the Accreditation Appeals Payments Timescales 15 SECTION 3: MAINTAINING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH AMBA Promoting your AMBA Accreditation Business School Services Contact the Team 18 APPENDICES IAAB Membership Guidance for MBA Accreditation Guidance for MBM Accreditation Guidance for DBA Accreditation AMBA Accreditation Process Example Letter of Intent a) AMBA Accreditation Assessment Fees - New Schools 29 7b) AMBA Accreditation Assessment Fees Re-accreditation Accreditation Visit Additional Fee Information IAAB Eligibility Committee Membership IAAB Endorsement Committee Membership AMBA Endorsement Process AMBA Accreditation Panel Visit Agendas a) MBA Assessment Agenda 36 12b) MBA/MBM Joint Assessment Agenda 37 12c) MBA/DBA Joint Assessment Agenda 38 12d) MBA/MBM/DBA Joint Assessment Agenda 39 12e) MBA Advanced Accreditation Agenda AMBA Base Room Requirements AMBA Appeals Process Timeframes 45 2

3 Who is this document for? The document is for Business School staff who are considering accreditation of their MBA, MBM or DBA programmes. This document was last updated in May 2015 Introduction The Association of MBAs is the international impartial authority on postgraduate business education and was established in Our charitable objective is to advance management education at postgraduate level whilst our accreditation service is the global standard for MBA, DBA and MBM programmes. We currently accredit programmes at over 220 business Schools and we are the only professional membership association connecting MBA students, graduates, accredited Business Schools and MBA employers in more than 70 countries. The guidance in this document provides details about the AMBA accreditation process for the following programmes: Masters in Business Administration (MBA) Masters in Business & Management (MBM) Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) AMBA ensures high quality, timely and customer focused accreditation based on a unique formula of a dedicated account manager for support and advice, a peer review panel and appropriate documentation. AMBA currently offers a number of routes for accreditation: Accreditation for New Schools: Institutions following this route will be required to make a full application through all four stages of the process, submit relevant documentation including a Self-Assessment Form and Self Audit Report and receive a visit from an AMBA accreditation panel. Please see section 2.1 for more details. Re-Accreditation: AMBA accreditation is awarded for a defined period of time, and Schools are prompted when their accreditation is due for renewal. Schools will need to complete the final two stages of the process and also submit relevant documentation including the Self- Assessment Form and Self-Audit Report and receive a visit from an AMBA accreditation panel. Please see section 2.2 for more details. Advanced Accreditation: In order to provide additional value to Schools with a long history of success in the AMBA accreditation process, AMBA has developed an Advanced Accreditation Process (AAP) for Schools which have been awarded three consecutive fiveyear accreditations with no conditions and with no significant risks (e.g. large scale distance learning provision, multiple off-site provision, franchises, recent mergers or substantive changes to the business School or MBA portfolio since the last assessment visit). The AAP will involve the following: Full one-day peer reviewed assessment visit Reduced documentation (mostly data rather than narrative) 3

4 Advanced Accreditation still requires assessment teams to undertake a similar amount of work as required by the standard process, with the majority of the auditing work undertaken prior to the meetings with School staff. All Schools undergoing the AAP will still need to provide evidence that all the accreditation criteria are being met for continued accreditation to be awarded. Care has been taken to ensure that the rigour of the process is maintained. A successful pilot scheme was run from January 2014 to September 2014 to ensure that this is the case. While every effort will be made to add significant advice on quality enhancement during the AAP, which is an important element of the AMBA accreditation process, the focused nature of this visit will be primarily based on quality assurance. Schools eligible for AAP may therefore choose to undergo the standard procedure if they wish to receive more extensive developmental feedback. Please see section 2.3 for more details. If you have any questions about AMBA accreditation please do contact us at: accreditation@mbaworld.com 4

5 1. CORE PRINCIPLES OF AMBA ACCREDITATION 1.1 Rationale AMBA s rigorous assessment criteria ensure that only highest calibre programmes achieve our accreditation award. Unlike other business education accreditation bodies we focus on individual programmes rather than whole Schools or Institutions. This unique, in-depth and detailed approach means that the highest standards of teaching and learning are guaranteed by our accreditation. We believe that programmes should demonstrate best practice and reflect changing trends and innovation in postgraduate management education. Our accreditation process reflects this commitment to fostering innovation and challenges Business Schools to continuously perform at the highest level. 1.2 Guiding Principles The AMBA accreditation scheme is designed to provide stakeholders such as potential MBA students and employers with a quality indicator so that they can make informed choices and decisions. We represent our stakeholders by ensuring that we only accredit programmes which demonstrate current best practice in management education, coverage of relevant syllabus topics, and provision of support for students and alumni which enhance the overall learning experience. As a registered charity, accreditation also facilitates AMBAs work to increase standards in postgraduate management education and share best practice with emerging markets and developing Business Schools. Our experienced peer review teams, our thought leadership and research and our lobbying and representation of the management education sector all contribute to achieving this. Prospective MBA student s value AMBA accreditation, as our portfolio approach means that we accredit all MBA programmes delivered at each institution. Potential students can be assured that an AMBA accredited School provides the same quality with every MBA programme they deliver. AMBA also reviews the provision of MBM and DBA programmes offered by our accredited Schools on request, and for many students we are their first port of call when considering further study. The AMBA accreditation criteria and process is overseen by the International Accreditation Advisory Board (IAAB) which is formed of Deans and senior academics from AMBA s global accredited Business Schools. A full list of IAAB members can be found in appendix 1. Relevance and consistency is key to the accreditation process; the accreditation criteria are reviewed fully every five years. The IAAB conducted the last full review of the AMBA accreditation criteria in 2010, following extensive consultation with key stakeholders; employers, MBA graduate students and Business Schools. Key changes included a renewed focus on ethics, corporate social responsibility and risk management. Further revision was made to better recognise provision for flexible delivery modes such as distance or blended learning and to enhance the focus on areas such as programme outcomes and student diversity. 5

6 2. ACCREDITATION PROCESS 2.1 New Schools There are four stages for Business Schools without prior AMBA accreditation and at each stage there are documents to submit and payments to be made in order to progress to the next stage. You can view an overview of the four stages in appendix 5 and they are also listed and explained below: Initial Stage Pre-Assessment Stage Assessment Stage Post Assessment Stage Initial Stage Interested Business Schools are advised to first contact the team at accreditation@mbaworld.com so that we may discuss the programmes you deliver and the relevant AMBA accreditation criteria with you. We can also use this time to answer any questions you have about the criteria or process. We are happy to meet with you in person at our office in London or correspond via and telephone. In some instances we may also be able to visit you locally, even if you are based overseas. You can view and download copies of the AMBA accreditation criteria online. Additional guidance on the criteria for each type of programme can also be found in appendices 2-4. Once you are ready to make a formal application, please contact us at accreditation@mbaworld.com so that you can be allocated with a specific AMBA Accreditation Manager who will progress your application through to completion. New Schools must confirm that they understand the AMBA accreditation process and criteria by sending a formal letter of intent, agreeing to the relevant terms and conditions. An example of this can be found in appendix 6. Once this has been received by AMBA an invoice will be sent to the School for payment of the non-refundable registration fee. For more information on fees please see appendices 7 and 8. The institution will then be asked to submit their Application Form which will be reviewed by their AMBA Accreditation Manager. AMBA will provide a template Application Form for use. Your AMBA Accreditation Manager will be able to provide you with guidance and support when completing the form which is basic at this stage and is used to determine that the main quantifiable criteria for accreditation are being met by the School and the programme/s and to ensure that Schools do not progress any further and complete unnecessary work or payments without this check being carried out by a member of AMBA staff. Once the application form has been reviewed, and any issues resolved, the School will be formally invited to become a candidate for accreditation and will progress to the next stage. 6

7 Please note that, once we have received the non-refundable registration fee and Application Form from your School, we anticipate that it can take up to four weeks for AMBA to confirm the Schools eligibility Pre-Assessment Stage Once your School has been sent the invitation to become a candidate for accreditation AMBA will send a second invoice for payment of the non-refundable pre assessment fee. For more information on fees please see appendix 7 and 8. You will also be sent a template Self-Assessment Form (SAF) for completion. This will be sent onto the IAAB Eligibility Committee for review. The IAAB Eligibility Committee will confirm whether the accreditation application should progress any further, based on an evaluation of the SAF against AMBA s key criteria. Please note that the Self-Assessment Form (SAF) cannot be processed until the non-refundable pre assessment fee has been paid. In any instances where eligibility is denied, full written feedback will be provided to the School including guidance on whether any issues can be resolved and when further attempts should be made. Once AMBA has received the non-refundable pre assessment fee and extended SAF from your School, we anticipate that it can take up to four weeks for the IAAB Eligibility Committee to confirm that whether the application can continue Assessment Stage Your AMBA Accreditation Manager will inform your School whether eligibility has been confirmed. In most cases AMBA will arrange for a member of AMBA staff to complete a preassessment visit. This can be useful for Schools who are new to accreditation and require further additional support. In such instances your School will be asked to bear any costs incurred by this visit. Once eligibility is confirmed by the IAAB Eligibility Committee, and any necessary preassessment visit is complete, the School moves into the assessment stage. AMBA will request that you provide suggested dates for the accreditation visit to take place. The AMBA team will in most cases, need at least three months notice to arrange the visit. Please bear in mind that a third and final document will need to be submitted, at least three weeks before the accreditation visit takes place, so you will need to have this completion date in mind when you set the assessment visit date. The third and final document is called the Self- Audit Report (SAR) and contains more detailed information about the School and programme and must demonstrate how each of the AMBA accreditation criteria are met. It is a lengthy narrative document of around 100 pages, and is an opportunity for your School to showcase its strengths against the AMBA criteria. Your AMBA Accreditation Manager will be able to provide you with guidance and support about completing the Self-Audit Report (SAR). Please note that it is usual for Schools to take a number of months to produce this report, and that you may have to request that different members of staff complete sections relevant to their areas of expertise. Your 7

8 School will also need to pay the Assessment Fee at this stage, (between at least 8-12 weeks before the accreditation visit.) For more information on fees please see appendix 7 and 8. Your Accreditation Manager will be able to confirm the dates of the visit and the names of the panel members. You will also be sent the Base Room Requirements and an template Agenda for this visit that will indicate which members of School staff need to be present and when. An example of the accreditation visit Agenda can be found in appendix 12. Information on the accreditation visit, what to expect, and how to prepare, can be found in section 2.4. The Base Room Requirements can be found in appendix 13. AMBA uses the same template Agenda at all assessment visit to ensure each School has the same opportunity to present themselves to the AMBA assessment panel. Following the accreditation visit from the AMBA panel, a full invoice for travel, accommodation and subsistence incurred by the panel during the visit will be compiled and submitted to the School. This is known as the recharges invoice. Please do not ask assessors to send their expenses directly to your institution. We anticipate that recharges invoice will take up to four weeks to compile and submit to you. Please see appendix 8 for further information on this Post-Assessment Stage Once the accreditation visit is complete the panel will produce a final report, usually within six weeks. This report will be sent to your School for fact checking, once AMBA has received full payment for any costs incurred by the panel (see appendix 8.) During this stage we welcome any amendments your School would like to make to the factual parts of the documentation. Please note that it is not possible to change any opinions or analysis in the panel s report. Once we have received your feedback the report will be submitted to the (IAAB) Endorsement Committee who will review the recommendations from the assessment panel and make a final decision. Please see appendix 10 for a full list of IAAB Endorsement Committee members. You will receive an update from your Accreditation Manager once the decision has been endorsed (usually within four weeks from when the School submits any changes) and a copy of the final version of the Accreditation Report for your records. The report will also contain information about when your School will be due for re-accreditation. You can read a list of all the steps in the endorsement process in appendix 11. Please continue to section 2.6 for information on finalising the accreditation. 8

9 2.2 Re-Accreditation Schools which have previously been accredited by AMBA, and who are due for reaccreditation will follow the final 2 stages of the accreditation process. You can view an overview of these stages in appendix 5 and they are also listed and explained below: Assessment Stage Post Assessment Stage Assessment Stage AMBA will send your School a reminder twelve to nine months before your re-accreditation visit is due. You will be asked to sign the AMBA fee Schedule (see appendix 7b) to confirm that you are happy with the charge for the re-assessment visit and to pay for any assessor expenses incurred during the visit. In preparation for the assessment visit, Schools should view and download copies of the AMBA accreditation criteria online. Additional guidance on the criteria for each type of programme can also be found in appendices 2-4. You will need to arrange dates for the assessment visit with AMBA and provide a named point of contact for AMBA to liaise with. Please bear in mind that at least three weeks before the assessment visit takes place, you will need to submit both the Self-Assessment Form (SAF) and Self-Audit Report (SAR) to AMBA. Your AMBA Accreditation Manager will be able to provide you with guidance and support, if needed, when you are completing these documents. Please note that it is usual for Schools to take a number of months to produce this report, and that you may have to request that different members of staff complete sections relevant to their areas of expertise. Your School will need to pay the Assessment Fee between at least 8-12 weeks before the accreditation visit is scheduled. For more information on fees please see appendix 7 and 8. Your AMBA Accreditation Manager will be able to confirm the names of the panel members around 2-3 months before the assessment visit. You will also be sent the Base Room Requirements and a template Agenda for the visit that will indicate which members of your staff will need to be present and when. An example of the accreditation visit Agenda can be found in appendix 12. Information on the accreditation visit, what to expect and how to prepare can be found in section 2.4. The Base Room Requirements can be found in appendix 13. AMBA uses the same template Agenda at all assessment visit to ensure each School has the same opportunity to presenting themselves to the AMBA assessment panel. Following the accreditation visit from the AMBA panel, a full invoice for travel, accommodation and subsistence incurred by the panel during the visit will be compiled and submitted to the School. This is known as the recharges invoice. Please do not ask assessors to send their expenses directly to your institution. We anticipate that recharges invoice will take up to four weeks to compile and submit to you. Please see appendix 8 for further information on this. 9

10 2.2.2 Post-Assessment Stage Once the assessment visit is complete the panel will produce a final report, usually within six weeks of the date of the accreditation visit. This report will be sent to your School for fact checking once AMBA has received full payment for any costs incurred by the panel. See appendix 8. During this stage we welcome any amendments your School would like to make to the factual parts of the documentation. Please note that it is not possible to change any opinions or analysis in the panel s report. Once we have received your feedback the report will be submitted to the IAAB Endorsement Committee who will review the recommendations from the assessment panel and make a final decision. Please see appendix 10 for a full list of IAAB Endorsement Committee members. You will receive an update from your Accreditation Manager once the decision has been endorsed (usually with four weeks from when the School submits any changes) and a copy of the final version of the Accreditation Report for your records. The report will also contain information about when your School will be due for re-accreditation. You can read a list of all the steps in the endorsement process in appendix 11. Please continue to section 2.7 for information on finalising the accreditation. 10

11 2.3 Advanced Accreditation Schools which are eligible for Advanced Accreditation will be notified in advance. Please see page 3 for details around eligibility. When re-accreditation is due Schools will follow the final two stages of the accreditation process. You can view an overview of these stages in appendix 5 and they are also listed and explained below: Assessment Stage Post Assessment Stage Eligibility School may only be eligible for AAP on the following basis: - Three successive five-year accreditation periods with no conditions except for the standard condition - No substantiated complaints received from stakeholders However for Schools that display the following features, the AAP approach will require further consideration and such Schools are not expected to be eligible: - multiple programme accreditation (DBA/MBA/MBM); - large scale distance learning provision; - multiple off-site provision; - franchises; - recent mergers or substantive changes to the business School or MBA portfolio since the last assessment visit. Other instances of complexity may also require further consideration Assessment Stage AMBA will send your School a reminder twelve to nine months before your re-accreditation visit is due. You will be asked to sign the AMBA Cost Schedule (see appendix 7b) to confirm that you are happy with the charge for the re-assessment visit and to pay for any assessor expenses incurred during the visit. In preparation for the assessment visit, Schools should view and download copies of the AMBA accreditation criteria online. Additional guidance on the criteria for each type of programme can also be found in appendices 2-4. You will need to arrange dates for the assessment visit with AMBA and provide a named point of contact for AMBA to liaise with. Please bear in mind that at least three weeks before the assessment visit takes place, you will need to submit the Self-Assessment Form (SAF) to AMBA. There is no requirement to complete the Self-Audit Report (SAR). Your AMBA Accreditation Manager will be able to provide you with guidance and support, if needed, when you are completing the Self-Assessment Form (SAF). Please note that you will need to allow time to complete the form, well in advance of the visit so that the assessment panel can review it in advance. 11

12 Your School will need to pay the Assessment Fee between at least 8-12 weeks before the accreditation visit is scheduled. For more information on fees please see appendices 7 and 8. Your AMBA Accreditation Manager will be able to confirm the names of the panel members around 2-3 months before the assessment visit. You will also be sent the Base Room Requirements and a template Agenda for the visit that will contain an indication of which members of your staff will need to be present and when. An example of the Advanced Accreditation visit Agenda can be found in appendices 12. Information on the accreditation visit, what to expect and how to prepare can be found in section 2.4. The Base Room Requirements can be found in appendix 13. AMBA uses the same template Agenda at all assessment visit to ensure each School has the same opportunity to presenting themselves to the AMBA assessment panel. It should be noted that Schools undergoing Advanced Accreditation have a reduced agenda of one day rather than two and the documentation is reduced, as the Self-Audit Report (SAR is not required. All Schools undergoing the AAP will still need to provide evidence that all the accreditation criteria are being met for continued accreditation to be awarded. While every effort will be made to add significant advice on quality enhancement during the AAP, which is an important element of the AMBA accreditation process, the focused nature of this visit will be primarily based on quality assurance. Schools eligible for AAP may therefore choose to undergo the standard procedure if they wish to receive more extensive developmental feedback. Following the accreditation visit from the AMBA panel, a full invoice for travel, accommodation and subsistence incurred by the panel during the visit will be compiled and submitted to the School. This is known as the recharges invoice. Please do not ask assessors to send their expenses directly to your institution. We anticipate that recharges invoice will take up to four weeks to compile and submit to you. Please see appendix 8 for further information on this Post-Assessment Stage Once the assessment visit is complete the panel will produce a final report, usually within six weeks of the date of the accreditation visit. This report will be sent to your School for fact checking once AMBA has received full payment for any costs incurred by the panel. During this stage we welcome any amendments your School would like to make to the factual parts of the documentation. Please note that it is not possible to change any opinions or analysis in the panel s report. Once we have received your feedback the report will be submitted to the IAAB Endorsement Committee who will review the recommendations from the assessment panel and make a final decision. Please see appendix 10 for a full list of IAAB Endorsement Committee members. You will receive an update from your Accreditation Manager once the decision has been endorsed (usually with four weeks from when the School submits any changes) and a copy of the final version of the Accreditation Report for your records. The report will also contain information about when your School will be due for re-accreditation. You can read a list of all the steps in the endorsement process in appendix 11. Please continue to section 2.6 for information on finalising the accreditation. 12

13 2.4 The Accreditation Visit Appendix 12 provides examples of the Agenda used for the various types of accreditation visits that AMBA delivers. AMBA will convene a panel which will include an AMBA representative and three academic staff from other AMBA accredited Business Schools. AMBA maintains a Faculty of Assessors who exceed 100 in number and are all experienced postgraduate educators; many are Deans of Business Schools, Programme Directors/Managers or Module/Unit Leaders. AMBA will endeavour to ensure no local competitor Schools are placed on your panel, however if you have any questions or concerns please discuss with your Accreditation Manager. Unlike other accreditation organisations, AMBA pays their panel members a consultancy fee, and we strive to ensure that the service you receive from the panel is professional and consistent. All members of AMBAs Faculty of Assessors receive initial training and regular refresher sessions. In most cases we aim to select at least one member of the panel from the continent in which your School operates, and we also aim to add an international member to every panel so that your School can gain the most from the peer review process. We also ensure that any new assessors (maximum one per team) are always paired with an experienced team of panel members. Schools are required to provide the assessment panel with a base room that can be used throughout accreditation visit. This is a private room that the panel will use to work, and leave personal items such as luggage. In addition to the documents you have already provided, all Schools are asked to provide base room documentation, a list of which can be found in appendix 13. Your AMBA Accreditation Manager will also let you know if any specific additional documents should be provided. AMBA will arrange travel for the panel members to your city, however it is strongly recommended that your School organises airport transfers in addition to pick up and return to the hotel each day. This may help to reduce your costs, as individual taxis need not be used and once they have arrived the panel can travel in a group. It also ensures that the panel receive a positive first impression of your School. We also ask Schools to organise suitable hotel accommodation for the panel members. Your AMBA Accreditation Manager will advise the best time and way to arrange this. Hotel accommodation should be of a high standard, and preference should be given to establishments which are located close to the School. Long commutes from the Hotel to the School for the panel should be avoided. Panel members are happy to walk to the School from the Hotel if it is a suitable distance, however Schools are advised to check with the Accreditation Manager about this, as panel members may have heavy documents and ladies may not have suitable footwear. 2.5 Accreditation Outcomes At the end of the second day of the visit, the assessment panel will provide initial verbal feedback to your School, which will include a preliminary accreditation decision and any commendations, recommendations and conditions. We hope that you find this useful, as it 13

14 reduces the time for a decision to be provided to your School. We do appreciate the resources and effort that Schools undertake as part of the accreditation exercise. Please do bear in mind that this feedback is preliminary in nature and will need to be ratified by the IAAB Endorsement Committee in the post-assessment stage of the process. The Accreditation panel who visit your School have only the following options available to them: New Schools: Accreditation for 5 years Accreditation for 3 years Deferral of accreditation (with a reduced visit within one year), Denial of accreditation Re-Accreditation: Accreditation for 1 year Accreditation for 2 years Accreditation for 3 years Accreditation for 5 years Removal of accreditation In instances where a shorter period of accreditation has been awarded such as 1 or 2 years the School is usually asked to report back to AMBA within a defined period of time, in order to indicate how any changes are being implemented to address any concerns raised. This is called a Progress Report, and is usually supported by documentary evidence. In some circumstances AMBA may arrange for a reduced assessment team (usually two members) to visit the School to ensure that the concerns have been addressed and resolved sufficiently. In instances where Schools have multiple delivery sites or partners, AMBA is required to visit at least one overseas location during the accreditation cycle. This will be pre-arranged with the School and will be a one day visit undertaken by an AMBA representative. A full template agenda will be provided by AMBA. Any report and findings made during the accreditation visit are confidential to AMBA and the School. Other than the Schools accreditation status (accredited or non-accredited) we do not share the outcomes of the assessment such as length of accreditation or the written reports with third parties, and all our accreditation assessors are trained to understand the importance of confidentiality. 14

15 2.6 Finalising the Accreditation Your accreditation is only complete once your Accreditation Manager has sent you a copy of the IAAB endorsed Accreditation Report. You will also receive an official confirmation letter. If you are a new School your certificate of accreditation will be sent to you in a frame. Reaccredited Schools will receive their certificate by post in a scroll so that it can be inserted into the original frame. AMBA will only enter the details of your accreditation onto the AMBA website site once the final invoice for the panel expenses has been paid. If you are a newly accredited School and would like a formal presentation of the AMBA certificate at one of the three annual conferences, please do let us know. Please note that in order to maintain AMBA Accreditation, Schools are required to: Submit for desk based assessment any new MBA programmes that are introduced between the date of the current assessment exercise and the next scheduled review, including MBA delivery in new locations and formats. Complete the annual return for AMBAs Intake and Graduation Survey, and the biannual Diversity Data Survey; Informs AMBA of any instances where the cohort size for accredited programmes falls below 20 students; Pay the annual AMBA subscription. 2.7 Appeals In exceptional circumstances Schools may appeal specific aspects of the IAAB endorsed accreditation decision such as; failure to follow due process or a disregard of material facts. Appeals on the basis of accreditation judgements will not be accepted. Appeals are rare and need to be supported with documentary evidence. They should be submitted in writing to accreditation@mbaworld.com within 2 weeks of receipt of the final report. Further details on the Appeal process can be found in appendix Payments At each stage of the accreditation process, AMBA will send an invoice when payment is due. If you have a purchase order number that you would like us to use, please do let us know so that we can include this on all invoices. Schools should note that all payments are nonrefundable. Some payments are also limited by set periods of time, and will expire if the School does not proceed to the next stage within the specified period. You can view information about the cost of accreditation in appendix 7 and Timescales The AMBA accreditation process is designed to move at each School s own pace, and in many stages relies on the production of documentation. AMBA endeavours to provide a timely, efficient and customer focused process and progresses each application to the next stage as quickly as possible. An indication of expected AMBA timeframes for both Schools and AMBA is shown in appendix

16 3. MAINTAINING YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH AMBA 3.1 Promoting your AMBA Accreditation Promoting your AMBA accreditation is an essential part of demonstrating the world-class quality of your institution in the highly competitive market for potential MBA students. AMBA can help you to promote your accreditation and reach potential students in a number of ways Maintain your profile Please keep your Business School profile and listing, shown on the AMBA website, up to date. The accredited programme search page is the most frequently visited on our site, with over 7,000 views each month, and can direct potential MBA students to your own website or programmes. To make any changes to your School s listing please contact us at accreditation@mbaworld.com Using the AMBA Logo The Association of MBAs is recognised worldwide as a quality brand, so please do use the Accredited by Association of MBAs logo on your marketing collateral, website and course literature. Once your programme/s is accredited you will receive information and support from AMBA which includes this logo and guidelines on how to use it Accredited MBA fairs Each year AMBA host two fairs which provide an excellent opportunity for Schools to meet with pre-screened, high calibre potential MBA students in an accredited only event. We also participate in similar events held globally, and will inform local Schools when these events are taking place so that you may participate. If your School is based overseas and you would like us to hold an event in your area please let us know by contacting the team at accreditation@mbaworld.com MBA Student of the Year sponsored by the Independent This annual award singles out high achievers from the MBA arena, and every year accredited Schools are invited to nominate one exemplary candidate to participate in the competition. Entry to the competition opens each February and as well as receiving a cash prize, finalists in this competition (and your School) receive significant media attention from our sponsors, The Independent as well as other high profile international publications. 16

17 3.1.5 Publications and Media partners AMBA has a long standing relationship with The Independent newspaper which results in a number of advertising opportunities throughout the year, both charged and gratis. There are opportunities for you to promote your School in a number of publications including The Official Guide to Choosing an MBA published yearly by The Independent and AMBAs own microsite The Global Guide to Accredited MBAs in addition to other publications AMBA produce for pre and post MBA students AMBA Socials AMBA host free networking events for students and alumni of all AMBA accredited Business Schools. These events are held globally and previous locations have included Auckland, Moscow and Greece. All event details can be found at AMBA Conferences AMBA organises three annual conferences in the following locations: Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America. AMBA Conferences are a great way to meet other AMBA accredited School staff, to share ideas, best practice and to engage with current trends within Business and Management Education. AMBA accredited Schools are eligible and encouraged to nominate speakers, themes or topics for the conference programme, and if interested should contact events@mbaworld.com 3.2 Business School Services Research AMBA accredited Schools receive exclusive access to the latest research publications, global statistics and a direct line to our Research Manager. AMBA also provides advocacy and lobbying through our policy work for the postgraduate management education sector Refreshers and CPD Students and Alumni who join AMBA as members receive exclusive access to free online webinars, group discussion, live Q&As and interactive face-to-face and online events that are CPD-certified Careers Support AMBA can provide access for Schools, students and alumni to: - Employer training videos, written tutorials and interactive career resources; - Access to an online network of employers who are devoted to MBA recruitment and are actively searching for their next employees; - Global MBA-level jobs that you can search and apply for online; 17

18 - Interactive, multi-media tools, including a CV builder, aptitude tests, career assessments and bite-size online courses; - MBA news feeds, professionally selected career articles and global business stories; - Global AMBAssador programme: offering unique and progressive career opportunities for the ambitious individual Events Accredited Schools receive exclusive invitations and discounted access to AMBA conferences, networking and development events for business School staff including: specific events for MBA Directors/ Programme Managers; specific events for Business School marketing, admissions and alumni staff; AMBA Community Students and alumni of AMBA accredited Schools are eligible to join AMBAs brand new and exclusive online community which allows students and graduates to come together, network and discuss key business issues. Staff from AMBA Accredited Schools are also eligible and encouraged to join the online community which currently runs three distinctive clubs to bring University professionals together. The current clubs are for Deans, Accreditation Directors/Managers and Alumni and Careers staff. 3.3 Contact the Team If you have any questions about AMBA please do contact us at: Accreditation Team: accreditation@mbaworld.com Events Team: Membership Team: Marketing, PR, Research: Visit our Websites: events@mbaworld.com membership@mbaworld.com marketing@mbaworld.com Follow us on 18

19 APPENDIX 1: INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION ADVISORY BOARD (IAAB) MEMBERS Prof. Andrew Lock (Chair) Dean Emeritus Leeds University Business School, UK Prof. Nick Binedell Dean Gordon Institute of Business Science, South Africa Prof. Robert Dixon Dean Durham Business School, UK Prof. Valerie Gautier Associate Dean HEC Paris, France Mr Tim Instone AMBA IMB Member UK Prof. Larissa Kartashova Dean Plekhanov Business School Integral, Russia Ms Elena Liquete Executive Director MBA IESE Business School Spain Prof. Philip McLaughlin Director & Dean Bordeaux Ecole de Management, France Dr Mark Oakley Pro Vice Chancellor Aston University Business School, (retired) UK Mr Carlos Ramos MBA International Advisor Association of MBAs, Argentina Prof Manola Sánchez Dean Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Chile Prof. Zhongming Wang Director Zhejiang University Global, Enterprise Centre, China Prof Jens Wüstermann Dean Mannheim Business School Germany IAAB EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Mr Andrew Main Wilson Chief Executive Association of MBAs, UK Mr George Iliev MBA Director of Development Markets Association of MBAs, UK Ms Katherine O'Flynn Director of Regional Accreditation Association of MBAs, UK Mr Mark Stoddard Director of Operations Association of MBAs, UK 19

20 APPENDIX 2: GUIDANCE FOR MBA ACCREDITAION AMBA s accreditation for MBA programmes has been running since For the purposes of accreditation, AMBA considers MBA programmes to be Masters level, postgraduate programmes with an integrated perspective of the disciplines of business and management which only accept students with relevant work experience. Interested institutions should note that; The information below serves as guidance only, and when making an application Schools must consider the full MBA Accreditation criteria which were last reviewed in 2010 and produced by AMBA in collaboration with senior academics following extensive consultation with stakeholders. The AMBA criteria for MBA programmes focus on every aspect of provision at the candidate institution, which includes: THE INSTITUTION The institution offering an MBA should have a clear strategy and mission, explicitly expressed and reflecting its key strengths. It will have a clear understanding of the market for its products, including a means of regular access to employer opinion. The institution should have its own identity and an adequate degree of independence from any larger institutional structure of which it may be a part, as well as secured financial viability and institutional continuity. FACULTY Faculty teaching at Masters level must be appropriately qualified and credible. At least 75% of teaching staff should have a relevant postgraduate degree, and the majority of faculty should hold a Doctorate. Research should be of a high quality in all areas of activity and show some evidence of an international dimension. PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT & STUDENT ENGAGEMENT The institution should be able to provide strong academic leadership and administrative support for the programme. There must be evidence of action taken as a result of student feedback. A well-developed and effective career service is expected, both for placements and career enhancement, and an active alumni association should provide extensive opportunities for networking and life-long learning. STUDENTS As the MBA is a post-experience, postgraduate degree, students admitted onto an accredited MBA must have a minimum of three years work experience, with the cohort averaging 5 years experience. Evidence will be required to show rigour in admissions standards, which must include academic criteria as well as work experience. The student body must be substantial and varied enough to form a critical mass and emphasis is placed on the value of peer group exposure, therefore a minimum annual intake of 20 students is sought. 20

21 PURPOSE & OUTCOMES The programme must have clearly stated aims and outcomes. AMBA expects that accredited programmes: (i) (ii) (iii) enhance and develop previous relevant experience in business and management; prepare students for leadership and transformational roles in business; develop strategic thinking, innovation and entrepreneurial skills; (iv) develop an understanding and provide experience of global business issues, including the potential contribution that business can make to solving these issues; (v) develop the ability to apply previous and newly acquired knowledge and experience to complex business issues in a range of contexts; (vi) develop knowledge, at an advanced level, of organisations, their management and the environment in which they operate; (vii) develop an understanding of responsible risk management and sustainable value creation on the basis of the environmental, social and governance impacts of business (viii) (ix) develop interpersonal and group-working skills; and, encourage lifelong learning and personal development. It is important that MBA graduates understand organisations and their stakeholders, the external context in which they operate and how they are managed from a sustainable and long term perspective, as well as understanding the important role of ethical decision-making in business. The institution must be able to provide evidence that MBA graduates are achieving these outcomes in the workplace. CURRICULUM STRUCTURE & ASSESSMENT The curriculum should be generalist in nature and must cover the core business skills: marketing, the economic and legal environment of a business, accounting and quantitative methods, finance, organisational theory, interpersonal skills, information technology, risk, ethics, CSR, entrepreneurship, and the processes and practices of management. The programme must be designed to build on the significant work experience and diversity amongst the student cohort. Particular attention should be paid to the international dimension of contemporary management. Each core subject should be addressed by a course of instruction, although integration of these core subjects is vital for accreditation. The programme must also have a rigorous, appropriate and well implemented assessment strategy 21

22 MODE & DURATION Programmes should be equivalent to at least one year of full-time study or two years parttime. This should include a minimum of 500 contact hours and 1,800 student learning hours (or 90 ECTS equivalent). Programmes offered by more flexible modes of delivery must provide substantial evidence that programme design and delivery allow all the criteria to be met; even distance learning programmes must contain some element of face-to-face contact. 22

23 APPENDIX 3: GUIDANCE FOR MBM ACCREDITATION AMBA accreditation for MBM programmes has been running since AMBA considers MBM programmes to be Masters level, postgraduate programmes with an integrated perspective of the disciplines of business and management which can accept students with no prior work experience. Interested Schools should note that: applications for MBM accreditation will only be considered from Schools with AMBA Accredited MBA programmes. the information below serves as guidance only, and when making an application Schools must consider the full MBM Accreditation criteria. (Hyperlink) which were last reviewed in 2010 and produced by AMBA in collaboration with senior academics following extensive consultation with stakeholders. The AMBA criteria for MBM accreditation focuses on every aspect of provision at the candidate institution which includes; THE INSTITUTION The institution offering a MBM should have a clear strategy and mission, explicitly expressed and reflecting its key strengths. It will have a clear understanding of the market for its products, including a means of regular access to employer opinion. The institution should have its own identity and an adequate degree of independence from any larger institutional structure of which it may be a part, as well as secured financial viability and institutional continuity. FACULTY Faculty teaching at Masters level must be appropriately qualified and credible. At least 75% of teaching staff should have a relevant postgraduate degree, and the majority of faculty should hold a Doctorate. Research should be of a high quality in all areas of activity and show some evidence of an international dimension. PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT & STUDENT ENGAGEMENT The institution should be able to provide strong academic leadership and administrative support for the programme. There must be evidence of action taken as a result of student feedback. A well-developed and effective career service is expected, both for placements and career enhancement, and an active alumni association should provide extensive opportunities for networking and life-long learning. STUDENTS The MBM is intended for graduates from any discipline. There is no requirement for prior work experience. However, there should be an expectation on the part of the institution that the student will be able to fulfil the objectives of the programme and achieve the standard required for the reward. For AMBA accreditation, cohort size should not fall below 20 students. 23

24 PURPOSE & OUTCOMES The programme must have clearly stated aims and outcomes. AMBA expects that accredited programmes: i. develop knowledge, at an advanced level, of organisations, their management and the environment in which they operate; ii. iii. iv. develop a graduate s ability to apply their knowledge and understanding of business and management to complex issues both systematically and creatively, to improve business and management practice; develop an understanding and provide experience of global business issues, including the potential contribution that business can make to solving these issues; develop an understanding of responsible risk management and sustainable value creation on the basis of the environmental, social and governance impacts of business; and; v. encourage lifelong learning and personal development. It is important that MBM graduates understand organisations and their stakeholders, the external context in which they operate and how they are managed from a sustainable and long term perspective, as well as understanding the important role of ethical decision-making in business. The institution must be able to provide evidence that MBM graduates are achieving these outcomes in the workplace. CURRICULUM STRUCTURE AND ASSESSMENT Institutions should be able to demonstrate that Masters-level learning is achieved across the programme. The curriculum must be comprehensive in terms of its coverage of a variety of areas of management, which should include marketing, the economic and legal environment of a business, accounting and quantitative methods, finance, organisational theory, interpersonal skills, information technology, risk, ethics, CSR, entrepreneurship, and the processes and practices of management. It is expected that these topics are viewed in an integrated context across various disciplines and that the applied nature of parts of the degree demands a range of teaching and learning methods. The assessment scheme should have detailed criteria and specify the range and relative values of the various assessment methods used, and underpinned by a suitable assessment strategy. MODE & DURATION Programmes should be equivalent to at least one year of full-time study or two years parttime. This should include a minimum of 300 contact hours and 1,800 student learning hours (or 90 ECTS equivalent). Programmes offered by more flexible modes of delivery must provide substantial evidence that programme design and delivery allow all the criteria to be met; even distance learning programmes must contain some element of face-to-face contact. 24