Association of MBAs OVERVIEW MBA Accreditation Process Criteria Slide 2 Department Author 1
The Association of MBAs Founded 1967 To advance business education at a postgraduate level Trustees are MBA graduates protectors of quality, reputation and value 155 member schools representing 68 countries Slide 3 The Association s Objectives Accreditation Providing world class accreditation for postgraduate management programmes at leading business schools Business Schools Delivering information and networking to accredited business schools, giving them the advantage in a competitive world Individuals Creating an exclusive network for MBA students and graduates from accredited programmes and supporting their professional development. Employers Raising awareness about the MBA and the importance of accreditation. Slide 4 Department Author 2
Accreditation Objectives With so many graduate business programmes on offer worldwide, quality has become key. The Association s accreditation objectives are: To promote graduate-level business education to institutions, prospective students, and employers, and to increase the supply of, and demand for, such programmes. To ensure that the quality of graduate-level business education produces professional business leaders. Slide 5 Independent MBA Accreditation International Market Driven Programme Specifc Slide 6 Department Author 3
The Market for Accreditation Institutions Prospective Students Graduates Employers Slide 7 The Benefits of Accreditation For institutions, accreditation gives international credibility to their MBA provision and an overview of their position against international standards. Accreditation provides institutions with a distinct market advantage and international visibility for their programmes, as well as the opportunity for external peer review. Slide 8 Department Author 4
The Benefits of Accreditation For students, accreditation provides a list of institutions/mba provision of guaranteed quality. For graduates, accreditation gives reassurance that their MBA will retain its value at a time when the market risks saturation. For employers, accreditation gives a recognised pool of talented graduates from which to recruit. Slide 9 Accreditation as a Differentiator More employers are reading the fine print before deciding whether MBA programmes have any value. Only those from the business schools in the UK with AMBA accreditation are likely to be taken seriously. Chris Arnott The Guardian Newspaper January 2006 Slide 10 Department Author 5
Strategy International Development Geographic target regions: BRIC plus Increase portfolio MBM, MBA & DBA Develop services to member schools Channel to market Networks and information exchange Research and Consultancy Centre Slide 11 Accreditation Growth 2000-2008 Institutions with accredited MBA provision: 155 schools in 68 different countries MBM programmes accredited: 30 DBA Assessments 5 in the first phase (HKPU, Kingston, Aston, Maastricht, Grenoble) Business Leadership Review 5000 subscribers Slide 12 Department Author 6
ACCREDITED MBAs in CHINA ACEM Shanghai Jiaotong University Zhejiang University Hong Kong Polytechnic University City University Hong Kong Maastricht School of Management ENPC ESC Grenoble Helsinki School of Economics Birmingham Business School Slide 13 International Accreditation Advisory Board Mr David Gravells Chair, IAAB Association of MBAs UK Professor Nick Binedell Dean Gordon Institute of Business South Africa Mr Christopher Bones Dean Henley Business School UK Professor Robert Dixon Dean Durham Business School UK Professor Valerie Gautier Associate Dean HEC Paris France Professor Santiago Iniguez de Onzono Dean Instituto de Empresa Spain Professor Martyn Jones Pro-Vice Chancellor Kingston Business School UK Professor Nigel Healey Dean University of Canterbury BS New Zealand Professor Andrew Lock Dean Emeritus Leeds University Business School UK Ms Lyn Hoffman Associate Dean London Business School UK Slide 14 Department Author 7
International Accreditation Advisory Board Mr Kai Peters CEO Ashridge UK Professor Howard Thomas Dean Warwick Business School UK Dr Mark Oakley Academic Director Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business Trinidad Professor James Wright Director FIA Univeristy of Sao Paulo Brazil Professor Larissa Kartashova Deputy Rector Sinerghia Institute Moscow Russia Professor Philip McLaughlin Dean Bordeaux BS France Professor Michael Patry Director HEC Montreal Canada Dr Robert Owen Director of Accreditation and Business School Services Association of MBAs Mr Carlos Ramos International Advisor Association of MBAs Argentina Ms Jeanette Purcell Chief Executive Association of MBAs Slide 15 MBA Portfolio Assessment The assessment of an institution s MBA provision in its entirety On-campus programmes On-line/Distance Learning programmes Joint programmes with other institutions Single company and consortia MBAs Slide 16 Department Author 8
Process (1) INITIAL DISCUSSION Consistency of Outlook LETTER OF INTENT PRE-ASSESSMENT VISIT SELF-AUDIT DOCUMENT ASSESSMENT VISIT Director, 3 academics FEEDBACK REPORT TO IAAB FOR ENDORSEMENT Slide 17 Process (2) Report to the IAAB will recommend: 1. Accreditation 2. Accreditation subject to qualification 3. Non-accreditation ACCREDITATION IS VALID FOR A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS Slide 18 Department Author 9
Process Diagram Slide 19 Assessment Visit Agenda Day 1 - Private meeting of assessors in base room to examine further documentation. Day 2 - Formal meetings with senior faculty of school. Characteristics of school and MBA with regard to criteria Meetings with students/alumni/employers Open meeting with faculty Private meeting of assessors Feedback to school Slide 20 Department Author 10
Costs (1) WESTERN EUROPE Registration (and pre-assessment) 5,000 Assessment 13,000 CHINA Registration (and pre-assessment) 3,000 Assessment 8,000 Slide 21 Costs (2) Travel and accommodation costs of assessors to be covered by institution Registration and pre-assessment fee is non-refundable Annual license fee is 500 Slide 22 Department Author 11
MBA Definition The MBA is defined as a career development generalist programme for those who have significant and postgraduation work experience on which the learning process should build. The MBA is a career development generalist degree for those with significant relevant work experience, which contributes to learning. The emphasis is on leadership through strategic management with a significant practical and professional orientation to the programme of study. Slide 23 Criteria - Introduction Used as a base for accreditation recommendations Developmental / judgemental At least one programme will have graduated students for a minimum of three years Conformation to criteria for three years prior to assessment Slide 24 Department Author 12
Criteria - Introduction The Institution The Faculty The Students Purpose and Outcomes Curriculum Mode and Duration Slide 25 Criteria The Institution (1) Mission, strategy and status Quality of teaching Research, consultancy and scholarship Internal / external audits Student feedback mechanism Slide 26 Department Author 13
Criteria The Institution (2) Academic leadership / Organisational structure Administrative support Physical resources Career advisory service Pastoral care Alumni association Slide 27 Criteria The Faculty Qualified and credible Postgraduate with majority holding doctorates Staff development policy Size Integration Slide 28 Department Author 14
Criteria - Students Postgraduate / post-experience GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS Minimum 3 years pre-mba experience Minimum intake 20 Diverse in terms of nationality, disciplines, function and culture, etc. Single company MBA Consortia MBA Slide 29 Purpose and Outcomes (1) The MBA is a career development masters degree in general management Relevant work experience contributes to learning Emphasis on leadership / strategic management Slide 30 Department Author 15
Purpose and Outcomes (2) Purpose Aims, objectives and learning outcomes Knowledge, skills, and understanding Employer expectations Value added to career development Slide 31 Criteria Curriculum (1) Designed for those who may be expected to make a significant contribution to managing at the strategic level in their organisation Rigorous and intellectually demanding Provides opportunities for personal development Slide 32 Department Author 16
Criteria Curriculum (2) Clearly stated aims, objectives and learning outcomes for each constituent course Design / content should embrace a range of relevant theory linked to management Major areas of knowledge that underpin general management Slide 33 Programme integration Dissertation Project Business Plan Criteria Curriculum (3) Specialist MBA Functional Sector specific Slide 34 Department Author 17
Criteria - Assessment Demonstrate students have met the intended learning outcomes to the required standard Structured / rigorous Reflect aims of the programme Used as feedback Plagiarism Slide 35 Criteria Programme Structure Full Time Part Time Distance Learning Modular Flexible / Blended Slide 36 Department Author 18
Criteria - Duration General Masters requirement of being equivalent to one year s full time study Minimum 1800 hours student learning effort Minimum 500 hours contact time Slide 37 Criteria - Delivery Lectures, seminars and workshops Action learning, individual and group projects On-line / Distance Learning Delivery through the learning group Slide 38 Department Author 19
Open / Distance Learning Appropriate physical resources Infrastructure for delivery Materials / study centres On-line / CD-ROM resources Face-to-face provision 120 hours Slide 39 Testimonials We find ourselves inundated with e-mails from prospective international students and the composition of our student body has changed dramatically. Professor Eon Smit, Stellenbosch University, South Africa Accreditation provides our MBA programme with international credibility and enhances the school s international dimensions, developing a new platform for international co-operation. Professor Larissa Khartashova, Sinerghia, Moscow Slide 40 Department Author 20
Conclusions Accreditation gives a quality mark (independent, international, and programme specific) Rigorous review of all aspects of an MBA portfolio Learning experience for the institution Increased credibility with all stakeholders Provides potential students with reassurance Leads to membership of a global network Developing range of services to member schools Slide 41 Further Information www.mbaworld.com/accreditation www.mbaworld.com/blr r.owen@mbaworld.com Slide 42 Department Author 21
Any Questions? Slide 43 Department Author 22