Cooperation and Competition at DRC Universities A Competitive Advantage - International Accreditation of Business Programmes - ACBSP (USA) and ECBE (Europe) Introductions Mr. Douglas Viehland, Executive Director Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) 7007 College Boulevard, Suite 420 Overland Park, Kansas 66211 USA ph: 913-339-9356 fax: 913-339-6226 dviehland@acbsp.org 1 2 R. Bryan Holden Executive Director European Council for Business Education (ECBE) ACBSP is a specialized business accrediting association whose members confer Associate, Baccalaureate, and Graduate Degrees. www.ecbe.eu 3 4 ECBE accredits PROGRAMMES Undergraduate Graduate Post-graduate and Workbased Learning programmes ACBSP Statements VISION: The global leader enhancing the quality of business schools and programs focused on teaching excellence. MISSION: ACBSP develops, promotes, and recognizes best practices that contribute to continuous improvement of business education and accredits qualified business programs. 5 6 1
ECBE Mission Is directed towards Institutions / Faculties / Departments Students Learners Global marketplace Employers The workplace To encourage and support continuous improvement in the quality of Business Education To assist member institutions to prepare students to operate effectively in an interdependent competitive world 7 8 Role Quality improvement through accreditation for Institutions of higher education Organisations and commercial training courses Work based learning Consulting Facilitating international co-operation Conference and Seminar organiser Dissemination of relevant information ACBSP History ACBSP established in 1989 in Kansas City. Focus on teaching excellence and all degree levels. International accreditation from beginning. August 1992 recognized by U.S. Dept. of Education. January 2001 was recognized by Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Change in philosophy, membership, and staff structure in 2003 to reflect new way of doing things. 9 10 ACBSP Membership Overview Currently 553 educational members and 12 corporate members. This includes over 5,800 individual members. Educational members include 398 accredited, 80 candidates, and 75 members without accredited status. Currently 171 associate degree institutions, 358 baccalaureate degree institutions, and 24 offer and are accredited in both. Members outside the United States total 63 in 26 countries. 11 ACBSP Focus on Teaching Excellence Standards and criteria focus on teaching excellence. Teaching Excellence Award for faculty. Three affiliated honor societies for students. Individual faculty membership at each institution. Business Education Week sent each Friday. Annual and regional conferences offer educational tracks with suggested practices. Global Business Connections for faculty and student exchanges. 12 2
ACBSP Gateway Gateway to information and member services Membership Directory with institutional and individual member profiles. Professional Opportunity listings. 2004-2007 Conference presentations available for download. Eight regional councils have home pages. Complete information about accreditation. ACBSP Gateway is www.acbsp.org Discover ACBSP Information for members and nonmembers. What is Special about ACBSP (pages 2-3) Member Benefits (pages 4-5) Benefits of Accreditation (page 6) New Products and Services (page 7) Membership Information (page 8) Download PDF of Discover ACBSP brochure: http://www.acbsp.org/download.php?sid=5 13 14 Resources on ACBSP Gateway Link for Listing of Members http://www.acbsp.org/index.php?mo=st&op=ld&sid=s1_025about&stpg=141 Link for Global Business Connections http://www.acbsp.org/index.php?mo=cm&op=ld&fid=4 Link for Membership Information Application and Cost http://www.acbsp.org/index.php?mo=st&op=ld&sid=s1_027join&stpg=7 Link to Accreditation Information on Process, Standards and Criteria, Costs http://www.acbsp.org/index.php?module=sthtml&op=load&sid=s1_020acc Link for Value of Accreditation http://www.acbsp.org/index.php?mo=st&op=ld&sid=s1_027join&stpg=8 What is Accreditation? Accreditation is a collegial process based on self and peer assessment for public accountability and improvement of academic quality. external validation provided by specialized accreditation has great importance to the public in assuring that minimum educational outcome standards appropriate for the specialty have been met. -Council on Higher Education Accreditation www.chea.org 15 16 What is Accreditation? Mission driven Part of a long-term quality development and assurance programme Benefits of Accreditation The Competitive Advantage Institution Support of regional accreditation Student Recruitment Academic Program Donor Support Credibility to Businesses Self-Study Process Increased Institutional Support Funding from State and Federal Students Transfer of Credits Eligibility for Tuition Reimbursement Faculty Professional Development Source of Pride 17 18 3
Advantages of Accreditation International level of quality approval Promotes international image of institution Facilitating student and faculty mobility Improving the quality of education Encouraging innovation Facilitating Strategic Alliances Strengthening of Institutions Activities Development of quality systems Academic & Management 19 Further Advantages Enables the selection of high quality students International recognition Improves financial resources Continual evaluation and quality improvement Institutional Development 20 ACBSP Accreditation Standards Separate boards and standards for associate and baccalaureate/graduate degree programs. Shift away from prescriptive process to continuous improvement process. Focus upon excellence in teaching and student learning outcomes (evidence-based). Focus upon the mission of the institution. Based on Baldrige National Quality Program and its Criteria for Performance Excellence. Baldrige National Quality Program Comparable to ISO standards and growing in international recognition. Adopted by business and more recently by healthcare organizations and non-profits. Continuous improvement process. http://www.quality.nist.gov/ 21 22 Characteristics Professional accreditation International (hence not one educational system based) Non-political Objective Independent Supporting Bologna Declaration Initiatives Standards address Catalogue and publicity Programme and content Admissions Faculty qualifications and activities Facilities Finances Outcomes assessment Continual self-evaluation 23 24 4
Work based Learning Assessment and accreditation of training programmes + possible ECTS credit evaluation Providing quality assurance for Life Long Learning Providing added value to adult learning programmes ACBSP and EBCE Memorandum of Understanding Representation on Board of Directors of each organization; Accredited schools can note affiliation; Assistance with recruitment for membership and accreditation; Bilateral linkages with regard to meetings; Fast track accreditation process. Fast Track Accreditation Process Builds on similarity in standards and processes; Relies on previous self-study conducted with other organization; One person site team visit; Access to all materials used in accreditation process. 25 26 ACBSP Accreditation Process Cost is about $11,000 USD or 8,000 EUR Timetable can be 18 24 months or up to 5 years. A preliminary questionnaire is followed by a self-study followed by a site visit followed by feedback. Ten year accreditation granted. A Process that Supports Your Success Use of process for regional accreditation. A Mentor and Commissioner is provided to assist. Copies of self-studies can be provided. Private community of all schools in candidacy. ACBSP Accreditation Process Costs: Accreditation Fee: $2,000 Mentor Fee and Travel: $400+$1,100 Candidacy Fee (second year): $500 Site Team Honorarium (3 days): $750+$450+$450 Site Team Travel: $5,400 ($1,800/person) Does not include annual cost of membership: $1,250 as candidate and $1,850 upon accreditation. 27 28 Accreditation Process ECBE Services Outline: Apply for accreditation Carry out self-evaluation Site visit by a Commission Access to e-learning platform and Training in its use Project Development and Management EU grants Networking Costs: Fee 6,000 Site team travel and Honoraria approx. 2,400 per person Fast track accreditation with the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) 29 30 5
ECBE Consulting as part of the accreditation ECBE Accreditation Documents Development and strengthening of internal structures and quality assurance systems Development of curricula and programmes Educational reform Assisting the development of international co-operation between member institutions Authorisation Self evaluation Structures Handbooks Program student statistics Faculty CVs Samples of student marked assessments 31 32 ECBE Evaluation Visit ECBE Evaluation Meetings Senior management Business school management Quality director Faculty Students Alumni & employers Evaluation team Peer evaluation Philosophy Supportive Inclusive Mutual understanding Dialogue Consultancy But rigorous 33 34 ACBSP Region 8 Conference ECBE Seminar November 8-10, 2007 London, England ACBSP Evaluator Training on November 10 http://www.acbsp.org/index.php?mo=st&op=ld&sid =s1_039&rgn=8 (Region 8 Web Site) www.ecbe.eu click on Conferences and Events Annual Conference ECBE When: May 30, 31 and June 1, 2008 Where: Brussels and Bruges Theme: Life Long Learning and Business Education Papers: Abstract by January 15, 2008 Details: www.ecbe.eu 35 36 6
Annual Conference ACBSP June 20-23, 2008 New Orleans, Louisiana Theme: Growth and Regrowth Five educational tracks focused on accreditation, theme, and teaching excellence. Preconference workshop focused on evaluator training. The most recent information always posted at www.acbsp.org Questions and Discussion Thank you 37 38 Summary Learner v. Faculty Outcomes v. Inputs Recognising all learning - notional learning time Internal audit Transparency - Roles & Responsibilities Credit-based curriculum Academic structures Faculty development Diploma supplement 39 7