Accreditations Accreditations can be useful in deciding which Masters or MBA programme to attend. As a general rule, programmes that have been accredited by an official accreditation body ensure a higher quality compared to those that are not accredited, either nationally or internationally While accreditations of Masters programmes are largely governed by various evaluation agencies on a national governmental level, there are a number of internationally relevant accreditation bodies for MBA programmes

Accreditation - what to keep in mind when looking at accreditations

NOTE: PROGRAMMES OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

If your Masters or MBA programme is accredited by one of the accreditation organizations below, its title should generally be accepted throughout the EU. Should your programme be accredited by any other accreditation body, we recommend that you check with the respective ministry of education, as some degrees, even those from so-called top business schools, are not valid within the European Union.

NOTE: SWITZERLAND

Generally, programmes offered by Switzerland’s public universities are recognized widely. For private universities, however, we recommend that you carefully research what type of accreditation the institution holds, when and where it was issued and whether your own country accepts the qualification.

AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)

The AACSB accreditation is one of the oldest accreditations and also the most extensive of all major accreditation bodies. It grants accreditation for undergraduate and graduate business administration and accounting programmes. Mostly US focused, the majority of AACSB accredited institutions are in North America, however, the AACSB also accredits international programmes and increasingly, non-US programmes and institutions seek AACSB accreditation. AACSB accreditation represents a high standard of achievement for business schools worldwide and institutions with AACSB accreditation will have demonstrated a commitment to excellence in management education.

More information on: www.aacsb.edu

AMBA (Association of MBAs)

Based in the UK, AMBA accredits MBA programmes worldwide and focuses its accreditation on every aspect of MBA provision at the MBA institution such as faculty, students, curriculum, assessment and other factors. Unlike the AACSB, AMBA evaluates individual programmes. This can lead to the fact that a full time programme at an institution is accredited while the part-time programme is not. Approximately 90 programmes enjoy AMBA accreditation.

More information on: www.mbaworld.com

EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System)

EQUIS was introduced by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) in 1997 as an accreditation institute for Management Development in Brussels. The initiative is supported by the European Commission and was realised in close cooperation with existing national and international accreditation institutions such as FIBAA, for example.

More information on: www.efmd.org

FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation)

Established in 1994 by five business associations from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, FIBAA accredits Bachelor, Masters and Diploma courses in the field of business administration, business psychology, business law and others, in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. FIBAA audits and assesses private and public higher education institutions in order to facilitate transparency in the German-speaking market. Those planning to pursue a Masters education in the respective countries should check if the programme carries the FIBAA seal.
If you have obtained your MBA or Masters degree at a public university in Europe or Australia (Commonwealth agreement) FIBAA accreditation is not necessary as the Bologna Accord stipulates the acceptance of academic degree.

More information on:  www.fibaa.de

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