Otago Business School Maintains Prestigious AACSB Business Accreditation

The University of Otago Business School has maintained its business accreditation by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Dean of the School, Professor George Benwell, said maintaining the accreditation, first gained in 2006, was an important achievement.

“We are committed to being an internationally regarded business school, with our research relevant to all forms of enterprise as well as developing new generations of business and public sector leaders and entrepreneurs. This accreditation confirms our place as one of the leading Business Schools in the world and the commitment of our staff to making sure that we offer world class business education and research,” Professor Benwell said.

Only 643 schools of business, or less than 5% worldwide, have earned this distinguished hallmark of excellence in management education. To maintain accreditation business schools must undergo a rigorous internal review every five years. The School must demonstrate its continued commitment to the 21 quality standards relating to faculty qualification, strategic management of resources, interactions of faculty and students, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement and achievement of learning goals in degree programmes.

“It takes a great deal of self-evaluation and determination to earn and maintain AACSB Accreditation,” said Jerry Trapnell, vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International.

“Schools not only must meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and staff must make a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure continued delivery of high-quality education to students.”

Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting. Almost 1,200 educational institutions, businesses and other organisations in 78 countries belong to AACSB.