Does anyone know the Accredtitation ``Company`` ACBSP.

www.acbsp.org

Thanks,Patrick

Hello Patrick,

those are the most important accreditation bodies for MBA programs:
AACSB
AMBA
and FIBAA for German Speaking territories.

It is always better if a program is accredited somewhere, but watch out for those above, they are the relevant international accredations most recognized.
I had a look at the website of ACBSP - no mention of MBA anywhere, I presume it is an organisation accrediting all kinds of programs?

Attiya

Hello Patrick,

those are the most important accreditation bodies for MBA programs:
AACSB
AMBA
and FIBAA for German Speaking territories.

It is always better if a program is accredited somewhere, but watch out for those above, they are the relevant international accredations most recognized.
I had a look at the website of ACBSP - no mention of MBA anywhere, I presume it is an organisation accrediting all kinds of programs?

Attiya

Alongside AACSB and AMBA I'd also add the EMFD's brands like EQUIS. Those three are the "triple crown", and around 50 top schools have all three.

ACBSP and IABCE, founded by the same entrepreneur as each other, accredit schools of a lower standard than the first three.

In the US, the AACSB is the forerunner for accreditation of business schools and programs. It has prestige because of its history and having founding members from renowned universities. CHEA does not rank accreditors in its recognition. I would recommend interested readers to contact the CHEA or to visit their website to find out more about their accreditation policies and framework.

I don´t think that helps applicants. If you look at a list of the top business schools and which have AACSB (almost all) and which have ACSBP (almost none) then it is pretty clear that they are not seen the same by employers.

I think it does, as it provides a better understanding of the accreditation process in the US.

Well, applicants want to know whether their accreditation will be taken seriously. The ACBSP accreditation list is a list of schools to attend only after schools with any of the "triple crown" have all rejected a candidate. Seriously, for me it's a warning sign as much as a quality mark.

"[Seriously, for me it's a warning sign as much as a quality mark.]"

That sort of view is a fallacy at best.

Hi Matt, I notice you don't offer any reasoning why.

My view is this: In a European setting I would build a rough hierarchy of business schools like this:
- those with any of the triple crowns
- those granted university status by the country: i.e. the same status that universities have
- those awarding degrees from the above schools
- non-university status bodies with ACBSP
- those without it.

So, certainly a schools that's able to fill out the forms needed to get ACSBP is better than one that is not. However, looking at the European schools that are on the list, I can certainly say that an ACBSP school in Europe is, on average, lower in quality than the average European school discussed on this board.

Why do you say : "[- non-university status bodies with ACBSP]"? Is it your contention that US accrediting bodies other than AACSB accredit only "non-universities"?

No, I mean I would put 'real' universities - those with same legal status as traditional universities in that country - on a higher level than non-universities whether or not they had ACBSP. In Britain, for example, none of the ACBSP schools are British universities. In Austria there'e one, Donau-Universität Krems, which is a real Austrian university. I would put Krems on a higher level than the other two.

That is reasonable. However, I note you invariably use dismissive words like "[schools that's able to fill out the forms needed to get ACSBP]" etc. which is disparaging and may lead anyone reading this forum to assume the worst of US accreditation, other than the AACSB. Is that your intention or are you simply unsure of how the accreditation system actually works?

Accreditation by any US regulated organization be it AACSB , ACBSP, or IACBE requires a detailed evaluative process on quality issues. Business schools from State universities in the US have been accredited by the ACBSP.

Granted that for MBAs, the goal is to shoot for top ranked schools with the "triple crown" accreditation. You may feel strongly about this and that's fine. I share the view too. However, the fact remains that for many participants including mid career professionals who are looking out for alternative programs, universities with ACBSP accreditation provides an option/alternative as a recognized accreditor. Especially so if it meets their needs of flexibility, costs etc.. By all means make your recommendations on AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS MBAs; that's fine. But I don't see the need for you run down other forms of legitimate business accreditation. I think that's a point I would like to make.

Well, ACSBP schools are a mixed bag. That's the whole reason why I make the point of separating them out into three layers, reflecting the different brand values and outcomes: universities with the same legal status as universities in their own country; those which issue the degrees of such universities, and others (what I call the non-universities). I don't want to pick schools out, but any system that will accredit the International University of Belgium, which as far I can see does not have the legal right to issue degrees in Belgium, is not only an alternative but one which is an inferior alternative to the tripe crown or FIBAA.

Point taken. But please note, the International University of Belgium is not accredited by ACBSP. Let's leave it at that.