Triple Accreditation - Triple Accredited Business Schools

Triple Accreditation is the term given to business schools that are accredited by the three major accreditation associations for business schools. The three major associations are The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, The Association of MBAs and European Quality Improvement System. They are commonly abbreviated as AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. Each association has its own criteria for assessment. Schools that have accreditation by all three of these associations are considered to be very reputable. Students seek such schools out above others because their curriculum has been proven to be thorough by these associations.

AACSB is one of the oldest parts of the Triple Accreditation triangle. It was founded in 1916 for accreditation of business schools worldwide. However, the first accreditation actions didn't occur until 1919. Their mission is to advance the quality of the world's management education through leadership and accreditation. This association is considered to be the benchmark for determining business school quality. AACSB has the most diverse range of criteria for business schools' accreditation. This association is a strong supporter for internationalization of schools.

One of the newer parts of the Triple Accreditation triangle is AMBA. It was founded in 1967 by eight graduates from Harvard University and Wharton School. This association accredits international schools' postgraduate business programs. It is unique in comparison with AACSB and EQUIS because it accredits only business programs instead of entire schools. AMBA accredits MBA, DBA and MBM degree programs. They accredit over 160 programs in 72 different countries. This association, with over 9,000 members, is also a member organization for alumni and students from its accredited programs.

The last part of the Triple Accreditation factor is EQUIS. Their main consideration is the education improvement framework. EQUIS reviews programs of all levels including those at a Ph.D level. This association's accreditation is viewed as the European standard. It is often called the European equivalent of America's AACSB. Although it is a large association, it is the newest of the three major authorities. Created in 1998, its criteria included international status and overall program quality offered by various business schools. For this reason, EQUIS is viewed as more demanding than that AACSB. EQUIS accredits 127 schools in 35 different countries. This accreditation can be obtained conditionally for a span of three years or for five years unconditionally. Schools that choose three years must submit annual progress reports. Although Triple Accreditation is difficult to obtain, it is worth the effort for any business school offering professional programs.

Written By: Sarah. Last Modified: 31 August 2011.