Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s (WPI) Foisie Business School today announced that its business accreditation has been extended by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools, and the largest business education network connecting students, educators, and businesses worldwide.
The hallmark of excellence in business education, AACSB accreditation has been earned by fewer than five percent of the world’s business programs; 799 business schools across 53 countries and territories are currently accredited. In addition, 186 institutions hold specialized AACSB accreditation for their accounting programs.
“AACSB accreditation provides a template and guidelines for evaluating our educational programs and ensuring they are of the highest quality,” said Michael Ginzberg, professor and dean of the Foisie Business School. “Accreditation starts with our defining a vision and mission uniquely suited to our institution and the audiences we serve. All that we do is driven by that vision and mission. As a result, we have a portfolio of programs unlike that of many other business schools, but ideally suited to WPI and the tech-savvy students who come here.”
“AACSB congratulates each institution on its achievement,” said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB. “Every AACSB-accredited school has demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning. The intense peer-review process exemplifies their commitment to quality business education.”
To achieve accreditation, business programs must successfully complete a process of rigorous internal focus, engagement with an AACSB-assigned mentor, and peer-reviewed evaluation. During this multi-year path, schools focus on developing and implementing a plan to align with AACSB’s accreditation standards, which require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation; student, faculty, and staff as active participants; learning and teaching; and academic and professional engagement.
In recommending continuation of accreditation, the AACSB Peer Review Team highlighted and commended several aspects of the Foisie Business School programs: the project-based curriculum, and the many opportunities WPI students have to conduct their project work around the world; the school’s responsiveness to the marketplace in developing programs well-suited to emerging needs; and a mix of faculty who bring a wealth of industry experience to the classroom.
About AACSB International
As the world’s largest business education alliance, AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and professional development services to nearly 1,600 member organizations and more than 795 accredited business schools worldwide. With its global headquarters in Tampa, Florida, USA; its Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and its Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, AACSB’s mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education.
