About the BRC

Charge

The Blue Ribbon Committee on AACSB Accreditation Quality is charged to conduct a comprehensive review of:

• AACSB accreditation standards, eligibility criteria
• Accreditation processes and related organizational structure relative to committees, peer review team members, mentors, etc.
• AACSB accreditation support services

The goal is to support AACSB’s mission:

AACSB International advances quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership, and value-added services.

Guiding Principles
Underlying the BRC’s work regarding AACSB Accreditation

1. A fundamental commitment to a mission-driven accreditation process focused on recognizing overall high-quality and continuous improvement.
    
2. Reinforcement of a peer review and self-assessment process reflecting best practices in all activities.
    
3. Accreditation standards that set broad guidelines and expectations for demonstrating excellence while appropriately supporting and encouraging innovation and creativity in the structure and delivery of high-quality management education and other mission focused activities.
    
4. Curricula guidelines that establish broad content areas appropriate for management education, but do not prescribe specific courses or program structures that stifle effective innovations in management education and supporting mission focused activities.
    
5. Reflecting best practice in accountability for documentation of successful outcomes as well as areas for improvement.
    
6. Ensuring AACSB Accreditation is the accreditation of choice among the world’s leading business schools.

The BRC must ensure that its review process demonstrates the highest level of transparency and commits to obtaining broad based input from AACSB’s various constituencies who must be given extensive access and input into the review process. Some key issues, though not exhaustive, affecting management education include:

• The global financial crisis
   
• New forms of management education delivery models and institutions, emergence of new degree programs, and structures of business schools
   
• The advancing doctoral shortage, particularly in accounting
   
• Emergence of management education in developing economies
   
• Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) developed through the UN Global Compact.
   
• National accreditation initiatives and commentary about the roles and responsibilities of accrediting bodies.
   
• Increasing significance of corporate social responsibility and sustainability focus areas