AACSB Members Ratify Global Standards for Business Education
The global membership of AACSB International (AACSB) formally ratified the Global Standards for Business Education™ during the 2026 International Conference and Annual Meetings (ICAM) in Seattle, Washington.
The newly ratified Global Standards establish a shared framework for quality and continuous improvement across business education institutions worldwide. They define what constitutes excellence in business education and create a common language for evaluating, benchmarking, and advancing quality and impact on a global scale.
“The ratification of the Global Standards represents a pivotal step forward for business education,” said Lily Bi, president and CEO of AACSB. “These standards reflect our community’s collective vision for excellence and provide a unifying framework that supports schools in driving innovation, accountability, and meaningful societal impact.”
Designed to provide value to all business schools, the Global Standards extend beyond AACSB-accredited institutions. Regardless of geography, mission, or size, schools can use the standards to guide strategic development, enhance performance, and demonstrate their commitment to excellence. In this way, the Global Standards serve both as a universal language for quality in business education and as a practical instrument for institutional improvement.
The standards, which define the essential attributes of high-quality business education, are foundational to AACSB’s accreditation model. Accreditation represents the external validation that a school meets those expectations in both spirit and practice.The Global Standards also serve as a structured pathway for self-assessment.
“The Global Standards provide a framework that is both aspirational and practical,” said Stephanie Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer. “They reinforce AACSB’s commitment to global consistency while allowing institutions the flexibility to align with local context and mission.”
In addition, AACSB membership has ratified the 2026 Accounting Standards to align with the new Global Standards.
The ratification follows a globally inclusive development process involving broad stakeholder engagement, public comment, and refinement. The resulting standards emphasize a principles-based, outcome-focused approach.
ICAM 2026 convened business education leaders from around the world, serving as a platform for collaboration, dialogue, and decision-making on the future of the field. The approval of the Global Standards marks a defining milestone in AACSB’s ongoing efforts to elevate the quality and relevance of business education worldwide.