Six Business Schools From Five Countries Earn AACSB Accreditation

TAMPA, Florida, December 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

First business schools in India and Italy achieve AACSB Accreditation

AACSB International (AACSB) announced today that six business schools, from five countries, have earned AACSB Accreditation. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting.

By achieving this hallmark of excellence, the Indian School of Business(India), Kyungpook National University(South Korea), National Cheng Kung University(Chinese Taipei), SDA Bocconi(Italy), Stonehill College(United States), and Yuan Ze University(Chinese Taipei) join an elite group that makes up less than five percent of the world's business schools.

Today, there are 643 business schools across 43 countries and territories that maintain AACSB Accreditation, and through the most recent ratifications, students in India or Italy can now pursue a business degree for the first time at an AACSB-accredited business program.

"AACSB commends the deans, heads of business units, and academic and non-academic staff at each institution for their exemplary work in helping to earn the highest honor in business school accreditation," said John J. Fernandes, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. "We are pleased to congratulate the newly accredited schools, and are excited to add India and Italy to the roster of countries with an AACSB-accredited business school."

Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal review, evaluation, and adjustment and can take several years to complete. During these years, the school develops and implements a plan to meet the AACSB Accreditation Standards which require a high quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement, and curricula responsive to the needs of businesses. In addition, as required by the AACSB Standards, all accredited schools must go through a peer review process every five years in order to maintain their accreditation.

"It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn AACSB Accreditation," said Jerry Trapnell, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. "Schools must not only meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, heads of business units, and academic and non-academic staff must make a commitment to ongoing improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver the highest quality of education to students."

About AACSB International
AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), founded in 1916, is an association of more than 1,200 educational institutions, businesses and other organizations in over 80 countries and territories. AACSB's mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership, and value-added services. As the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master's and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, the association also conducts a wide array of conferences and seminar programs at locations throughout the world. AACSB's global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA and its Asia headquarters is located in Singapore.

For more information, please visit http://www.aacsb.edu.