Prospects Postgrad UK 2007/2008 - (Page 103) SPONSORED BY www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT/MBA 103 CHOOSING THE RIGHT MBA IF YOU’RE THINKING OF TAKING AN MBA, CHOOSING ONE WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF MBAS’ INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION IS THE FIRST THING YOU NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR. In its role as the advocate for the MBA, the Association of MBAs maintains the value and currency of MBA programmes through its international accreditation service. Accreditation guarantees quality, assessing a school’s suitability through rigorous criteria. At a time when the world of postgraduate management education faces great change – as the burgeoning market of programmes of varying quality continues to grow – accreditation ensures the MBA retains its relevance and importance in developing the next generation of business leaders. FINDING AN ACCREDITED MBA The decision to take an MBA represents a major commitment and investment, both in terms of finance and time. In general, MBAs are taken only once in a lifetime but, unfortunately, information that prospective students can access about programmes and business schools is often fragmented and, in a great deal of cases, biased and incomplete. During the last decade, the MBA qualification has gone global and MBA programmes can now be counted in their thousands; nevertheless, only a few programmes would be considered high quality if they were submitted to the Association’s rigorous international criteria. High-quality programmes are located all over the world and, at first glance, they may look substantially different from one another as they have been designed to cater for the diverse needs of students and industries in very different environments. However, they all need to have outstanding features that guarantee quality in the delivery and practice of general management knowledge at postgraduate, post-experience level. Under these circumstances, the Association of MBAs provides an authoritative and independent opinion about the MBA market through its international accreditation. HOW MBAS ARE ASSESSED Over the years, the Association has developed criteria against which MBA programmes all over the world can be assessed and monitored. Only programmes that meet these criteria are awarded the Association’s international accreditation. Providing a service to all groups in the MBA community, international accreditation lies at the heart of the Association’s commitment to management education and development. For future MBA students, often bewildered by the variety of programmes on offer, international accreditation provides a reliable list of programmes of tested quality. For business schools, accreditation gives an overview of their programmes against criteria that have gained widespread acceptance on an international basis. For graduates, accreditation is the measure of reassurance that the standing of the qualification will retain its position of eminence at a time when the MBA market risks saturation. For employers, the Association’s list of accredited MBA programmes provides a touchstone of quality for those seeking to recruit and develop high calibre managers and potential business leaders. The Association’s accreditation service is the only independent and therefore objective assessment of quality standards for MBA programmes in an otherwise unregulated global market. Continually responding to the changing needs of business, students and graduates, accreditation rewards innovation and excellence in postgraduate management education. For over 25 years, the exhaustive criteria have been developed and refined in accordance with the contributions of employers and business schools. The international accreditation scheme has been designed as an independent validation for MBA programmes offered at institutions throughout the world. The governance of the accreditation service is the responsibility of the Association’s International Accreditation Advisory Board (IAAB) which has been set up to ensure that the strategic issues within the international MBA arena are reflected within the accreditation criteria and process. The IAAB consists of senior academics from schools offering accredited MBA programmes, and business experts. As the international demand for the Association’s accreditation continues to grow, reflecting the need for an impartial arbiter to regulate the market, the quality and standards of MBA programmes worldwide continue to improve. In business education, as in business, such quality is the key to sustainable success, and accreditation is the mark of excellence that maintains the benchmark. Dr Robert Owen, Director of Accreditation and Academic Relations, Association of MBAs. For more information visit the Association of MBAs website at www.mbaworld.com http://www.prospects.ac.uk/PostgradUK http://www.mbaworld.com
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