AABS Accreditation
AABS Accreditation is a unique African accreditation, underpinned by African values and contexts. It is, as such, a system to benchmark the provision of high-quality business and management education in Africa. It is a habit of continuous improvement that creates the basis for excellence and is a globally recognised standard of quality and a bold step in shaping the African concept of management education.
The AABS Accreditation is designed to promote high standards in business education through credible and benchmarked criteria, inclusive social and economic growth promotion, and relevant local context consideration.
The AABS quality benchmarking focuses on the relevance and quality of what your school does (research, teaching, and student experience) to provide first-rate management education and the consequent meaningful impact it has on its environment.
Interested institutions should contact the AABS Accreditation office by sending an email to accreditation@aabschools.com for further assistance.

AABS Accreditation Standards
The AABS Accreditation Standards are based on international quality standards within the African context and have been set to encourage African business schools to support inclusive social and economic growth in Africa.
AABS accreditation focuses on the relevance and quality of the school’s mission, programmes, facilities, and so on, and the positive impact the school can make on society through its faculty, research, and alumni. It looks at how well a school can foster responsible management practice, improve the skills of students, develop its (and other) faculty, and generally contribute to the body of knowledge of business and management in Africa.
There are 11 AABS accreditation standards grouped into six main areas as follows:
• Relevance to the African Context
The school’s overall approach demonstrates awareness of the surrounding environment (national, political, legal, social, and economic) and has the mission and portfolio that serves the needs of its operating environment.
• Institution
The school’s overall operation has a clear governance system where the mission, strategy and its allocation of available funds and resources are managed effectively and efficiently. This area covers Standards 2-4 which are the school’s Mission, Vision and Strategy, Governance, and Resources.
• Stakeholders
The school has identified the different ways relationships with its stakeholders should be managed and handled. Beginning with its students, alumni, corporates, and finally its partnerships with other institutions in Africa. The institution should also demonstrate awareness of its level of diversification and relationship to the marketplace. This area covers standards 5-7, which are the school’s Students, Faculty, and External Relations.
• Portfolio
The school has a variety of programmes along with a research portfolio by demonstrating an operational structure for programme development and design, promoting research, up-to-date teaching and assessment methods, and relevance of learning materials. This area covers standards 8-9, which are Programs and Research.
• Impact on Africa
The school should summarise the evidence that it has contributed to inclusive economic and social development in Africa through its governance structure, stakeholders’ relationships, diversification awareness and overall portfolio.
• Sustainability
The school must show that it’s overall approach to management education is sustainable through its governance structure, relationships with stakeholders, through its portfolio offerings, and how relevant and impactful it is to the African continent. This is an overall and a concluding standard which is embedded across the criteria as it serves as a statement for successful continuous improvement process.
AABS Accreditation Process
AABS Accreditation process involves formation of on-going, solid, constructive, and value-adding partnerships between AABS and the accredited schools, as well as those schools working towards accreditation.
For detailed information about the process, refer to the AABS Accreditation Handbook and Process Guidelines and the AABS Accreditation Policies and Outline.
The AABS accreditation process is laid out into eight phases:
- 1. Expression of Interest
- 2. AccreSys Application
- 3. Mentorship
- 4. Self-review Report
- 5. Accreditation Visit
- 6. Accreditation Decision
- 7. Post Accreditation
- 8. Re-Accreditation
The first step of the AABS accreditation process begins with a basic expression of interest and enquiry about the AABS accreditation. Institutions are required to fill out the AABS Accreditation Letter of Interest form and send it to accreditation@aabschools.com.
After receiving acknowledgment from the AABS Accreditation Office, institutions are required to fill and submit the AABS Accreditation Application Form. Institutions have the option either to fill out a form using a word document or through the online portal.
Institutions who have passed the application stare and opt in for a Mentor are assigned one withing eight weeks from receiving the application acceptance letter until the submission of their self-review report.
The self-evaluation process and report preparation are expected to begin as soon as the application has been accepted and/or the Mentor has been assigned and must be completed within eighteen (18) months of a Mentor being appointed.
Completed report must be sent to the AABS Review Team and the AABS Accreditation Office at least eight (8) weeks before scheduled visit.
Institutions should be ready to justify the representations made in the self-review report to the AABS Review Team, clarify any issues of concern and be as honest and open as possible during the three-days visit.
The AABS Board is responsible for the accreditation decision. The Board will review the final accreditation report compiled by the AABS Review Team and decide on the accreditation award based on their assessment of the report.
AABS Accreditation will be awarded for five (5) years, after which the accreditation will expire.
In attaining the AABS Accreditation, a school commits to maintaining and continuously improving its standards to align with those of the AABS accreditation standards and criteria.
Submission of a Mid-Term report is due two and a half years (2years and 6months) from the accreditation awarding date.
A school that wishes to be re-accredited must submit the re-accreditation letter in electronic format, at least 18 months before expiry of the current accreditation.
AABS Accreditation Benefits

Provides an international recognition of excellence that raises the prestige and reputation of your institution, helping to attract faculty, students, employers and strategic partners

Encourages a tradition of continuous improvement in all aspects of your school’s processes, enabling it to adapt quickly to the changing needs of the environment in which it operates

Facilitates peer learning and sharing of best practice within a network of AABS-accredited schools
Start your accreditation journey now!
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