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.

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.