AASCB opens Asian HQ in S’pore

By Oh Wei Lun

Global accrediting body for business schools, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), has opened its first regional headquarters in Singapore.

Reputed for its ‘gold standard’ framework for management education, AACSB accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programmes in business administration and accounting.

The AACSB has a membership base of approximately 1,200 business schools and major companies from 71 countries, with 111 member organisations being Asian. Singapore is home to four members, of which two – National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University – have received accreditation.

Since its inception in 1916, AACSB has certified 568 schools across 33 countries and of these, only 104 schools originate from outside the US. As such, it recognises potential for growth in foreign lands especially Asia, where an estimated 5,000 business schools are located.

The premier accrediting body chose Singapore as the site for its first Asian office because it sees Singapore, with its stable governing structure, and an open and multi-cultural learning environment, as a growing centre of global educational excellence.

The new regional headquarters will help AACSB strengthen its membership, professional development and accreditation services in this part of the world.

AACSB International Chairman, also Dean and Leeds’ Professor of Management at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management Richard A Cosier said: “Successful growth in management education is critical for Asia, and ensuring that the growth is based on quality is of vital importance to AACSB. With its current network of local and international business programmes, and its ‘Global Schoolhouse Initiative’, Singapore’s efforts will serve as the perfect launching-pad for AACSB to further its commitment to provide quality management education worldwide.”

Already, the number of conferences and seminars being planned in Asia has gone up with the establishment of AACSB here. Currently there are eight events in Asia scheduled for the academic year 2009/10. Host cities include Singapore, Shanghai and Sydney.