The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International, the most prestigious international accreditation institution for business schools, in April announced 38 business schools around the world that have maintained the highest recognition of quality assurance by extending the accreditation. One of these schools is UGM’s Faculty of Economics and Business.
Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Eko Suwardi, M.Sc., Ph.D., said this achievement was the result of cooperation among stakeholders, students, lecturers, staff, Senate, University leadership, alumni, industrial partners, and government.
“The AACSB re-accreditation is evidence that learning process at Faculty of Economics and Business UGM has been sustainably improved based on the standard set out by the AACSB. In principle, the learning process here focuses on engagement, innovation, and impact,” said Eko on Thursday (2/5).
Eko Suwardi said forms of engagement were the curriculum to prepare the students amidst swift business environment changes by engaging the industry and related government agencies and also by producing research as well as delivering real business case to class.
“Thus, the curriculum is always updated that applies innovative learning methods. As such, all learning and research can give impacts not just to economics and business science but also regulation, business model, etc,” he said.
This achievement has been appreciated by Minister of Research, Technology and Higher Learning, Prof. H. Mohamad Nasir, Ph.D., Ak, which he said as in line with the theme of the National Education Day 2019, which is to enhance education, advance culture by producing competitive, innovative human resource.
Prof. Nasir said the AACSB re-accreditation was not the end goal, but an instrument to achieve better, which is having competent, innovative graduates, research and community service that give positive impact.
Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., expected Faculty of Economics and Business to strengthen their role in generating leaders that have strong integrity and science to serve society. “The contribution of Faculty of Economics and Business UGM in developing science for the nation’s welfare through research shall be increased,” said Prof. Panut Mulyono.
Panut said the National Education Day was the momentum for all UGM academic community to keep improving in all aspects of learning and research to achieve welfare.
Related to the AACSB accreditation, it is not easy to meet this recognition. Currently, only 5% of business schools in the world have been accredited by the AACSB or 836 institutions in 55 countries. This accreditation is the highest recognition of learning quality and research that has positive impact on the wider community.
All study programmes in undergraduate, graduate and doctoral study programmes under Accounting and Management Departments UGM have been accredited by the AACSB since 2014. The AACSB standard of quality assurance is also adopted for all study programmes in Economics Department of the Faculty which ensures all learning processes have international standards in terms of curriculum, quality assurance, lecturers, students, professional staff, as well as physical facilities.