“By joining AMBA, students and graduates will instantly be part of an international, professionally diverse network of almost 50,000 members. This buoyant network harnesses the expertise of the MBA community to share insights and thought leadership, create business networking opportunities, and amplify the collective voice of MBAs all around the world”. Interview with Andrew Main Wilson, CEO of the Association of MBAs (AMBA)
What does it mean for a business school to have its MBA programmes accredited by AMBA? Why such a specific accreditation for MBA programs?
AMBA accredits post-graduate business programmes at more than 285 Business Schools in more than 75 countries, with a philosophy focused on accreditation impact, employability and learning outcomes.
We believe that MBA, DBA and master’s degree programmes must maintain the highest quality and remain current amid ever-changing trends and innovation across industry sectors. Therefore, unlike other accreditation bodies, we accredit the programmes directly.
For students, the decision to embark on an MBA represents a major commitment. In a crowded education market, AMBA accreditation ensures students’ investments are rewarded with the finest business education available.
And in turn, employers looking to attract game-changing managers and future business leaders know that graduates from AMBA-accredited programmes have received the best quality, most relevant management education. To recruit a graduate from an AMBA-accredited programmes is to recruit top talent.
What are the most substantial changes in an MBA program after being accredited by AMBA. Do they have any impact on the overall institution?
Accreditation gives Business Schools worldwide recognition and kudos. AMBA accreditation identifies the best programmes from the thousands available, and the developmental nature of our process helps Business Schools spot potential shortcomings.
We provide a comprehensive report detailing recommendations for potential future improvements.
We work with Business Schools to accredit MBA, DBA and master’s degree programmes globally, against defined criteria and include input from a variety of stakeholders including Business School staff, MBA students and graduates, and employers.
Accredited programmes are reviewed at least every five years to ensure quality and improvements are continuous.
What are the main benefits for a business school to be accredited by AMBA? Aside from accreditation, how does the business school benefit from being part of the AMBA network?
Our mission is to inspire the leading global management education network to shape business excellence.
AMBA works to support Business Schools in raising awareness of their accreditations, their achievements, their research and their thought leadership across our international network and the press.
We have our own Research and Insight Centre – granting accredited institutions access to a wealth of proprietary data and analysis of trends and issues in the Business education market – for example application and enrolment trends.
Our award-winning publication for Business School leaders all over the world, Ambition, is packed full of the latest trends and best practices from leaders in the world of higher education.
AMBA-accredited Schools are also entitled to free membership of the Business Graduates Association (BGA). BGA has benefits for faculty, leadership teams and students, as well as our Continuous Impact Model and the ability for Schools to attain joint AMBA & BGA accreditation.
How do MBA graduates benefit from their programme being accredited by AMBA? What are the activities available to them and what benefits do they provide?
AMBA Membership is available to all current students and graduates of AMBA-accredited programmes.
By joining AMBA, students and graduates will instantly be part of an international, professionally diverse network of almost 50,000 members. This buoyant network harnesses the expertise of the MBA community to share insights and thought leadership, create business networking opportunities, and amplify the collective voice of MBAs all around the world.
From seminars and masterclasses to webinars and networking evenings, AMBA events take place around the world.
Members can keep up to date with cutting edge business books as well as reviews and opinion on must-read titles, through our Book Club. AMBA members can also enjoy up to 35% off best-selling management books from leading international publishers.
Through our state-of-the-art Career Development Centre, they can also take advantage of a wealth of resources including CV, cover letter and elevator pitch builders, as well as view hundreds of hand-picked MBA jobs, MBA employer viewpoints, career assessments, and bite-size professional and self-employment skills courses.
AMBA’s award-winning thought leadership hub is designed for AMBA members, Business School executives and prestigious MBA employers. AMBA members receive priority access to the website hub, bringing them ground-breaking ideas from world-class Schools and top business thinkers, practitioners and disruptors.
Finally, we provide members with exclusively negotiated benefits with hand-picked partners including the Financial Times, The Economist and Dell.
Among other services for the MBA community, AMBA awards the MBA of the Year Award. Why did you establish this award? What are the key criteria used for evaluation?
The AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards bring together the leading lights of the global business education community to celebrate excellence among Business Schools, students, graduates, suppliers, and employers that share AMBA & BGA’s values of ambition, impact and integrity.
The MBA Student of the Year Award recognises students who have shown exceptional career potential and who AMBA believes can act as ambassadors for the high quality of accredited MBAs and the opportunities these programmes provide for students from a wide range of different personal and professional backgrounds.
Judges will be looking for evidence that the nominee shows potential for leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation; the nominee shows commitment to the future development of the Business School and the MBA – devoted to enhancing the value of the MBA in the market and business education in general; the nominee has proven to be a good School representative; and the nominee has made a contribution to the international dimension of the course or assisting with the integration of overseas students or playing a mentoring role.
In short, the judges will want to see that the nominee is a stand-out individual – not just within their own Business School, but among all aspiring business leaders.
What are your impressions about the interest and expectations that the AMBA International Accreditation has generated among the Latin American Business schools?
In terms of accreditation AMBA is a market leader in Latin America and we prize and value the collaboration with our family of Schools in the region. As such, in 2019, AMBA & BGA created its Latin America Advisory Council, comprising the Deans and Presidents of some of the most respected Business Schools in Latin America, to enhance business education in the region.
This council, which is chaired by Enrique Bolaños, President of INCAE Business School, aims to help shape the future of business education in Latin America through enhancing Business School business models in the region; advise AMBA & BGA on relevant themes and major trends that influence – or may influence in the future – business education in the Latin American region; champion responsible management and ethical business education in the region; support Business Schools in cementing their relationships with the corporate world; promote collaboration and networking among Business Schools in the region and those across the world; provide advice to AMBA & BGA to identify and/or better understand the needs and expectations of the stakeholders in the region; and explore ways in which Business Schools can have an ever-greater impact on communities and societies.
As the leader of a global accreditation agency for business schools, how do you think that institutions should undertake internationalization?
Globalisation and internationalisation are vital components of Business School growth and development, but we are mindful that institutions also face region-specific challenges.
Networking, for many, is the key to international collaboration, but the ongoing travel restrictions make this difficult. As soon as travel guidelines permit, AMBA & BGA plans to host world class conferences in Latin America and across the world, welcoming Schools from all corners of the globe.
Until then, we are committed to offering a blend of free regional virtual ‘Capacity Building Workshops’ every two months, geared specifically for Latin American Schools, but we also offer virtual networking through our state-of-the art networking platform for our entire global delegation at our regular conferences.
I would encourage Business Schools to read our magazines Ambition and Business Impact where we focus heavily on internationalisation, and to research and join international partnerships, alliances and societies to remain internationally visible and globally astute.
