Highest quality: Faculty of Management, Economics & Law receives international AACSB accreditation
The Faculty of Management, Economics & Law at the University of Klagenfurt has been accredited by the international accreditation agency AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). AACSB stands for the highest standards of quality and is one of the world’s most prestigious accreditation bodies in the field of management and economics.
The AACSB accreditation is one of the most distinguished accreditations worldwide. To date, fewer than six per cent of all universities and business schools hold this accreditation. They include renowned institutions such as the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), Harvard University (USA), Yale University (USA) and Singapore Management University. In Austria, only the Vienna University of Economics and Business and the Management Center Innsbruck have received AACSB accreditation so far.
AACSB accreditation is a prominent sign of outstanding quality in teaching and of the excellent qualifications of teachers and researchers.
Oliver Vitouch, Rector of the University of Klagenfurt, comments: “In a globalised world, the objective comparison of the quality of universities is of ever-growing importance – to the students’ benefit. In addition to the University of Klagenfurt’s noteworthy performance in international rankings, our Faculty of Management, Economics & Law has now also earned AACSB accreditation – following rigorous scrutiny. A degree from Klagenfurt can hold its own on the international stage!”
With this accreditation, the Faculty of Management, Economics & Law seeks to further reinforce the international profile and reputation of its leading degree programmes. For students, the seal of approval signifies that their management and economics programmes comply with the highest international standards.
“We are delighted to have gained the prestigious AACSB accreditation. Our English-language programmes in particular stand to benefit from a significant increase in visibility on the international market “, Margaretha Gansterer, Dean of the of Management, Economics & Law explains, and adds: “We will use our new links to other accredited schools to establish collaborations and share experiences to ensure that the faculty can thrive in this highly competitive environment.”
The bestowal of the AACSB accreditation follows a rigorous quality assurance and preparation process spanning several years. AACSB is a system accreditation which the entire Faculty of Management, Economics & Law is required to undergo. In order to gain accreditation, the faculty had to meet a number of standards. These include programme management, the qualification of teachers and researchers, student involvement, societal impact and research output.
The accreditation process is comprised of an intensive self-evaluation and quality improvement process, which was accompanied by Thomas Bieger, the former Rector of the University of St. Gallen, in his role as mentor, and by AACSB staff members. To conclude the accreditation process, a peer review team visit took place over several days at the University of Klagenfurt. During this visit, the international team of experts interviewed some 70 participants in around 20 sessions on topics such as the mission and strategy of the faculty, the organisation of teaching, research activities, practical relevance and impact.
The following degree programmes have been granted the AACSB seal of approval for a period of five years:
Bachelor’s degree programmes: Business Administration, International Business and Economics, Business & Law, Management Information Systems
Master’s degree programmes: Business Administration, International Management, Business & Law, Information Management
Doctoral degree programme: Social Sciences and Economics
About AACSB
The AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) conducts highly prestigious accreditation for business schools and universities offering business degrees. The AACSB was founded in 1916. It is not only one of the oldest, but also the most important accreditation body in the field of management and economics, alongside EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System) and AMBA (Association of MBAs). In addition to its headquarters in Tampa, Florida, it also has offices in Amsterdam and Singapore.
