Triple Accredited MBAs : Are AMBA, AACSB and Equis Accreditations Important When Choosing an MBA?
You might have heard or seen the term ‘triple accreditation’ or the ‘triple-crown’ which means a school has received accreditation from the Association of MBA’s (AMBA), Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) and EQUIS. Whilst there are other regional or more specific accreditations, these are the 3 most respected and well-known, hence the term ‘triple crown’. But what does each accreditation mean? Plus, is a triple-accreditation MBA inherently better?
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The EMBA Triple Crown : what are AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS ?
The AMBA accreditation is the only accreditation out of the 3 which focuses on MBA programmes specifically. It has a very rigorous assessment criteria and only 3% of business schools world-wide have AMBA accreditation. If you are looking to do an MBA, checking that it has AMBA accreditation is recommended because it means the programme has been assessed in detail in terms of quality and standards of faculty, curriculum and student experience. Accreditation is awarded for a maximum of 5 years and then the programme is re-assessed..
AACSB and Equis are accreditations for business schools as a whole versus a specific programme. And again, the process for assessment and accreditation is very thorough. AACSB is a US-based organisation which reviews the business school’s mission, faculty qualifications, and curricula. The initial accreditation process can take between 3 and 5 years and includes in-depth self-evaluations and reviews by peers and committees.
Accreditation ensures that students are learning material most relevant to their field of study, preparing them to be effective leaders upon graduation. Like the AMBA, AACSB accreditation is reviewed every 5 years – EDHEC was re-accredited in 2021 and counts amongst the 5% of business schools world-wide to be accredited.
The European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)established the Quality Improvement System known as EQUIS to act as a quality benchmark for business schools. Unlike AMBA or AACSB it places more focus on diversity and internationalisation. Re-accreditation can take place up to 5 years after initial accreditation - EDHEC was recently re-accredited by EQUIS for the maximum 5-year period in October 2020.
Is Triple Accreditation Important?
Choosing an MBA is a complex process with many things to consider, as finding the right programme and school for you is key. Therefore, knowing that an MBA has the AMBA accreditation means that you can be confident of the overall quality of the programme from faculty to facilities through to experiences and support.
In the same way, AACSB and EQUIS act as a quality benchmark for the school as a whole and are based on vigorous assessments involving faculty, staff, and students.
Other factors are important too, of course, you should check a school has the most important accreditations so that you know it offers a high standard in terms of educational experiences and then look into other key factors , such as duration, programme content, location and cost. If you want more advice on things to consider when choosing an MBA, read our top tips.
There are only 1% of business schools in the world who currently offer triple-accreditation MBAs because the assessment process is very rigorous and the standards so high. EDHEC is proud to be one of the 90 schools to hold the coveted triple crown.
EDHEC ranks among the top business schools in France and internationally for all its training programmes, and is regularly recognised for its academic excellence and high rankings, notably by the Financial Times.
Recognition by CEFDG and participation in CDEFM
As a higher education institution, EDHEC is recognised by the CEFDG (Commission for the Evaluation of Training and Degrees in Management), under the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. This commission is the national authority for evaluating business and management school programmes, recognised by the French government, and capable of awarding degrees ranging from Bachelor's (Bac +3) to Master's (Bac +5). EDHEC has received approvals and grades for its programmes, affirming the quality and excellence of its education.
Additionally, EDHEC is one of the French business schools that played a key role in founding the Conference of Directors of French Business Schools (CDEFM), alongside other prestigious institutions. The main mission of CDEFM is to represent these schools to various entities, including the government, the European Union, student and employer associations, national and international accreditation bodies, as well as other international organisations related to education and research. Furthermore, CDEFM advocates for the collective interests of schools and institutions delivering management degrees recognised by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Innovation, strengthening the collective voice of French business schools in the fields of education and research.
What Do the Accreditations Look At?
The AMBA accreditation is the only accreditation out of the 3 which focuses on MBA programmes specifically. It has a very rigorous assessment criteria and only 3% of business schools world-wide have AMBA accreditation. If you are looking to do an MBA, checking that it has AMBA accreditation is recommended because it means the programme has been assessed in detail in terms of quality and standards of faculty, curriculum and student experience. Accreditation is awarded for a maximum of 5 years and then the programme is re-assessed.
AACSB and Equis are accreditations for business schools as a whole versus a specific programme. And again, the process for assessment and accreditation is very thorough. AACSB is a US-based organisation which reviews the business school’s mission, faculty qualifications, and curricula. The initial accreditation process can take between 3 to 5 years and includes in-depth self-evaluations and reviews by peers and committees.
Accreditation ensures that students are learning material most relevant to their field of study, preparing them to be effective leaders upon graduation. Like the AMBA, AACSB accreditation is reviewed every 5 years – EDHEC was re-accredited in 2016 and counts amongst the 5% of business schools world-wide to be accredited. Beware: some schools say they are AMBA members – this is not the same as accreditation!
The European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)established the Quality Improvement System known as EQUIS to act as a quality benchmark for business schools. Unlike AMBA or AACSB it places more focus on diversity and internationalisation. Re-accreditation can take place up to 5 years after initial accreditation - EDHEC was recently re-accredited by EQUIS for the maximum 5-year period in October 2020.
EDHEC’s Triple Accreditation MBA: The Triple Crown
There are only 1% of business schools in the world who currently offer triple-accreditation MBAs because the assessment process is very rigorous and the standards so high. EDHEC is proud to be one of the 90 schools to hold the coveted triple crown. To learn more about EDHEC’s international rankings, check out our most up-to-date rankings here.
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