AACSB International announced the establishment of a new committee: the Blue Ribbon Committee on Accreditation Quality (BRC). Dean QIAN Yingyi of Tsinghua SEM is among the committee members.

The BRC are composed of representatives from across sectors under AACSB, including accredited schools, schools in the process of evaluation, as well as non-educational organizations. It is expected to effectively review the AACSB standards and process for accreditation, making sure the business management education performs in line with the changes in the business arena, being able to stand up to “the repercussion of the financial crisis…the globalization of business, advancements in technology, and the quest for innovation and sustainability”.

“It is imperative that business schools prepare students for both the challenges and opportunities in the world of business,” said Andrew J. Policano, Dean of The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AACSB International. “The establishment of the Blue Ribbon Committee will allow AACSB and leaders of business schools worldwide to thoroughly review the global environment of business, and make certain accreditation standards and processes effectively align with the many factors impacting businesses today and in the future.”

The BRC is co-chaired by Thierry Grange, Dean and Director General of Grenoble Ecole de Management (France) and Richard E. Sorensen, Dean of the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech (USA).

John J. Fernandes, President and Chief Executive Officer of AACSB International, commented on the formation of the BRC: “As AACSB works to address the rising global demand for accreditation, it is important for us to consider diverse models of education while encouraging innovation. With the forces impacting businesses worldwide, it is the responsibility of AACSB to evaluate accreditation standards and processes to ensure business schools maintain their relevance and value to businesses-locally, regionally, and globally.”