AACSB Accreditation Process

Accreditation, which is a challenging process, takes several years due to internal reviews, evaluations and compliance actions. Schools that are accredited in Turkey have completed this process in 5-6 years.

In this process, schools prepare and implement plans to comply with AACSB Accreditation Standards, which consistently develop itself in a quality education environment and respond to the needs of enterprises with the appropriate course schedules. In line with these standards, all accredited schools have to undergo an evaluation every five years to maintain their accreditation.

The AACSB accreditation process is explained below in steps:

STEP 1: AACSB MEMBERSHIP

A school wishing to apply for AACSB Accreditation must first be a member of AACSB International.

STEP 2: BUILD A FAMILIARITY

Once membership is established, the whole school must be familiar with the AACSB accreditation standards and the accreditation process.

STEP 3: APPLICATION FOR ELIGIBILITY

1. The application can be made at any time.
2. A school can begin the accreditation process by completing its Eligibility Application (package).
3. The eligibility application process includes a review of the school to determine whether the school is eligible for AACSB accreditation. The Application Package questions the school's commitment and adherence to a set of core values in order to obtain and maintain AACSB accreditation. As the Eligibility Criteria serve two purposes, they consist of two parts:

• Core Values and Guiding Principles: These values and principles are grouped under three main headings: Ethical behavior, University (School) environment, Contribution to Corporate and Social Responsibility.
• General Criteria: These criteria are categorized under three main headings: Accreditation Scope, AACSB membership, Oversight, Sustainability and Continuous Improvement, and Policy on the continuous adherence to standards and integrity of the information provided to AACSB.

STEP 4: EVALUATING THE ELIGIBILITY APPLICATION

The eligibility document is examined by the accreditation staff and if the application is complete and appropriate, it is sent to the First Accreditation Committee for detailed evaluation.

STEP 5: APPOINTMENT OF MENTOR AND CONTACT OFFICER

After the application is approved, a volunteer mentor (e.g. a dean) is assigned to the school to assist in the development of the Initial Self-Evaluation Report (ISER).

Initial Self-Evaluation Report is essentially a plan in which the current situation complies with the standards and the Gap Analysis is made on the non-compliant points.

STEP 6: OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION REGARDING CONFORMITY

The AACSB notifies the school that the eligibility application has been accepted and the mentor has been assigned.

STEP 7: PREPARATION OF THE INITIAL SELF-EVALUATION REPORT

The assigned mentor works to determine the existing compliance of the applicant school with the accreditation standards and to help develop the Initial Self-Evaluation Report. The mentor expresses this situation if he does not believe that the school can prepare a successful plan to comply with the standards within the allowed time.

The reporting process usually takes a year or less. However, it takes a maximum of two years.

STEP 8: EVALUATION OF THE INITIAL SELF-EVALUATION REPORT

The First Accreditation Committee reviews the plan and the following possibilities occur:

1. Following the invitation to apply for the first Accreditation Visit, the Report is accepted by recommending the school to prepare a Final Evaluation Report.

2. The Initial Self-Evaluation Report is accepted with a recommendation that the school moves to the action implementation phase.

3. The plan is accepted, but further improvement of the alignment plan is requested.

4. The report is rejected on the grounds that the School will not comply with the AACSB standards within the maximum time allocated to it.

STEP 9: SUBMITTING PROGRESS REPORTS

The school notifies the AACSB once a year the progress it has made in meeting the standards.

STEP 10: PREPARATION OF FİNAL SELF-EVALUATION REPORT

Following the progress reports, the AACSB appoints a chair for the Final process about two years before the visit. The AACSB requests the school to prepare the Final Self-evaluation Report to be submitted four to six months prior to the field visit. Chair assists in preparing Final Self-Evaluation Report.

STEP 11: PEER TEAM REVIEW

The first accreditation committee determines the rest of the team. And a visit to the school is made.

STEP 12: CONCLUSION

After the visit, the school and the First Accreditation Committee are informed about the acceptance, rejection or postponement of the school's accreditation request.

Then, the Accreditation Committee submits the decision for approval to the AACSB board.