GLOBAL ACCREDITATION, LOCAL IMPACT: VALUATING THE INFLUENCE OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL ACCREDITATION ON INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE

The impact of international accreditation on the performance of business schools in terms of schools’ reputation, studqent enrollment, research output, and research quality. This paper discusses the impact of a prestigious international accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) on research output and international ranking. Using the case studies of the AACSB-accredited business schools in the Gulf region, besides the most current empirical findings in the literature, the paper underscores the role of accreditation in increasing the global competitiveness of the business schools that undertake and pass the accreditation process. It also examines challenges and opportunities for business schools to meet international standards. These findings and the literature reviewed may conclude that the AACSB accreditation creates a nurturing ambiance for an increase in research productivity and quality, improvement in teaching quality, and enhancement of the brand image of the accredited business schools. The two most essential measures applied in this study are the research output and position in international rankings. The international ranking is a composite measure, aggregating academic reputation, citations per faculty, employment outcomes, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, international faculty ratio, international research network, international student ratio, and the aspect of sustainability. This discussion evidences the critical importance of accreditation in affecting not just educational quality but also strategic initiatives of growth and development within these institutions.