Association of MBAs
Encyclopedia
The Association of MBAs is a London
-based international organization that accredits postgraduate business programs at business school
s worldwide. The Association is one of the three main global accreditation bodies in business education (see Triple Accreditation
) and styles itself "the world's impartial authority on postgraduate management education". It differs from AACSB in the US
and EQUIS
in Europe
as it accredits a school's portfolio of postgraduate business programs rather than the entire business school. AMBA is the most international of the three organizations, having accredited schools based in 45 countries, compared with 41 for AACSB and 38 for EQUIS.
AMBA's current president is Sir Paul Judge
, the founding benefactor of Cambridge Judge Business School.
, DBA
and MBM
programs in over 70 countries. Thirty of the AMBA-accredited schools are in the BRIC
countries and 29 are in Latin America
(See List of institutions accredited by AMBA). The Association has accredited only one business school in the United States as most top US schools do not meet its criterion for a minimum of three years of full-time work experience for newly admitted MBA students.
and Masters in Business and Management (MBM) degrees. When a school applies for accreditation for its MBA
programs, AMBA requires that the entire portfolio of MBA
programs be put up for consideration and will award accreditation only if all programs meet the organization's criteria (though the school pays the same fee regardless of the number of programs being reviewed).
The Association's process of accrediting an MBA
program includes reviewing compliance with over 100 criteria, most of them qualitative rather than quantitative. The criteria fall into seven dimensions: history and development of the institution; facilities and libraries; teaching faculty, teaching standards and research track record; program administration, career and alumni services; student admission standards, diversity and cohort size; curriculum content, program mode and duration; and learning outcomes.
Some of the key AMBA criteria for the accreditation of an MBA
program include:
The Association organizes two annual MBA Fairs in London (spring and autumn), which offer MBA applicants the opportunity to meet with the business schools accredited by AMBA.
In addition, the Association organizes on a weekly basis various lectures and networking events catering to MBA alumni, current MBA students, prospective MBA students and business school admissions departments. These on-campus events are held at business schools and often feature distinguished speakers and practitioners in fields such as leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation.
The research division within the Association conducts surveys and produces analyses on topics including MBA careers, employers and the job market; MBA intake and admissions requirements; government policies towards international MBA students; and business school education standards.
graduates and part of its activities remain focused on maintaining the membership dimension. AMBA membership should not be confused with AMBA accreditation.
AMBA serves as the member organization for:
The Association has over 9,000 subscribing members, including individual and institutional members as well as students and alumni of the member schools. AMBA's quarterly magazine "Ambition" serves this global membership.
The Association organizes alumni events and provides career services to current students at its 23 member schools in Britain and France (not to be confused with the 186 accredited schools worldwide).
, Wharton, Stanford
and Columbia
, and two graduates from the first intake of London Business School
. The founders saw a lack of awareness in Europe
of the value of the MBA degree, which at that time was primarily an American qualification. They decided to form a lobby and membership group to promote the benefits of postgraduate business education, under the name of Business Graduates Association (BGA). The organization's development helped shape the growth of management education in Europe and the UK and coincided with the setting up and growth of London Business School
and Manchester Business School
in Britain.
The Association's first Director General was Vice-Admiral David Clutterbuck
who assumed this position in 1969. In 1983 BGA began to accredit the growing number of MBA programs, while preserving its functions as a membership organization. BGA was renamed Association of MBAs in 1987. The Association's current presidents is Sir Paul Judge
, who helped establish Cambridge Judge Business School in 1990 and whose name the school carries.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based international organization that accredits postgraduate business programs at business school
Business school
A business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...
s worldwide. The Association is one of the three main global accreditation bodies in business education (see Triple Accreditation
Triple accreditation
Triple Accreditation is the accreditation awarded to 55 business schools worldwide by the three largest and most influential business school accreditation associations:...
) and styles itself "the world's impartial authority on postgraduate management education". It differs from AACSB in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and EQUIS
Equis
Equis may refer to:*European Quality Improvement System an international system of assessment and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration run by the European Foundation for Management Development....
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as it accredits a school's portfolio of postgraduate business programs rather than the entire business school. AMBA is the most international of the three organizations, having accredited schools based in 45 countries, compared with 41 for AACSB and 38 for EQUIS.
AMBA's current president is Sir Paul Judge
Paul Judge
Sir Paul Judge is a British businessman and politician. He is Chairman of plc, a director of ENRC plc, of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, of Standard Bank Group Ltd of Johannesburg and of Tempur-Pedic International Inc...
, the founding benefactor of Cambridge Judge Business School.
Global Presence
As of September 2011, the Association of MBAs has accredited 186 business schools offering more than 700 different MBAMaster of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
, DBA
Doctor of Business Administration
The degree of Doctor of Business Administration, abbreviated, or and equivalent to , is a research doctorate in business administration. The D.B.A...
and MBM
Master of Business and Management
A Masters in Business and Management is a postgraduate business and management degree. MBM degrees usually do not require the same level of work experience as an MBA, but they are still designed to equip students with managerial and leadership skills that will improve their practice and establish...
programs in over 70 countries. Thirty of the AMBA-accredited schools are in the BRIC
BRIC
In economics, BRIC is a grouping acronym that refers to the countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China, which are all deemed to be at a similar stage of newly advanced economic development...
countries and 29 are in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
(See List of institutions accredited by AMBA). The Association has accredited only one business school in the United States as most top US schools do not meet its criterion for a minimum of three years of full-time work experience for newly admitted MBA students.
Accreditation
The Association of MBAs accredits Masters of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)Doctor of Business Administration
The degree of Doctor of Business Administration, abbreviated, or and equivalent to , is a research doctorate in business administration. The D.B.A...
and Masters in Business and Management (MBM) degrees. When a school applies for accreditation for its MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
programs, AMBA requires that the entire portfolio of MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
programs be put up for consideration and will award accreditation only if all programs meet the organization's criteria (though the school pays the same fee regardless of the number of programs being reviewed).
The Association's process of accrediting an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
program includes reviewing compliance with over 100 criteria, most of them qualitative rather than quantitative. The criteria fall into seven dimensions: history and development of the institution; facilities and libraries; teaching faculty, teaching standards and research track record; program administration, career and alumni services; student admission standards, diversity and cohort size; curriculum content, program mode and duration; and learning outcomes.
Some of the key AMBA criteria for the accreditation of an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
program include:
- all admitted students should have at least three years of full-time post-graduation work experience upon the start of the MBAMaster of Business AdministrationThe Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
course (a criterion which the vast majority of the top US business schools cannot meet as US MBA programs sometimes admit applicants with only a bachelor's degree and no work experience); - at least 50% of the faculty of an MBAMaster of Business AdministrationThe Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
program (including visiting faculty as part of the total) are normally expected to have PhD degrees; - a program should have a track record of at least three years of graduating MBAMaster of Business AdministrationThe Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
students before it can be accredited; - a full-time MBAMaster of Business AdministrationThe Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
curriculum should contain no less than 500 contact (teaching) hours and a distance-learning MBA program should have no less than 120 contact hours.
Conferences, MBA Fairs and Events
The Association of MBAs holds three high-profile annual conferences for business school deans and directors: an Asia-Pacific, a Latin American and a global one. Participation is open to both accredited and non-accredited schools.The Association organizes two annual MBA Fairs in London (spring and autumn), which offer MBA applicants the opportunity to meet with the business schools accredited by AMBA.
In addition, the Association organizes on a weekly basis various lectures and networking events catering to MBA alumni, current MBA students, prospective MBA students and business school admissions departments. These on-campus events are held at business schools and often feature distinguished speakers and practitioners in fields such as leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Publications and Research
The Association of MBAs publishes:- a quarterly magazines named "Ambition" for its member students and alumni;
- a quarterly magazine named "Business Leadership Review" (BLR) for the management education community, with 4,000 subscribers;
- an annual guide book named "The Official Guide to Choosing an MBA", published in cooperation with The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, for people considering doing an MBA degree.
The research division within the Association conducts surveys and produces analyses on topics including MBA careers, employers and the job market; MBA intake and admissions requirements; government policies towards international MBA students; and business school education standards.
Membership
AMBA was originally set up as an association of MBAMaster of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
graduates and part of its activities remain focused on maintaining the membership dimension. AMBA membership should not be confused with AMBA accreditation.
AMBA serves as the member organization for:
- individual alumni and studentStudentA student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
s from all 186 AMBA-accredited schools (individuals who choose to become members); - institutional members such as some British and French business schoolBusiness schoolA business school is a university-level institution that confers degrees in Business Administration. It teaches topics such as accounting, administration, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, information systems, marketing, organizational behavior, public relations, strategy, human resource...
s, whose entire MBA student and alumni cohort are automatically enrolled as members; - institutional members such as companies employing large numbers of MBA graduates. These companies are allowed to join AMBA as members regardless of the academic background of their management and employees.
The Association has over 9,000 subscribing members, including individual and institutional members as well as students and alumni of the member schools. AMBA's quarterly magazine "Ambition" serves this global membership.
The Association organizes alumni events and provides career services to current students at its 23 member schools in Britain and France (not to be confused with the 186 accredited schools worldwide).
History
The Association of MBAs was founded in 1967 by eight UK graduates from Harvard Business SchoolHarvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
, Wharton, Stanford
Stanford Graduate School of Business
The Stanford Graduate School of Business is one of the professional schools of Stanford University, in Stanford, California and is broadly regarded as one of the best business schools in the world.The Stanford GSB offers a general management Master of Business Administration degree, the Sloan...
and Columbia
Columbia Business School
Columbia Business School is the business school of Columbia University in Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1916 to provide business training and professional preparation for undergraduate and graduate Columbia University students...
, and two graduates from the first intake of London Business School
London Business School
London Business School is an international business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London, located in central London, beside Regent's Park...
. The founders saw a lack of awareness in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
of the value of the MBA degree, which at that time was primarily an American qualification. They decided to form a lobby and membership group to promote the benefits of postgraduate business education, under the name of Business Graduates Association (BGA). The organization's development helped shape the growth of management education in Europe and the UK and coincided with the setting up and growth of London Business School
London Business School
London Business School is an international business school and a constituent college of the federal University of London, located in central London, beside Regent's Park...
and Manchester Business School
Manchester Business School
Manchester Business School is the largest department of the University of Manchester in Manchester, England. According to Bloomberg Business Week's ranking of the world's best business schools the MBS MBA is ranked third in the world...
in Britain.
The Association's first Director General was Vice-Admiral David Clutterbuck
David Clutterbuck
Vice Admiral Sir David Granville Clutterbuck KBE CB was a Royal Navy officer who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.-Naval career:Educated at the HMS Conway, Clutterbuck joined the Royal Navy in 1929...
who assumed this position in 1969. In 1983 BGA began to accredit the growing number of MBA programs, while preserving its functions as a membership organization. BGA was renamed Association of MBAs in 1987. The Association's current presidents is Sir Paul Judge
Paul Judge
Sir Paul Judge is a British businessman and politician. He is Chairman of plc, a director of ENRC plc, of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service, of Standard Bank Group Ltd of Johannesburg and of Tempur-Pedic International Inc...
, who helped establish Cambridge Judge Business School in 1990 and whose name the school carries.
See also
- List of institutions accredited by AMBA
- Triple accreditationTriple accreditationTriple Accreditation is the accreditation awarded to 55 business schools worldwide by the three largest and most influential business school accreditation associations:...
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of BusinessAssociation to Advance Collegiate Schools of BusinessThe Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business was founded in 1916 to accredit schools of business worldwide. The first accreditations took place in 1919. The stated mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation and thought leadership. It is regarded...
(AACSB) - European Quality Improvement SystemEuropean Quality Improvement SystemThe European Quality Improvement System is a school accreditation system. It specializes in higher education institutions of management and business administration, run by the European Foundation for Management Development...
(EQUIS)