Carleton University's Sprott School of Business awarded international accreditation from AACSB
Sprott advantage recognized by premier accreditation body
Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business has been selected as one of 10 business schools to be added to a group of 681 business schools in 45 countries that have achieved accreditation status with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
The news coincides with today’s Convocation ceremony at Carleton, where more than 330 business student graduates will receive their university degrees.
The Sprott School of Business earned accreditation this week from AACSB International – the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s and doctorate degrees in business and accounting. AACSB Accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education and has been earned by less than five per cent of the world’s business programs.
“AACSB congratulates Carleton University and Dean Jerry Tomberlin on earning accreditation, and we welcome them in to the family of AACSB-accredited business schools,” said Robert D. Reid, executive vice-president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “AACSB Accreditation represents the highest achievement for an educational institution that awards business degrees. Dean Tomberlin and the faculty, directors and staff of Carleton University are to be commended for their role in earning accreditation.”
“It’s a proud day for the Sprott School of Business and for Carleton,” said Tomberlin. “Achieving AACSB Accreditation acknowledges that the Sprott School delivers a business education of the highest quality – from our outstanding programs, faculty, and student support to the rewarding experiential and career opportunities that we provide.”
Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal review, evaluation and adjustment, and can take several years to complete. During these years, the school develops and implements a plan to meet the AACSB Accreditation Standards, which require a high quality teaching environment, a commitment to continuous improvement and curriculum responsive to the needs of business. Schools then need to apply to maintain their accreditation every five years.
In March, the Sprott School hosted a three-member peer review team, which endorsed the university for AACSB Accreditation. In its report, the team praised Sprott for student support and engagement, its collegial and supportive culture, the close interaction between students and faculty, as well as student and alumni satisfaction. The team also recognized the uniqueness and strength of Sprott’s Bachelor of International Business program that requires students to complete intensive training in another language, followed by a year of study abroad in a location where their chosen language is spoken.
Named in 2001 and given full-fledged faculty status in 2006, the Sprott School of Business has experienced tremendous growth in recent years, doubling its faculty size and increasing student support services. Over 2,200 students are enrolled in business degree programs at the undergraduate, MBA and PhD levels.
Innovative programs and an international focus are drivers for the school. In addition to the Bachelor of International Business, the Sprott MBA International Development Management concentration is the only program of its kind. Sprott has been delivering its MBA in Shanghai since 2005 and the school is preparing to launch the program in Colombia in 2014. Sprott’s entrepreneurship programs go beyond developing a business plan to launching the business, leveraging Carleton’s extensive support programs for student entrepreneurs.
At the heart of the Sprott school are its people, and the school boasts award-winning faculty and students. Sprott faculty members have been recognized for both teaching and research. Over the past few years, Sprott students have been getting noticed at major national and international case competitions, where they have achieved top-place finishes. Most recently, teams from Sprott brought home the silver medal from the Universidad de Navarra International Case Competition in Pamplona, Spain, the bronze medal at the NIBS Worldwide Case Competition in Leuven, Belgium, as well as first place in information systems and second in accounting at Queen’s University Inter-Collegiate Business Competition.
About the Sprott School of Business
Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business is a full-service business school that delivers academic programs at the undergraduate, MBA and doctoral levels, as well as a range of professional development certificates and seminars. Sprott explores complex business issues through innovative programs, interdisciplinary research and collaborative partnerships, which are aligned to three core strengths: international focus, innovation and responsible management.
About AACSB International
AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), founded in 1916, is an association of more than 1,350 educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations in 83 countries and territories. AACSB’s mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership, and value-added services. As the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, the association also conducts a wide array of conferences and seminar programs at locations throughout the world. AACSB’s global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA and its Asia Pacific headquarters is located in Singapore.