In February 2020, Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) officially announced that School of Management of Xiamen University has been certified in both AACSB Business Degree and AACSB Accounting Program. The AACSB certification means that SMXMU’s educational management system conforms to international business standards and it is recognized by AACSB in terms of educational quality, discipline development, research and academic innovation, faculty management and social impact. This AACSB certification, coupled with the AMBA (Association of MBAs) certification awarded in 2011, as well as in the EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) certification in 2013. Thus, with ten years of unremitting efforts, SMXMU has received authoritative Triple Accreditations of business school, ranking among the world's blue ribbon business schools!
Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master’s, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, which was initiated by business schools from Harvard University, Columbia University, Yale University and other American first-class Universities. AACSB Accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education, and has been earned by less than five percent of the world’s business programs.
It take a great deal of commitment and determination to earn AACSB Accreditation for SMXMU. SMXMU formally applied for the initial accreditation of AACSB Business Degree and Accounting Program in 2014, and passed the initial evaluation of AACSB Certification Committee in 2015 following self-assessment improvement work in accordance with the opinions of AACSB Certification Committee. By April 2018, SMXMU was informed by AACSB Accreditation Committee that the business and accounting projects entered the on-site certification phase together. From October 13th to 16th 2019, the AACSB Certification Committee selected two Accreditation Peer Review Teams (PRT) to conduct on-site evaluation in SMXMU at the same time. With the joint efforts of school leaders, department leaders, teachers and students, alumni and business representatives, the three-day on-site evaluation is progressing smoothly and has achieved the desired results. During the on-site certification, the certification experts agreed that Xiamen University is a university with an international reputation, rich educational resources and beautiful campus environment. With a long history of business administration, the School of Management has developed into one of China's most competitive business schools. The group of experts gave full recognition and praise to the achievements of the School of Management in recent years in strategic planning, discipline construction, academic research and innovation, faculty development, student development, resource management, alumni maintenance and social influence, and also put forward constructive suggestions for the further development of the school.
Stephanie M. Bryant, Executive Vice President and Chief Certification Officer of the AACSB Association, congratulated SMXMU on its accreditation and highly appreciated the contribution of the entire school team to this honor. "Xiamen University's efforts to achieve this certification are a true reflection of its commitment and contribution to students, alumni and the business community, and even to the higher education industry as a whole," she said. Current students at the school will become future business leaders, so joining the AACSB-accredited business school system will have a lasting positive impact on SMXMU both at home and abroad. "
