Business School Accreditation in Developing Countries: A case in Kazakhstan

Authors

  • Chris Perryer Business School, University of Western Australia
  • Victor Egan Business School, University of Western Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v2i2.95

Keywords:

Business Schools, International Accreditation, Kazakhstan.

Abstract

International accreditation of business schools has become dominated by the ‘big three’ of accreditation agencies – AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA. Accreditation provides public notification that an institution or program meets benchmark standards, and reflects an institution committed to self-study, external peer-review, and continuous improvement. However, from the perspective of the more than 12,000 business schools worldwide that do not, and most likely will never, meet ‘big three’ imposed benchmarks, accreditation is an exclusion mechanism providing comparative advantage to accredited schools. This is more than a differentiator between accredited and non-accredited business schools – it reinforces the economic ‘great divide’ between developed and less-developed countries, since over 90% of accredited business schools are in developed countries. Consequently, accreditation becomes a moral and ethical imperative that should sit uneasy with anyone concerned with equality and social justice. In response, the Asian Forum on Business Education (AFBE) has designed an inclusive international accreditation system that is affordable, and fosters quality improvement at institutions that may initially be some considerable distance from meeting ‘big three’ standards. This paper provides an insight into one such accreditation process at a business school in Kazakhstan, and demonstrates the remarkable progress that can be achieved when quality improvement, rather than mere certification, is the guiding principle.

Author Biographies

Chris Perryer, Business School, University of Western Australia

Chris is a member of faculty at the University of Western Australia.  He has also taught on MBA programs in Singapore, Jakarta, Shanghai, Manila, Penang and Lyon. He is the co-author of two edited books on business in Asia.  He has also published some 40 refereed journal articles, book chapters and conference papers on a range of current management issues, and has presented papers on his research at conferences in Asia, Europe, North America and Australia.

Victor Egan, Business School, University of Western Australia

Victor provides management consultancy in strategy and operational excellence in Australia and the Middle East. He also lectures on MBA programs for Bradford University (UK), Manila program; East China University of Science & Technology, Shanghai; and the University of Western Australia. Victor has published over 30 refereed journal articles and conference papers on contemporary business issues, including small business in developing countries, ethics, and transnational higher education. He has also edited, authored, or co-authored 4 books on engineering management, business in Thailand and Asia, and business communication.

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Published

2015-10-31

How to Cite

Perryer, C., & Egan, V. (2015). Business School Accreditation in Developing Countries: A case in Kazakhstan. Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research (JEECAR), 2(2), 11. https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v2i2.95