When you have decided to study MBA, it is obvious that you will look forward to some of the reputed

B-Schools. It is a common
notion that colleges and universities with MBA accreditation are far more popular than others. MBA accreditation is important
since it judges the quality of the institute. Be it the quality of education or the infrastructure of the colleges, accreditation
ensures that the respective B -Schools are a perfect base for studying MBA.

Why is Accreditation important ?

The main purpose of accreditation is to ensure the good standard of a particular business school. By opting for good accredited B-
Schools, students can experience excellent teaching system by highly qualified faculty. It is through accreditation that you can
decide the quality of the students the college accept and the faculty they employ. You will find it easy to assess the teaching
techniques and the range of specialties the institutions has to offer. If you want to opt for higher studies in management, then a
MBA degree from an accredited school will be helpful. The recruiters prefer to employ students from the B-Schools as they get an
assurance of quality.

There are various factors which are taken into consideration before a B -School gets the MBA Accreditation:

 The Institution- The accreditation agencies examine whether the institution have a clear strategy and understanding of
the market. They take into account if there is continuity in the institution and can operate independently.
 Students - An institute must have a strict admission standard and it should consider both the academic criteria and work
experience.
 Curriculum - It is to be noted that an accredited institute will have a comprehensive curriculum which covers main
business skills like marketing, accounting and quantitative methods, finance and organizational theory. The school
curriculum must have emphasis on the international aspect of business, and interpersonal skills of management.
 Faculty - Before declaring any B- School as an accredited one, the agencies find out if the school has enough faculties.
Moreover, the teachers should have commendable academic qualifications. At least 75% of faculty should have a Masters
or Doctoral degree in the subjects they are teaching.
 Culture in campus - The infrastructure and the campus environment of the college must reflect a sense of decorum
among the students and the teachers.
 Placement Opportunity - The quality of campus recruitment and the type of recruiters employing the students are taken
into account prior to the granting of MBA accreditation.

MBA accreditation agencies

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

-
The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is one of the major MBA accreditation agencies. It was founded
in 1916 and it grants accreditation to the B-Schools all over the world. It has accredited 554 institutions worldwide.

Association of MBAs (AMBA)

-
This UK based agency was in operation from 1980s and it has presently accredited MBA programmes at more than 140 B- Schools
around the world.

Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

-
Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) of the US was founded in 1988. Its accreditation process is focused
on teaching and learning business programs. It has already accredited 406 business institutions. The agency is trusted by the
employers in the field of business.

Distance Education and Training Council (DETC)

-
Distance Education and Training Council (DETC) is a large accrediting agency, which accredits the distance learning colleges. This
is comparatively a newer agency and its accreditation is considered quite important.

In the highly competitive and dynamic corporate world, it is important to have a MBA degree from a reputed b-school. When
choosing a B-School to pursue a management degree students generally look out for the ones affiliated to reputed accreditation
bodies. Accreditation bodies exist particularly for MBA programs to guarantee uniformity and good quality of graduate business
education. MBA accreditation is very important as it helps students to decide on which B-School will suit their requirements.
Students opting for an online MBA program in USA can make a decision based on which accreditation agency the online school is
affiliated to.

MBA Accreditation Agencies in USA

The Association to Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

AACSB International was established in the year 1916 and started its accreditation function in 1919. This accreditation body in the
US provides a thorough review process for evaluating quality business management schools worldwide. AACSB international
accreditation not only ensures that the intuitions have achieved quality but have a system in place for constant progress of their
educational offerings.

AACSB accredited Universities USA

 Western New England College

 Harvard University

 Columbia University

 Dartmouth College

 New York University

 Northwestern University

 Ohio State University

 Tulane University

 University of California at Berkeley

 University of Chicago

 University of Illinois

 University of Nebraska

 University of Pennsylvania

 University of Pittsburgh

 The University of Texas

 University of Wisconsin-Madison

 Yale University

The above universities offering management programs in the United States were the founding members of AACSB. In 2003, AACSB
members approved a set of revised standards pertinent to all business programs worldwide and which promote excellence in
management education globally.

The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

ACBSP is a specialized accreditation association for business education supporting and rewarding excellence in teaching. ACBSP was
set up in 1988 in Overland Park, Kansas, and in August, 1992, it was acknowledged as a specialized accreditation agency for
business education by the U.S. Department of Education. This accreditation body recognizes the significance of scholarly research
and investigation and considers that such activities aid in improved teaching. Institutions affiliated to ACBSP are encouraged to
practice a logical mutually beneficial balance between research and teaching. In addition ACBSP supports faculty involvement in
the modern business world to augment the quality of classroom instruction. ACBSP aims to expand, promotes, and recognizes best
practices that contribute to continuous improvement of business education and accredits qualified business programs.
ACBSP accredited Universities USA
:

 Alabama State University

 Alfred State College SUNY College of Technology

 Anderson University

 Athens State University

 Atlanta Metropolitan College

 Baker University

 Benedict College

 California Baptist University

 College of the North Atlantic

 Columbia State Community College

The two above mentioned accreditation bodies are the most reputed ones in USA and most MBA aspirants opt for B-schools that are
affiliated to these agencies.

Accreditation raises the popularity of management institution among students aspiring to do their MBA. In India, there are 1600
business schools, of which the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) are the most reputed. Presently India has two government
accreditation bodies. These include the National Board of Accreditation (NBA), represented by the All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE) and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), which is an independent institution set up by
the University Grants Commission (UGC).

MBA Accreditation Agencies in India

All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)

AICTE is the main accreditation body for management schools all over India. AICTE was founded by the Ministry of HRD and
recognizes programs based on parameters such as resource availability, course structure, infrastructure and credibility of
Institutional Management providers and other factors. As AICTE is acknowledged internationally, management programs approved
by it also have the benefit of a similar status. Students planning to pursue a PhD or any other degree abroad in future, it is
important they make sure that they opt for an AICTE approved course.

List of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) B-Schools in India include:

 Audyogik Shikshan Mandal's Institute of Business Management & Research, Pune

 K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai
 MET Institute of Management, Mumbai
 M. G. M. Institute of Management, Aurangabad
 N. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai
 Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research, Mumbai

National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)

- NAAC is an autonomous body founded by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India to evaluate and accredit institutions
offering higher education in the country. The NAAC was set up in the year 1994 with its headquarters in Bangalore. A number of
renowned business management schools in India are accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council. The vision of
NAAC is to make quality the central element of higher education in India through promotion, self and external quality evaluation
and sustenance initiatives.

List of Business schools that are NAAC accredited include:

  Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
 Sree Saraswathi Thyagaraja College

University Affiliation
Some B-schools in India have affiliations with well-known state universities whereby the syllabus and teaching methodology is
decided by the University. The B-school executes the management program using the resources of the University.

There are quite a number of leading B-schools in India that have applied to international accreditation agencies for a quality
certification. Some of these B-schools include

 S P Jain Institute of Management Studies

 Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
 Xaviers Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar
 Xavier’s Institute of Labour Relations
 ICFAI

Getting certified by a top accreditation body ensures quality education, which helps to increases the popularity quotient of B-
schools in India.

Distance MBA in India

 
Management Education in India has been getting tremendous attention in recent years.
An MBA is regarded as the most popular business qualification today. Any qualification
coupled with an MBA degree will enhance one's job perspectives. Those who cannot
pursue an MBA in a regular Management institute can opt for a part-time or distance
MBA. There are many institutes offering MBA through distance education in India.
Distance MBA from a reputed institute holds significant value.

The distance education institutes provides good study materials, regular assignments
and practice tests. Most of the centers facilitates interactive sessions. A student must
make sure that the institute offering MBA is recognized by All India Council for Technical
Education (AICTE).

Correspondence education has opened a new way for professionals, housewives etc to
fulfill their unfinished dreams. Professionals can take up the one year Executive MBA
offered by many institutes. Major institutes offering Distance MBA in India are:

1. ICFAI University
The ICFAI Centre for Distance Education offers students and working executives to
pursue MBA program on distance learning basis. This MBA program is designed as a
career oriented professional certification program. Graduates from any discipline are
eligible for the program. Duration of the course is two years.

2. NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies)

A number of good courses are offered by NMIMS (Mumbai) for MBA like PGDBM, PGDM
etc. All the courses are approved by the DEC (Distance Education Council, New Delhi).

3. XLRI, Jamshedpur
XLRI, Jamshedpur has one-year executive programmes  in Management

4. IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University)

IGNOU offers Distance education programs in Management like MBA, DIM(Diploma in
Management) and PGDIM. A student has to appear for the Management Aptitude test
OPENMAT conducted by IGNOU for admission to the management programs. The MBA
offered by IGNOU is of 2 years duration and is approved by AICTE.

5. TASMAC
TASMAC distance learning programs are a good choice for working professionals. Masters
Diploma in Business Administration and Executive Masters Diploma in Business
Administration are offered by TASMAC. The program duration is two years.

6. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL)

SCDL offers Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGDBA), Post Graduate
Diploma in International Business (PGDIB), Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource
Management (PGDHRM) and Post Graduate Diploma in Information Technology (PGDIT).
SCDL is an autonomous institute. All SCDL programs and courses are autonomous.

7. Tamil Nadu Open University

Tamil Nadu Open University offers MBA and MBA Shipping and Logistics Management.

8. Annamalai University, Directorate of Distance Education

Master of Business Administration programs are offered under distance mode in
Annamalai University.

9. Pondicherry University, Directorate of Distance Education

Pondicherry University offers MBA programs which spans in 4 semesters. A graduate in
any stream is eligible for admission to the MBA programs.

There are many other institutions offering management degree and diploma programs
like Karnataka State Open University, Anna University, Indian Institute of Finance,
Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University, Sri Padmavati Mahila Visvavidyalayam,
Kurukshetra University, Maharshi Dayanand University, IMT Distance and Open Learning
Institute, ASCI (Administrative Staff Colleges of India) etc.