By Beth Gormley, Communications and PR Manager, UCD College of Business

UCD College of Business was re-accredited for the fifth time by the AACSB, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This latest award signifies and affirms two decades of accreditation by the UCD College of Business by this global Business School body.

AACSB is part of the ‘triple crown’ of accreditation from three centres of business and academic excellence which include EQUIS (Europe), AMBA (UK) and AACSB (US), with the College now celebrating twenty years of triple crown accreditation. 

Achieving AACSB accreditation is a mission-driven, rigorous process that includes an in-depth assessment by an external peer-review team which focuses on a School’s commitment to continuous improvement, and to alignment with AACSB’s accreditation standards. 

“The UCD College of Business has seen a remarkable evolution across all key aspects of our activity and student outcomes since our initial accreditation in 2003, firmly placing us amongst the world’s best Business Schools” said Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean of UCD College of Business. “Accreditation by the AACSB is an important driver in ensuring that we strive unceasingly to be the best College that we can be for all our stakeholders and particularly our students.

As the first Irish Business School to attain triple-crown accreditation some twenty years ago, we have far advanced beyond that starting point on our journey of continual improvement across all of our educational and research activities, and in the broader external impact of the UCD College of Business on the world of business practice.”

Over the past five years, the College of Business has expanded its programme portfolio in areas of direct relevance to the Irish and Global economy, including sustainable business, digital business, food business, healthcare, financial services and professional services. Underpinning this, the College has invested significantly in new faculty from around the globe, deepening its research activities and international visibility. The College’s strategic plan for the next five years, Creating a Better Future Together (2022-2026), continues this ambition with major initiatives underway in all areas of the College. Amongst these is a major investment in UCD Smurfit Executive Development, building out the College’s premier market position as a key European university-based executive education provider.

In congratulating the successfully re-accredited Schools, Stephanie Bryant, executive vice president and global chief accreditation officer at AACSB, noted that  “The commitment to earning accreditation is a true reflection of each school’s dedication—not only to its students, alumni network, and greater business community—but to society as a whole.”