Durham University Business School secures AMBA re-accreditation for MBA programmes

Durham University Business School has been awarded a further five-year accreditation for its Full-time, Online and Executive MBA programmes, by the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

AMBA is a leading impartial authority on recognising high quality postgraduate management education. Established in 1967, its accreditations have become widely acknowledged as the gold standard for all MBA, DBA and Masters programmes, by only awarding its endorsement to schools within the top 2% around the world.

The Durham MBA’s re-accreditation has been awarded following a comprehensive assessment of the programmes’ curriculums, student cohorts, international reach and partnerships, faculty expertise and connections to global industry.

The assessment was conducted by a panel of global business school experts, comprised of programme and academic directors and deans, alongside AMBA’s UK Director of Accreditation, Katherine O’Flynn.

Susan Hart, Dean of Durham University Business School, says;

“I am delighted that our MBA has achieved another five year accreditation. This is testimony to our position as a leading international business school, with excellence across our key strategic areas of research and impact, education and student experience. The high standards of our reviewed MBA suite and both in-and-extra-class activity are showing clearly.

The result comes at an exciting time where we plan to build upon our existing success by further developing our diversity, internationalisation and business connectivity.”

The judging panel noted the Durham MBA excelled in a number of areas, commending the enthusiastic, committed leadership of the School, the collegiate atmosphere, the open and approachable nature of the MBA team and the quality of the School’s facilities.

Judges also commended the initiatives and opportunities in place for MBA students across all programmes to network and engage, such as residential induction weeks.

Andrew Main Wilson, CEO of AMBA, says;

“AMBA is a truly global business organisation and the only accrediting body that specifically focuses on accrediting MBA programmes. We are very particular about who we accredit. Operating as both an accreditation and membership organisation, AMBA is unique in the postgraduate management field, as it brings together the business leaders of tomorrow with the thought leaders of today.

With its re-accreditation Durham University Business School remains a valued component of the world’s leading business schools. We value working closely with them and AMBA’s MBA members to ensure outstanding postgraduate management education continues to be the top priority for employers, governments and ambitious executives who will become the global business leaders of the future.”

Julie Hodges, Associate Dean for MBA Programmes at Durham University Business School says;

“The re-accreditation of our MBA portfolio from AMBA serves to demonstrate the high quality of the teaching and learning experience we provide for all our students. Our MBA programmes blend theoretical perspectives with practical application, by leveraging strong connections with different sectors across the globe. This enables our students to enhance their knowledge and build the skills, confidence and ability to become effective business leaders in a time of accelerating change and complexity.  

Our triple accreditation attracts applicants from diverse backgrounds who provide a wealth of different perspectives, which adds to the challenging and enriching experience of our programmes.”

The re-accreditation from AMBA adds to a number of accolades the School has received in recent years for the quality of its MBA offering, and other degree programmes. These include receiving a five-year accreditation from EQUIS, and regularly securing a spot amongst the world’s top 100 MBA programmes in a variety of rankings;

• 9^th in the UK, 18^th in Europe and 64^th globally in the Financial Times’ Global MBA Ranking 2018
• 2^nd in the UK, 3^rd in Europe and 5^th globally in the Financial Times’ Online MBA Ranking 2018
• 6^th in the UK, 8^th in Europe and 14^th globally in the QS Distance Online MBA Ranking 2018
• 4^th in the UK, 14^th in Europe and 57^th globally (10^th in the world for ‘personal development and education experience’) in the Economist’s Which MBA Ranking 2017

About Durham University Business School: Durham University Business School is part of Durham University, one of the oldest established universities in the UK and is one of an elite group of business schools in the UK to hold triple accreditation: AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), AMBA (Association of MBAs) and EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System). The School offers a range of acclaimed programmes and attracts considerable levels of external research funding, enjoying extensive links within both the business and academic worlds.

The School is an internationally renowned research-led institution with a network of over 25,000 alumni from more than 140 countries.