Milestones of AACSB Accreditation

BESS submits its AACSB membership application in May 2016. The AACSB membership is a pre-requisite for entering the accreditation process. As an AACSB member, we regularly visit networking events such as the Deans Conference, the International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM), the Accreditation Conference for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), or seminars and participate in surveys such as the annual Business School Questionnaire (BSQ).

At the meeting on January 15, 2018, the Faculty Board decides that the AACSB accreditation is one of the main strategic goals of BESS included in UHOH’s Structure and Development Plan 2018-2022 (SEP). The SEP is the main strategic planning resource of BESS and its management level, especially the Faculty Board, the Executive Management and the Dean’s Office, and a reporting requirement to the superordinate Ministry of Science, Research and Arts (MWK) of the state of Baden-Württemberg.

BESS submits its’ Eligibility Application (EA) on February 23, 2018, to formally enter the AACSB accreditation process. The purpose of the EA is for the Initial Accreditation Committee (IAC) to determine if BESS meets AACSB’s eligibility criteria outlined in AACSB 2013 Standards.

The Initial Accreditation Committee (IAC) meets on April 24-25, 2018, and reviews BESS’ Eligibility Application (EA). On June 6, 2018, we are informed that the IAC voted to accept our EA allowing us to enter the initial accreditation process.

The purpose of initial accreditation process is to establish a stable, constructive, ongoing, and helpful partnership between AACSB and BESS. We benefit from this process in terms of receiving on-going assistance that fosters continuous improvement and minimize non-productive efforts, i.e., experienced counsel from a trained mentor during the period and feedback by interactions with the IAC through an assigned AACSB staff liaison (Accreditation Liaison Officer).

Prof. Peter Moizer, at that time Executive Dean of the Leeds University Business School, is confirmed by the Initial Accreditation Committee (IAC) as our mentor. He has been a Professor of Accounting for over 30 years. He brings considerable experience of business, research, and teaching and has helped build the Business School's reputation for excellence locally, nationally, and internationally.

The mentor will visit BESS to (a) assist us in responding to any concerns raised by the IAC in its review of the Eligibility Application (EA), (b) help us determine the scope of accreditation, (c) guide us in preparing the Initial Self Evaluation Report (iSER) by evaluating how BESS meets each of the AACSB accreditation standards, and (d) advise us generally on achieving accreditation in the allowable timeframe.

Based on preliminary self-assessments on the strengths and weaknesses (gap analysis) relative to each AACSB accreditation standard, and Mission and Strategic Management objective, BESS has developed its accreditation plan.
To facilitate the execution of the accreditation plan, BESS has established an Accreditation Steering Committee and various task forces (governance, study and teaching, and research management) consisting of members of the Faculty Board, the Executive Management, and staff of the Dean’s Office.

These teams are scheduled to meet regularly to assess progress in the accreditation process, address any performance gaps, develop a data management system, deliberate solutions to all matters arising as a result of members’ feedback, and finally prepare reports and resolution proposals for submission to the Faculty Council and the Advisory Board as deemed appropriate.

BESS’ Vice-Dean for International Relations, Prof. Dr. Jens Vogelgesang, meets our mentor Prof. Peter Moizer at the AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM), taking place on April 14-16, 2019, in Edinburgh, Scotland/Great Britain. The conference’ theme is “Business Schools as Enablers of Global Prosperity”.

Our mentor Prof. Peter Moizer visits the Hohenheim campus on November 11-12, 2019. The Faculty Board and the Executive Management have the chance to discuss general accreditation topics in an open, constructive and honest exchange of opinions. The visit of Prof. Peter Moizer was critical in assisting BESS in determining its current alignment with AACSB accreditation standards and assisting in the development of the Initial Self Evaluation Report (iSER).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a second visit of Prof. Peter Moizer (scheduled for April 29-30, 2020) had to be postponed to a later date. Instead of an in-person visit at Hohenheim, Dean Prof. Dr. Karsten Hadwich and the Executive Manager Dr. Sascha Becker organized a virtual meeting via ZOOM with our mentor.

BESS submits its Initial Self Evaluation Report (iSER) on September 30, 2020. This is an important milestone of our accreditation journey and the result of two years of intensive work by the Faculty Board, faculty and staff of the Dean’s Office.

At the meeting on November 20, 2020, the Initial Accreditation Committee (IAC) accepts BESS’ Initial Self Evaluation Report (iSER). During the next three years, we are required to submit annual progress reports addressing the progress made on the issues and concerns identified by the IAC’s official decision letter. In addition, BESS has to inform the IAC on the progress related to the self-reported action items outlined in the iSER.

Once the IAC agrees that BESS is aligned with AACSB accreditation standards and has made adequate progress on its action items, we will be directed to apply for an initial accreditation visit and we have two years to develop the final Self Evaluation Report (fSER) and prepare for a Peer Review Team visit.

On the grounds of efficiency and transparency, the Faculty Board decided to implement the Higher Education software ACADEM that allows to collect, quantify, and manage faculty data (e.g., CVs of faculty, research data). Through a unique platform, statistical reports and AACSB accreditation tables can be generated easily. This also serves as a basis for upcoming Annual Progress Reports, enables to optimize our accreditation process and ensures a centralized handling of the faculty data.

On September 15, 2021, BESS submits its Annual Progress Report (iSER Update). In the transition of the AACSB 2013 Standards to the new 2020 Standards, BESS provides detailed information on its progress in aligning with AACSB accreditation standards, revises its action items and develops new action items to be aligned with the 2020 Standards. Furthermore, the Annual Progress Report includes an addendum to update the IAC on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the Initial Accreditation Committee (IAC) meeting on November 3-4, 2021, the committee reviews our report and voted to accept BESS’ Annual Progress Report. We are invited to submit our second Annual Progress Report to inform the IAC on the progress being made on BESS’ alignment with the 2020 Standards and our action items. The upcoming report is due on September 15, 2022.

• May 2015 | Annual Accreditation Conference: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) – Amsterdam/Holland
• October 2015 | Europe, Middle East, and Africa Annual Conference (EMEA) – Frankfurt/Germany
• April 2016 | International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM) – Boston, Massachusetts/USA
• May 2016 | Business Accreditation Seminar – Milan/Italy
• October 2016 | Annual Accreditation Conference: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) – Madrid/Spain
• April 2017 | International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM) – Houston, Texas/USA
• October 2017 | Annual Accreditation Conference: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) – St. Julian’s/Malta
• April 2018 | International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM) – Honolulu/ USA
• June 2018 | Assurance of Learning (AoL) Seminar in Dublin/Ireland
• October 2018 | Annual Accreditation Conference: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) – Paris/France
• February 2019 | International Deans Conference – Vancouver/Canada
• October 2019 | Annual Accreditation Conference: Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) – Krakow, Poland
• February 2020 | International Deans Conference – Nashville, Tennessee/USA
• April 2021 | International Conference and Annual Meeting (ICAM) – Virtual Conference
• June 2021 | Annual Accreditation Conference: Asia and Pacific (AP) and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) – Virtual Conference
• February 2022 | International Deans Conference – Virtual Conference