We are delighted to announce the recent EFMD Programme Accreditation of Hochschule Bremen, International Graduate Center’s International Master of Business Administration; Hochschule Pforzheim’s Undergraduate Programmes in Business; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore’s Master of Science in Management; and University of Economics in Katowice’s Master’s Degree Programme in International Business.

Congratulating the schools, Barbara Sporn, EFMD Programme Accreditation Director, commented, “We are happy to welcome these institutions to the EFMD Programme Accreditation community. The programmes provide students with the tools they need to become competent and responsible professionals in the corporate world. The accreditations demonstrate the institutions’ dedication to business education excellence.”

International Master of Business Administration, International Graduate Center, Hochschule Bremen, Germany

With a strong reputation since its foundation in the 18th century, Hochschule Bremen (HBS) systematically focuses on innovation and the internationalisation of business and management education. It delivers various programmes using a practice-oriented teaching and research approach to prepare students for the national and international labour markets.

All this is reflected in its International Master of Business Administration, which offers a unique learning experience with strong competitive positioning and wide international cooperation with other well-established institutions.

‘We are very pleased about the “EFMD Accredited MBA” seal of approval, it is a great opportunity because it increases the reputation of our program in the international environment and reflects its extraordinary quality’ comments Tim Goydke, Dean,  International Graduate Center (IGC). 

Undergraduate Programmes in Business, Pforzheim Business School, Hochschule Pforzheim, Germany

Educating nearly 6,000 students, Business School Pforzheim is among the leading business schools in Germany. It adheres to the vision of leadership by changing perspectives and takes an interdisciplinary approach to business education to remain close to the needs and demands of the corporate world.

The Undergraduate Programmes in Business fit well with the vision of the school. Offering 13 specialisations leading to a BSc in Business Administration, the programme set provides students with a high level of academic education applicable in actual professional life. The programmes benefit from a strong connection with the world of practice and solid positioning in their regional environment.

‘We are honoured and proud to have achieved the EFMD Programme Accreditation for our B.Sc. programmes in Business. It is recognition for our high quality in teaching and learning and for the outstanding engagement of our faculty and staff. The review process provided us with valuable insights and was a great opportunity to involve all our internal and external stakeholders. I would like to thank all of them for their engagement and commitment to academic quality, practice orientation, internationalisation, and ethics and sustainability. We are looking forward to joining the vibrant EFMD community of EFMD-accredited schools’ commented Thomas Cleff, Dean, Business School Pforzheim.

Master of Science in Management, Faculty of Economics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy

Founded over 100 years ago, the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore aims to create a positive impact on societal issues through its academic and cultural activities guided by a Christian message. Within the Faculty of Economics, it has a wide offering of educational programmes grounded on multidisciplinary and a strong link with the corporate world.

The Master of Science in Management aligns well with the university’s goals. It focuses on developing students’ actionable knowledge in management while ensuring an international and responsible approach toward professional practice and sustainability. This programme is commended for its student-centred learning and high employability of students.

Reflecting on the achievement, Franco Anelli, Rector, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, said, ‘It is with great pride that we receive EFMD Programme accreditation for the Faculty of Economics MSc in Management. The first to benefit from this accreditation will be the students, who now have an international guarantee of the teaching quality of the programme, which will make their qualification increasingly valuable on the job market. The degree programme’s compliance with the high international standards certified by EFMD is evidence of the work successfully undertaken in recent years to make Cattolica’s MSc in Management a point of excellence in the preparation of young people for the world of work and in training future leaders. This accreditation is, however, a starting point rather than a point of arrival: for the next five years, Università Cattolica will have the opportunity to be part of an international network of prestigious universities and to build and consolidate partnerships with other EFMD-accredited institutions.’

Master’s Degree Programme in International Business, University of Economics in Katowice, Poland

With a strong reputation and good positioning in Poland and beyond, The University of Economics in Katowice (UEKat) aims to educate top professionals in various fields to support entrepreneurship, business and the public sector in a rapidly developing region. It engages over 8,000 students in a lifelong learning experience.

The Master’s Degree Programme in International Business, UEKat’s flagship programme, embodies the University’s mission and vision. It is grounded on internationalisation through international cooperation and student exchange while maintaining a strong regional identity. The programme stands out for the vast opportunities offered to students to participate in international projects and the extensive involvement of external stakeholders from the world of practice.

Addressing the achievement, Sławomir Smyczek, Vice-Rector for Education and International Cooperation, University of Economics in Katowice, said, ‘The EFMD Programme accreditation is one of the most demanding business accreditations, a quality mark recognised all over the world. We have worked for it for over three years, and thus, the feeling of satisfaction is beyond measure. The true value lies not in the accreditation itself but in the very process of self-assessment, reviewing and introducing the measurements to meet the highest – EFMD standards. This experience will undoubtedly improve the quality of education not only within the program but throughout the whole institution. Moreover, the possibility to use the EFMD Accredited logo will definitely strengthen the position and prestige of the University in the country and abroad. Congratulations to all the involved stakeholders on such a great joint success for our Alma Mater!’

During the same Accreditation Board meeting, the following institutions were also granted EFMD Programme Re-accreditation:

• iaelyon School of Management, France, for its MSc International Management
• EDC Paris Business School, France, for its Master in Management – Grande Ecole Programme
• MIB Trieste School of Management, Italy, Master in Insurance & Risk Management
• Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism, University of Split, Croatia, for its Undergraduate Programme in Business Studies & Graduate Programme in Business Studies
• E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, University Galway, Ireland, for its Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems

About EFMD Programme Accreditation

EFMD Accredited is a comprehensive programme accreditation system for business and/or management degrees and courses, including face-to-face, blended and online provisions. It constitutes a benchmark for what is considered an internationally recognised and peer-reviewed programme.

The accreditation covers all facets of programme provision: from its institutional, national and international environment, through its design, delivery, outcomes and impacts, to its quality assurance processes.

EFMD Accredited emphasises academic rigour, practical relevance, internationalisation, ethics and sustainability. EFMD Programme Accreditation helps schools strive for excellence in an ongoing improvement process following each accreditation or re-accreditation visit.

Discover the latest guidelines for EFMD Programme Accreditation.

Currently, there are 140 EFMD Accredited programmes from 108 institutions in 40 countries.