We are pleased to announce that the Bachelor in Business Administration (BSc) offered by the University of South-Eastern Norway School of Business has obtained EFMD Programme Accreditation.

Barbara Sporn, EFMD Programme Accreditation Director, commented, ‘We are happy to see more schools in Norway joining the EFMD-accredited community. Congratulations to the USN School of Business for this milestone achievement. It recognises the programme’s strong standing and student-centric strategy. We were delighted by the institution’s online hospitality and diligence during the accreditation process.’

USN School of Business, University of South-Eastern Norway

The University of South-Eastern Norway (USN) is one of the largest universities in Norway, offering academic- and business-focused educational programmes to about 17 000 students. USN is the result of several mergers among higher education institutions in the region and intends to become a regional provider and collaborator in the development and fostering of knowledge.

USN’s strategy is realised in its Bachelor in Business Administration (BSc). This three-year programme educates reflective professionals with broad economics and management professional competence. It is commended for its close connection with the world of practice, its solid commitment to sustainability, and the wide range of specialisations offered to students on five different campuses.

‘We are continuously working on improving our education, research, administrative routines, and value to the ecosystems surrounding us. The process of getting this accreditation has accentuated this and has provided an opportunity to look ourselves in the mirror and engage our stakeholders in fruitful discussions. We are truly grateful that we started this journey, knowing that this will benefit our students, employees and external collaborators. We would like to express our gratitude to all EFMD associated relations, our supervisor, the peer review team, and the EFMD team for providing valuable feedback and guidance on our way. We are looking forward to developing our institution further on with inspiration from the EFMD network,’ commented Hans Anton Stubberud, Dean, USN School of Business.

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

• SKEMA Business School, France, for its Global Executive MBA (GEMBA)

One of the most reputed business schools in France, SKEMA obtained initial EQUIS accreditation in 2006 as a recognition of its institution-wide commitment to continuous quality improvement. In 2019, it successfully underwent a pilot accreditation process where it pioneered the profound assessment of its academic offering by combining its institutional accreditation, EQUIS, with the EFMD programme accreditation for its Global Executive MBA (GEMBA). The alignment of these assessments endorsed SKEMA to position its courses strategically on the global market and offers stakeholders a trusted point of reference for innovation and a quality seal for management education.

With the re-accreditation of its Global Executive MBA (GEMBA), SKEMA remains among the few business schools to hold the EFMD Programme Accreditation alongside its institutional accreditation EQUIS. The GEMBA is an international programme that helps students to develop a global and innovative strategic vision fuelled by an entrepreneurial spirit. It stands out for its strong focus on internationalisation and the outstanding combination of face-to-face and online pedagogy.

‘We are delighted with the re-accreditation of our Global EMBA by EFMD. It is the result of an in-depth and demanding review. This EFMD label not only acknowledges the strategic relevance of the programme and its potential for development; it also rewards the active involvement of its participants and graduates, its academic and management teams and its corporate partners, who together contribute to its dynamism at all levels.

As a school accredited by EQUIS, SKEMA has sought this EFMD MBA accreditation as a complement. The Global EMBA showcases an innovative design that supports experienced executives to become comprehensive leaders. The programme provides the required leadership competencies and knowledge expertise to allow its participants to skillfully navigate and effect/drive the complexities of business contexts in profound transformation,’ said Elise Tosi, Accreditations, Quality & CSR Director, SKEMA.

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