We are delighted to announce that a group of eleven leading international business schools have successfully achieved EQUIS re-accreditation, reaffirming their commitment to excellence in management education, research, and engagement with business and society.

Alfons Sauquet, Quality Services and EQUIS Director, commented, “EQUIS re-accreditation recognises institutions that consistently demonstrate excellence across all dimensions of their activity while continuing to adapt and innovate. The schools recognised today show a strong commitment to responsible leadership, academic quality, and meaningful engagement with business and society. They serve as outstanding examples of the impact that business schools can have at local, national, and global levels.”

The EQUIS accreditation is recognised as a hallmark of quality, awarded to institutions that demonstrate not only high academic standards, but also strong internationalisation, impactful research, close links with practice, and a clear commitment to ethics, responsibility, and sustainability. Re-accreditation, in particular, highlights a school’s ability to continuously evolve, innovate, and strengthen its impact in a rapidly changing global environment.

Audencia, France

Founded in Nantes in 1900, Audencia has developed into a leading European business school, combining the heritage of the French Grande École model with a strong international outlook. First accredited by EQUIS in 1998, the School has consistently demonstrated its capacity to adapt and evolve, guided by its mission to “reveal change makers” and prepare graduates to address complex global challenges. Within the EQUIS re-accreditation process, particular recognition was given to the way Audencia leverages its governance model to act with agility, translating autonomy into flexible and responsive programme development aligned with market needs.

Sébastien Tran, Dean, Audiencia, said, “This re-accreditation highlights Audencia’s ability to collaborate with a global ecosystem to deliver management education that is academically strong, internationally relevant, and socially impactful, in close connection with the needs of organisations and society. This is a result of continuous engagement from all our stakeholders.”

Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London, United Kingdom

Located in the heart of London and established in 1966, Bayes Business School has built a strong identity around purposeful enquiry, fostering curiosity, innovation, and intellectual independence. Its close proximity to the financial sector ensures that its teaching and research remain closely connected to practice. EQUIS reviewers highlighted the School’s distinctive three-track faculty model, recognising it as a high-quality framework that accommodates diverse academic careers and contributions, and reinforces the School’s ability to combine rigour with relevance.

BI Norwegian Business School, Norway

Founded in 1943, BI Norwegian Business School is a leading institution in the Nordic region, with a strong reputation for research-based education and close engagement with industry. First accredited by EQUIS in 1999, and now undergoing its fifth re-accreditation, the School continues to play a central role in Norway’s business and academic landscape. During the EQUIS assessment, the School’s outstanding facilities, particularly its Oslo campus, together with its strong positioning among Norwegian companies, were recognised as key elements supporting its impact and attractiveness.

“Receiving this reaccreditation is a powerful verification of BI’s standing as a world-class business school. It confirms our position among the less than 1% of business schools with Triple Crown status. I am especially proud that EQUIS commends BI for our close connection to the business community, alongside our high-quality research and study programmes, as well as our modern campus facilities. This achievement belongs to the entire organisation; it is a result of the tireless dedication our employees show every single day to ensure excellence in everything we do,” commented Karen Spens, President of BI Norwegian Business School.

EM Normandie Business School, France

Established in 1871, EM Normandie combines a long-standing academic tradition with a forward-looking approach centred on responsibility and impact. Since its first EQUIS accreditation in 2016, followed by subsequent renewals, the School has continued to strengthen its positioning as a practice-oriented institution. The EQUIS re-accreditation process underscored the quality of its strong and structured connections with the professional world, which play a central role in shaping the educational experience and ensuring that students are well prepared for their future careers.

‘The renewal of EQUIS accreditation validates the relevance of the school’s strategic direction and enhances its appeal to prospective students, our current students, our academic partners and businesses, both in France and internationally. This distinction also commits us to continuing our efforts in the areas of responsibility and impact, and to striving ever more for excellence,’ expressed Anne-Sophie Courtier, Dean, EM Normandie Business School.

EDHEC Business School, France

Founded in 1906, EDHEC Business School has developed into an internationally recognised institution with a clear focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact. First accredited by EQUIS in 1999 and regularly re-accredited since, the School continues to expand its influence across Europe and beyond. In the context of its recent EQUIS re-accreditation, the School was recognised for its entrepreneurial spirit, which is evident across its entire community, as well as for its deliberate and thoughtful approach to fostering diverse forms of research.

ESSCA School of Management, France

Founded in 1909, ESSCA has progressively expanded its international footprint through a multi-campus model spanning Europe and Asia, while maintaining a strong commitment to educational innovation and responsible leadership. Since obtaining EQUIS accreditation in 2016, the School has continued to broaden its reach and enhance its academic offer in line with evolving global expectations. Within the EQUIS framework, particular recognition was given to the strength and maturity of ESSCA’s governance bodies and systems, which play a central role in supporting the implementation of its strategy and in ensuring the School is well equipped to address both current and future challenges.

‘The renewal of EQUIS accreditation for the maximum period of five years represents both a formal recognition of ESSCA’s sustained progress and a strong incentive to pursue our ambition further. This distinction validates the robustness of our trajectory and reinforces our resolve to implement the KAIROS 2030 strategic plan, designed to position ESSCA as an international reference in research, professional integration and learning,’ said Jean Charroin, Dean & CEO, ESSCA.

Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University, Japan

Established in 2006, the Graduate School of Management at Kyoto University is part of one of Japan’s leading academic institutions and achieved its first EQUIS accreditation in 2023. The School offers a distinctive model that bridges advanced research and specialised practice within an interdisciplinary environment. The EQUIS evaluation highlighted the quality of the close connections between faculty and students, as well as the School’s strong relationships with industry, both of which contribute to a highly personalised and practice-oriented learning experience.

‘Engaging with the EQUIS accreditation process has provided Kyoto GSM with a valuable opportunity to reflect on our mission and to further strengthen our commitment to excellence in management education and research. It has also offered a rigorous international benchmark and a clear framework for continuous improvement. Rooted in Kyoto, we advance our education and research while drawing on the city’s rich culture and values. At the same time, through close engagement with industry, we emphasise the integration of theory and practice and maintain strong connections with society. Beyond accreditation, EQUIS fosters dialogue and collaboration within a global community of business schools. Building on this experience, we remain committed to developing responsible leaders who contribute to the diverse and harmonious development of global society,’ remarked Norio Sawabe, Dean, Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University.

IAE Business School, Universidad Austral, Argentina

Founded in 1978, IAE Business School has established itself as a leading institution in Latin America, with a strong emphasis on values-based leadership and community. Its first EQUIS accreditation in 2005 marked a significant milestone, making it the first school in Argentina to achieve this recognition. Within the EQUIS framework, the School was recognised for its strong external reputation and the deep sense of community that characterises its academic environment, reinforcing its distinctive identity.

Carolina Dams, Dean, IAE Business School, commented, ‘We are proud to renew our EQUIS accreditation. It confirms the quality of our academic work and our commitment to forming leaders who make a positive impact. This achievement belongs to our whole community—faculty, staff, students and alumni—who build IAE every day. We also value EQUIS’s rigorous evaluation process, which helps us keep improving and looking forward.’

Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore), India

Established in 1996, the Indian Institute of Management Indore is part of India’s prestigious network of management institutions and received its initial EQUIS accreditation in 2019. The School combines academic excellence with a strong commitment to societal relevance and national development. The EQUIS review brought particular attention to its social commitment, especially its engagement with rural communities, as well as the high calibre of its students, both of which contribute to its growing reputation.

Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore, remarked, “We at IIM Indore are delighted to have been re-accredited by EQUIS for the maximum duration of five years. This significant milestone reflects our sustained commitment to excellence in management education. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the EFMD team for their invaluable support, insightful guidance, and constructive engagement throughout this rigorous process. Their encouragement has played a crucial role in this achievement, and we look forward to continuing this meaningful association in the years ahead.

NHH Norwegian School of Economics, Norway

NHH Norwegian School of Economics, first accredited by EQUIS in 2001, is widely recognised as Norway’s leading specialised business school, combining a strong research environment with a clear institutional identity. With approximately 3,700 students and an extensive international network of partner institutions, NHH plays a key role in both national and global academic ecosystems. The EQUIS re-accreditation highlighted the School’s commitment to continuous improvement, alongside its deeply embedded connections with the Norwegian business and public sector ecosystems, which significantly enhance the relevance of its programmes and the employability of its graduates.

“Here at NHH, we are delighted and proud to once again be reaccredited by EQUIS. In a world where AI is now redefining education, learning, assessment, and, in part, our candidates’ labour market, the EQUIS process helps us reflect on what it means to be an international business school. For us, the EQUIS process is as much of a discussion on strategic goals as it is a quality assessment of our institution. We are very grateful for the work and advice from the EQUIS peer review team, and look forward to our continued journey in the global EQUIS/EFMD community,” said Helge Thorbjørnsen, Rector, NHH Norwegian School of Economics.

School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, China

The School of Economics and Management at Tongji University, first accredited by EQUIS in 2013, is part of one of China’s most prestigious universities, founded in 1907 and recognised for its strong academic reputation and international outlook. Its mission to develop professionals capable of addressing complex global challenges is supported by a strong emphasis on interdisciplinarity and close stakeholder engagement. This connection with the corporate world was particularly noted during the EQUIS evaluation, with high-quality interaction evident across programme design, research, and student development.

“EQUIS Re-accreditation is a continued affirmation of SEM’s commitment to international quality standards, signifying our full alignment with global best practices in governance and process excellence. It fortifies our institutional foundation for nurturing management talents with global competence and sustained impact,” expressed En Xie, Dean, School of Economics and Management.

These re-accreditations confirm the ongoing commitment of each institution to excellence, innovation, and impact. EFMD Global congratulates all the schools on this achievement and recognises their continued contribution to advancing management education worldwide through the EQUIS framework.

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EQUIS – EFMD Quality Improvement System

EQUIS is a rigorous tool for business schools to assess, accredit and improve their quality in ten key areas, benchmarking them against international standards in terms of governance, programmes, students, faculty, research, and foremost, internationalisation, ethics, responsibility and sustainability, as well as corporate engagement. It offers a quality assessment and a quality improvement process, very much rooted in the mission of EFMD. True quality is about striving to do better, even when you are already excellent, and this focus on continuous improvement is thus at the heart of the EQUIS mission. EQUIS attaches particular importance to the creation of effective learning environments which foster students’ managerial and entrepreneurial skills alongside their personal development and sense of global responsibility.

There are currently 234 EQUIS-accredited schools across 45 countries globally.

Explore further insights regarding EQUIS by delving into the Frequently Asked Questions.

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