We are delighted to announce that the following schools have recently been granted EQUIS re-accreditation. Warm congratulations!

• Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, Croatia
• IPADE Business School, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico
• Kent Business School, University of Kent, United Kingdom
• Louvain School of Management, UCLouvain, Belgium
• Nanyang Business School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
• Newcastle Business School, The University of Newcastle, Australia
• Stellenbosch Business School, South Africa
• Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, Thailand
• Waseda Business School, Waseda University, Japan

Alfons Sauquet, Quality Services & EQUIS Director, said, ‘Congratulations to all the schools that have achieved EQUIS re-accreditation! This recognition reflects their continuous drive to innovate, adapt, and lead. The schools’ efforts go beyond maintaining high standards—they are actively transforming education to meet the needs of a complex business environment and societal needs. This achievement is a well-earned milestone, and we celebrate their dedication to making a lasting impact.’

Business education is rapidly evolving, shaped by global challenges, technological advancements, and shifting societal expectations. As EQUIS re-accreditations take centre stage, they not only reaffirm institutional excellence but also highlight how top business schools are leading the change in key areas such as internationalisation, ethics, responsibility, and sustainability (ERS), and robust connections with practice. These dimensions are integral to the EQUIS framework. Each re-accreditation signifies more than just a continued commitment to quality—it reflects an institution’s ability to adapt, innovate, and drive meaningful impact.

Internationalisation: Cultivating a global perspective

EQUIS places a strong emphasis on the international dimension of business schools, recognising that in today’s interconnected world, a global perspective is indispensable. Re-accredited institutions demonstrate a comprehensive internationalisation strategy that permeates various facets of the school. This includes attracting a diverse student body and faculty, forging international partnerships, and ensuring that research activities have global relevance. Such schools often offer exchange programmes, dual degrees, and international internships, providing students with invaluable cross-cultural experiences. This commitment not only enhances the learning environment but also prepares graduates to navigate and lead in a globalised business world.

Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability (ERS): Embedding core values

The integration of ERS into the core mission and activities of business schools is a critical component of the EQUIS accreditation standards. Re-accredited schools are recognised for their proactive approach to embedding these principles into their curricula, research agendas, and institutional strategies. This involves developing courses that address ethical decision-making, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable business practices. Moreover, these institutions engage in research that contributes to solving societal challenges and collaborate with organisations that promote ERS values. By doing so, they cultivate a culture of integrity and social responsibility, equipping students to become conscientious leaders committed to making a positive impact on society.

Connections with practice: Bridging theory and application

A hallmark of EQUIS-accredited schools is their strong linkage to the world of practice. Re-accredited institutions excel in creating symbiotic relationships with businesses, public organisations, and policymakers. These connections ensure that academic offerings remain relevant and that students gain practical insights alongside theoretical knowledge. Such schools often involve practitioners in curriculum design, invite industry leaders for guest lectures, and facilitate consultancy projects and internships. This engagement not only enriches the student learning experience but also ensures that the research conducted addresses real-world challenges, thereby enhancing the school’s impact on both academia and industry.

Achieving EQUIS re-accreditation signifies more than just maintaining standards; it reflects an institution’s dedication to continuous improvement and responsiveness to global trends. Their commitment to internationalisation, ERS, and robust industry connections ensures that they remain at the forefront of business education, providing students with the skills, values, and experiences necessary to succeed in a complex, global environment.

As these schools mark this important milestone, they share their reflections on what EQUIS re-accreditation means to them and their continued commitment to excellence:

Juseke Ikegami, Dean, Waseda Business School, commented, ‘This re-accreditation is both a celebration of our achievements and a push for future growth. We remain dedicated to developing responsible and insightful global leaders, producing impactful research, and empowering our students, alumni and faculty to thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected business landscape. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supports WBS, especially our students, faculty, alumni, and corporate partners. Your contributions help us keep moving forward. We look forward to strengthening our partnerships around the globe, enhancing our academic rigour, and reinforcing our position as a leading business school in the world.’

Somchai Supattarakul, Dean, Thammasat Business School, stated, ‘TBS is honoured to receive EQUIS re-accreditation, reaffirming our commitment to academic excellence and global standards. As Thailand’s first triple-crown business school, this achievement underscores our strong connections with practice, internationalisation, and dedication to ethics, responsibility, and sustainability (ERS). We will continue to build on EQUIS’s recommendations to drive ongoing improvement, further strengthening our position as a leading business school in ASEAN, expanding opportunities for our students and alumni, and creating a positive impact on society through responsible and innovative business education.’

James Skinner, Dean, University of Newcastle, expressed, ‘Newcastle Business School is thrilled to receive EQUIS re-accreditation, which validates our high standards across all areas—teaching, research, innovation, and external engagement—while reaffirming our place among the world’s top business schools. This recognition is not only a benchmark of excellence, aligning with our mission to advance responsible and impactful business knowledge, but also demonstrates our commitment to our region. We are proud of the collective efforts of our academics, professional staff, students, and industry collaborators, whose dedication to social responsibility and creating positive societal impact is at the heart of this achievement. The accreditation serves as both an endorsement of our excellence and a guide for continuous improvement, as we build on our strengths and work toward the next stage of the School’s development.’

Sanja Sever Mališ, Dean, Faculty of Economics & Business, University of Zagreb, said, ‘This rigorous evaluation process reaffirms our dedication to maintaining the highest global standards in business education, ensuring that our students, faculty, and partners continue to thrive in a dynamic academic and professional environment. For our school, EQUIS re-accreditation is a recognition of our ongoing efforts to foster innovation, academic integrity, and impactful research. It strengthens our position among leading business schools worldwide, enhancing our reputation and attractiveness to students, faculty, and corporate partners. For FEB Zagreb faculty, this achievement underscores the value of their dedication and hard work. It inspires us to continuously evolve, embrace new challenges, and contribute meaningfully to the global business landscape.’

Jesse O’Hanley, Interim Dean, Kent Business School, commented, ‘Kent Business School is thrilled to be awarded EQUIS re-accreditation. This prestigious recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence in business education, research, and student experience. The re-accreditation process was a valuable opportunity to reflect on our strengths and identify areas for further improvement and growth. We are incredibly proud of our staff, students, and partners, whose dedication and hard work made this achievement possible. EQUIS re-accreditation reinforces our position as a leading, internationally recognised business school and motivates us to continue delivering outstanding education and impactful research.’

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 226 EQUIS-accredited schools across 45 countries globally.

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

For additional insights, announcements and perspectives about EQUIS, visit the conversation here.