PR Newswire | 25 Mar, 2015
AMSTERDAM: AACSB International (AACSB), the longest serving global accrediting body and membership association for business schools, today announced the opening of its newest regional headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The office will support the business school community in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and will help to foster collaborative relationships across the region -- furthering AACSB's mission to advance quality management education worldwide.
"The global business environment is evolving with rapidly changing technologies, an increased demand for accountability, community engagement and environmental stewardship, as well as an understanding of variances in cultures, populations, and socioeconomics," said Timothy S. Mescon, AACSB's senior vice president and chief officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). "AACSB recognizes that it has never been more important for business schools to arm graduates with the knowledge and skills that mirror the needs of society. Through our new EMEA office, we can help business educators across the region exchange ideas and share best practices, as they pivot to meet these demands."
Amsterdam represents AACSB's gateway to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. For nearly a century, AACSB has been deeply committed to enhancing the quality of business education. Today, EMEA is host to more than 3,900 institutions that award business degrees, and of these, AACSB has a growing presence. Nearly one quarter of AACSB's 1,450 member institutions and approximately 15 percent of its 727 accredited institutions are located in EMEA. In the past two and a half years, more than 39 percent of applications for AACSB membership have come from the EMEA region.
"These numbers reinforce both the market need, and AACSB's commitment to increasing its level of engagement with business schools in EMEA," said Tom Robinson, incoming president and CEO of AACSB International. "Through our Amsterdam office, AACSB will be better positioned to strengthen its membership, professional development, and accreditation services across the region -- providing a stronger platform for business schools to further enhance the high-quality of education they provide, and increase engagement within the communities they serve."
Amsterdam is the second international regional office that AACSB has opened since 2009; the first was launched in Singapore to serve the growing Asia Pacific business education market. "We are excited to open our doors in Amsterdam. A well-known hub for the business education community, and a city that represents an innovative, open, and business-minded society," said John Fernandes, current president and CEO of AACSB International. "It is also a prime location for our headquarters given its access to international transport links that enable easy travel throughout the EMEA region."
Dr. Mescon formerly served as president of Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia, USA, and assumed his role with AACSB in January 2015. As part of his charge, Dr. Mescon will facilitate the development of a mentorship program focused on providing a guidance and support for schools within emerging and transitional economies.
AACSB is already at work in the region offering a series of four seminars and one conference, focused on sharing best practices in student learning, curriculum development, continuous improvement, and accreditation leadership through the end of May 2015. For more information, visit www.aacsb.edu/en/events.
About AACSB International
AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), founded in 1916, is an association of more than 1,450 educational institutions, businesses, and other organizations in 86 countries and territories. AACSB's mission is to advance quality management education worldwide through accreditation, thought leadership, and value-added services. As the premier accreditation body for institutions offering undergraduate, master's, and doctorate degrees in business and accounting, the association also conducts a wide array of conferences and seminar programs at locations throughout the world. AACSB's global headquarters is located in Tampa, Florida, USA, its Asia Pacific headquarters is located in Singapore, and its Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters is located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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