Northumbria retains prestigious ‘double’ AACSB accreditation for business and accounting

Northumbria University’s Newcastle Business School has once again cemented its reputation as a leading institution for business and accounting education by retaining its coveted accreditations from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).

The AACSB accreditation is a hallmark of excellence in business education, earned by fewer than 6% of the world's schools offering business degree programmes. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB connects students, schools and business practitioners to develop the next generation of business leaders. With many major companies reporting they recruit exclusively from AACSB institutions, accreditation also provides students with a career edge.

In 2014 Newcastle Business School became the first business school in Europe to gain accreditation in both its business and accounting programmes – joining an elite group of institutions worldwide. It secured extensions of both accreditations in 2019 and, after a rigorous process of review and evaluation by an AACSB Peer Review Team, it has just regained the double accreditation for a further six years.

This dual accreditation is a testament to the University's commitment to excellence, innovation, and the highest standards in business and accounting education, further enhancing its global reputation and appeal to staff and students.

The AACSB Review Panel praised Northumbria for its ‘remarkable’ rise in research productivity, external funding, and impact, moving from 60th to 9th for Research Power in Business and Management in the UK’s latest Research Excellence Framework. Reviewers also commended Newcastle Business School for promoting societal impact, focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and leading in Responsible Management Education.

Additionally, the panel noted how that the University's commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is evident in its strategic plan and practices, and cited The Business Clinic as an ‘excellent example of experiential learning, engagement with the business community’.

Set up in 2014 – and celebrating its 10th anniversary this year – the Business Clinic provides final year students with the opportunity to work collaboratively with real clients on consultancy projects. The students are supervised by a team of academic and professional consultants and have established a reputation for developing creative and innovative solutions to client briefs. Since its inception, the Business Clinic has delivered 780 consultancy projects involving more than 3,100 students across all business subjects and recently won a national award for excellence in student enterprise

Professor Robert MacIntosh, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Business and Law at Northumbria University, said: “As the very first business school in Europe to have achieved AACSB accreditation for both business and accounting, we are extremely proud of the fact we have now secured our third consecutive term of accreditation. Achieving and maintaining dual AACSB accreditation is an internationally-renowned signal of excellence and one that requires the support of all of our academic and professional service colleagues. It is a clear indication that Northumbria University is committed to delivering the highest quality business and accounting education, preparing our students to become successful and ethical leaders in their fields."

Attaining AACSB accreditation is a mission-driven, rigorous process that includes an in-depth assessment of internal activities, mentorship with an AACSB advisor, and a peer-reviewed evaluation focused on continuous improvement. During this multiyear process, institutions focus on developing and implementing a plan to achieve their mission and align with AACSB’s accreditation standards. These principles-based standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation, research, and teaching and learning.

For more information on Newcastle Business School please visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/nbs