Jiangnan University Receives BGA (Gold Status) Re-accreditation with Five-Year Maximum Accreditation Period

On October 1, 2024, while the entire nation celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the School of Business at Jiangnan University received an official congratulatory email from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Business Graduates Association (BGA) in the United Kingdom. The message congratulated the School on successfully achieving BGA (Gold Status) re-accreditation, with the maximum accreditation period of five years. This achievement follows the School of Business's previous successes in obtaining AMBA accreditation in 2018 and the joint AMBA & BGA accreditation in 2021, reaffirming the quality of its education, management training systems, and internationalization efforts.

On July 1-2, an expert accreditation panel, chaired by Professor Steef van de Velde, Chairman of the AMBA & BGA International Accreditation Advisory Board, conducted a two-day on-site evaluation of the School. The panel also included Professor Andrea Toarniczky, Academic Director of the EMBA program at Corvinus University of Budapest; Professor Wang Chongming, Senior Professor at Zhejiang University; and Joseph Pilkington, Senior Accreditation Manager at AMBA & BGA. Participating in the accreditation visit were Chen Wei, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Jiangnan University; Du Guocheng, Standing Committee Member of the University Party Committee and Vice President; and leadership from the International Exchange Office, Graduate School, Academic Affairs Office, and key figures from the School of Business’s Party and administrative leadership, Organizational Management Department, Marketing Department, MBA/MEM Education Center, Accreditation Office, and student affairs and academic offices.

During the visit, President Chen Wei and Vice President Du Guocheng welcomed the expert panel and introduced the university’s recent developments and achievements. President Chen expressed the hope that the School of Business would seize the opportunity of international accreditation to accelerate its reform and development and extended his gratitude for the expert panel’s support of the school.

The panel conducted a thorough review of the School of Business, including on-site inspections of teaching facilities and office spaces. Dean of the School of Business, Professor Pu XuJin, presented the School's progress since receiving joint AMBA & BGA accreditation in 2021, updates on its flagship undergraduate Business Administration and MBA programs, and the School’s future strategic plans. The panel reviewed related development materials and teaching documentation of the flagship programs and conducted comprehensive evaluations through discussions with school leadership, faculty, employers, students, alumni, and the management team. The expert panel highly praised the school’s achievements, particularly in enhancing discipline construction, improving research capacity, expanding social impact, and strengthening employer relations.

The Association of MBAs (AMBA) was founded in 1967 and, alongside AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System), is recognized as one of the three authoritative international accreditation systems for business education worldwide. AMBA is the only international accreditation body focused solely on MBA programs, emphasizing the development of business and management practices. The Business Graduates Association (BGA) originated from AMBA’s founding in 1967 and advocates the importance of lifelong learning, with a mission centered on promoting responsible management and online learning. BGA accreditation aims to lead a global movement in business education, focusing on lifelong learning and responsible management practices while striving to create positive impacts on students, economies, and society as a whole. It accredits all programs and disciplines within a business school, with the Continuous Impact Model (CIM) at the core of its accreditation process, assessing factors such as strategy, graduate achievements, academic reputation, ecosystems, and social impact.

Pursuing international accreditation is a key initiative in the School of Business’s internationalization strategy, aimed at continuously improving the quality of business education at Jiangnan University. Since first obtaining AMBA accreditation in 2018 and the joint AMBA & BGA accreditation in 2021, the School of Business has made significant progress in areas such as discipline construction, faculty development, curriculum system improvement, quality control, distinctive development, and social impact. These reforms have been highly recognized by students and employers alike. The School of Business’s efforts to achieve both AACSB and AMBA & BGA accreditations have been instrumental in enhancing educational standards and making valuable contributions to the university’s high-quality development.

Official Congratulations from AMBA&BGA

Meeting Between the Expert Panel and jiangnan University Leadership

Meeting Between the Expert Panel and School Leadership

Meeitng Between the Expert Panel and Employer Representatives

Group Photo