TRIPLE ACCREDITATION
For University of Exeter Business School dean David Boughey, it is what you gain by going through the process of triple accreditation that amplifies the value of this coveted status in global management education. Interview by Tim Banerjee Dhoul
A ccording to University of Exeter Business School dean David Boughey, it’s the activities involved in achieving and maintaining triple accreditation that benefit his institution the most. He explains: “Accreditations have helped us through a long journey of refining that we’re about sustainability, technological transformation and responsible leadership and how these three things interlink. “Whether it’s AMBA, AACSB or EQUIS, the processes associated with accreditation force you to think through what you do and why you do it, as well as whether you have the resources to do it and what its impact is. Irrespective of the language used by different accrediting bodies, that is what they’re getting at in their own subtly different ways.” While EQUIS has, according to Boughey, engendered a detailed analysis of how the school’s strategy aligns with its resources, AACSB has brokered fruitful discussions over the school’s mission. “Similarly, for AMBA you’ve got a set of observations on what an MBA’s purpose is and who it is really for,” he continues. “MBA programmes have become more diverse over time and AMBA enables you to tussle with that dilemma. I liken accreditation to a sophisticated thinking process that challenges you internally.” In this light, Boughey believes that it’s critical to engage in the process rather than to see it as an administrative hurdle that must be crossed. “If it becomes a tick-box exercise, the chances are you’re doing it wrong and you’re not getting value from the expense of going through it.” Boughey proceeds to outline some of the cultural benefits he has observed when working towards and completing the robust projects that each major accreditation entails. “It’s a moment of significant organisational achievement. When it is a collective action, it works not just in a reflective sense but also in terms
of bringing teams together for a common purpose in a way that you don’t get on that sort of scale very often in universities and business schools.” Strength in depth The University of Exeter Business School has held triple accreditation since 2019 and recently reaffirmed this status with a six-year extension of its accreditation with AACSB. At the time of writing, it is one of just 129 triple‑accredited business schools worldwide and one of only 27 in the UK. However, Boughey does not think that the number of triple-crown schools in a single country in any way dilutes its significance. “The common misconception is that triple- accreditation status in some way means that you’re all the same, but the blunt reality is that institutions are very different. They compete in different market spaces, both domestically and internationally and we should remind ourselves that accreditation bodies are accrediting the quality of what you do, rather than confirming a preconceived set of ideas about what you should be doing.” Referring specifically to the number of triple-crown schools in the UK and France, Boughey adds: “We should probably celebrate that we’ve got so many schools that are triple accredited because it says something about the depth of the higher education sector in those countries.” Benefits of the badge In talking about the number of options available to today’s prospective students, the conversation moves on to the question of differentiation and any advantages enjoyed by those who hold the industry’s coveted triple crown. While difficult to quantify, Boughey feels that this status is something that applicants will consider. “It’s a set of badges of identification that put you in a certain club. So, the question on the part of an applicant might become ‘why aren’t you triple accredited?’ rather than ascertaining the precise advantage that this brings.”
Ambition | JULY/AUGUST 2024 | 13
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