School of Management, Jinan University has formally received a notice and congratulatory letter from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Business Graduates Association (BGA) that the School has passed AMBA re-accreditation for a third time and BGA accreditation (Gold status).

From June 16 to 18, 2021, the AMBA and BGA accreditation panel conducted a three-day online visit to the School of Management. The accreditation panel consists of Vice Dean of Imperial College Business School Ms. Leila Guerra (panel chair), Director of Faculty and Deputy Dean of University of Edinburgh Business School Prof. Sarah Cooper, Director of Global Entrepreneurship Research Centre of Zhejiang University and International Adviser for China at AMBA & BGA Prof. Zhongming Wang, and former Dean of Kedge Business School in France and International Accreditation Advisory Board member at AMBA & BGA Prof. Philip McLaughlin (panel rapporteur). Jinan University President Prof. Xianzhong Song, Vice President Prof. Hong Zhang, the School of Management leadership group, Directors and main responsible persons of MBA (EMBA) Programme,  Undergraduate Programme in Financial Management, Undergraduate Affairs Office, Postgraduate Affairs Office, and General Affairs Office presented at the online meeting.

Panel and Leadership of University and School  

In the meeting with University President, President Song first expressed his warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to the panel for their virtual visit. He then introduced the features and discipline development of Jinan University and highlighted the important position of business education in it. President Song also reviewed the AMBA accreditation history of the School of Management, and emphasized the assistance that AMBA has always provided for the development of the MBA education of the School and the guidance that BGA will bring to the construction of our business education.

President Xianzhong Song, Jinan University

In the meeting with School leadership, School Dean Prof. Wenjing Li gave a report to the panel concerning our strategic goals. He summarized the effort that the School has made to achieve these strategic goals and the consequent achievements since the 2016 AMBA re-accreditation, and the development direction in the future. In the following session, the panel and the School leadership discussed in depth the School governance structure, faculty development, discipline development, student cultivation, alumni relations, ethics and responsibility, etc. The panel also raised questions concerning teaching and learning, curriculum, and assessment of the MBA/EMBA programmes and Undergraduate Programme in Financial Management which is the sample programme for BGA accreditation.  The School leadership team and the responsible persons of the mentioned programmes answered those questions on site. Jun Qi, Assistant Dean and Director of Accreditation Office, also answered questions concerning the self assessment reports and forms, and base room materials, and shared her experience about teaching as a member of the MBA faculty.

 School Dean Wenjing Li

Associate Dean Jun Qi  

Through a three-day virtual visit, the panel has conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the School and programmes against AMBA and BGA accreditation standards, and collected the evaluation opinions from School stakeholders such as teachers, alumni, employers and student representatives. The panel fully recognized the great importance the School and University attached to international accreditation and continuous impact enhancement, and expressed their appreciation of the initiatives concerning faculty development, student experience, linkage with world of practice, and internationalization of the School and programmes. The School’s effort made to maintain teaching and daily operations under Covid-19 was also highly praised. Meanwhile, the panel put forward targeted suggestions on the continuous improvement of the governance structure of the School and the curriculum and intended learning outcomes of the programmes.

Meeting with Panel  

The School of Management officially passed the initial AMBA accreditation in 2011. The accredited programmes include Sino-international MBA (SiMBA), part-time MBA and EMBA. Jinan University became the 5th university in Mainland China that passed AMBA accreditation. The School passed AMBA re-accreditation in 2013 and 2016 in succession. The AMBA and BGA joint accreditation in 2021 is our 3rd re-accreditation of AMBA and the initial accreditation of BGA. The passing of this joint accreditation fully affirms the School’s achievements in business education in the past five years. It not only broadens the path for the School to further enhance its international reputation and impact, but also lays a solid foundation for deepening cooperation with other accredited universities.