16 January 2009. The US-based Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has re-accredited the University of St.Gallen for an additional six years after a mandatory peer review, acknowledging the University's excellence in providing management education, conveying particular enthusiasm towards the steps taken to implement "program wide assurance of learning particularly at the Executive MBA level".

Satisfied over re-accreditation
The University Vice-President, Professor Dyllick, in charge of quality development, expressed satisfaction over the re-accreditation, saying that such a certification was important to attract top students; to qualify as a business partner in international operations to strengthen programs; to open up more employment opportunities for junior faculty in other AACSB accredited schools; and to strengthen the international brand of the University of St.Gallen.

Exceptionally effective practice
Professor Dyllick said that in the AACSB's revised accreditation standards institutions are required to define and measure learning goals for all degree programs offered.

"We worked really hard on these measurement issues and found it quite challenging, so it came as a pleasant surprise to see that the Peer Review highlighted this aspect of 'assurance of learning' at the Executive MBA level as being an exceptionally effective practice of the University of St.Gallen," he said.