The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University (GSOM SPbU) is the first business school in Russia to receive accreditation by the three most influential international associations: EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB. According to statistics, only one of 100 business schools in the world is afforded such honour.

 

In November 2021, the accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) was granted. This accreditation confirms that the business school is committed to transforming education in view of international market demands integrating cutting edge technologies and best practices into the teaching and learning process.

 

Commitment to success in the global academic environment has been in the core of the School’s strategy since its foundation in 1993. The Graduate School of Management has been gradually moving towards the established goal. In 2008, the School's progress was distinguished by the AMBA (the Association of MBAs) and in 2012 – by the EQUIS (the European Quality Improvement System). The AACSB accreditation allowed for the Graduate School of Management to receive the status of a Business School with a ‘triple crown’ accreditation.

 

Today, only about 100 universities out of 18,000 universities worldwide have all three accreditations. In the academic environment, a ‘triple crown’ accreditation confirms the highest standard of the education quality.

 

‘The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University is the first in Russia to receive the highest international status in the form of the “triple crown” accreditation. It establishes Russia in the map of the best business schools in the world enabling Russian business education to compete with international universities. In 2006, President of Russia Vladimir Putin set the task to create a Russian business school of a global level to train leaders capable of solving global economic problems and increasing the competitiveness of specific economic sectors as well as the country as a whole. We have successfully completed this task. The diploma of St Petersburg University becomes even more valuable both for the alumni and for the employers in Russia and beyond,’ said Sergey Ivanov, Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport, Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University.

 

‘Acclaim of this level is a result of many years of work by the staff at the Graduate School of Management and the whole team of St Petersburg University on the development of business education. We introduce advanced approaches to education, invite the best experts and opinion leaders, implement innovative projects on the basis of the Graduate School of Management at the University. I am confident that this achievement will inspire our students and teachers to reach new academic and research summits and will become a new seal of excellence for employers that have always regarded St Petersburg University’s diplomas as a guarantee of excellent training,’ remarked Nikolay Kropachev, Rector of St Petersburg University, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

 

‘Receiving the “triple crown” accreditation by the Graduate School of Management is the highest recognition on the part of the global academic community. Sustainable implementation of the proper development strategy and active support on the part of the trustees, which enabled the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University to be one of the first in Russia to incorporate cutting edge digital technologies and best practices into the teaching and learning process, made this success possible. This achievement is a well-deserved result of the hard work by the whole staff of the Graduate School of Management as well as all alumni and partners of the business school,’ underscored Olga Dergunova, Deputy President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board, Director of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University.

 

 

Reference

The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University is a leading business school in Russia created on the basis of St Petersburg University, the oldest university in Russia and the largest centre of science, education and culture. Being the only business school to have the ‘triple crown’ international accreditation by the AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS independent associations, the Graduate School of Management is among 1% of the top business schools worldwide with such level of recognition. The Advisory Board of the business school includes leaders of business, authorities and international academic community.

 

AACSB (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) is a global non-governmental association of teachers, students and business aimed at transforming business education worldwide for the sake of positive changes in society.  It was established in 1916 giving its first accreditation in 1919.  It works with the best and the most innovative universities providing for high quality and analysis in business education.

 

AMBA (the Association of MBAs) is an association established in the United Kingdom in 1967 with the goal to support and promote MBA programmes worldwide ensuring its high quality. The association contributes to the interaction among the leading international business schools, potential students, auditors and graduates of MBA programmes as well as employers in over 110 countries.  Since 2008, the programmes of the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University have been accredited by the AMBA.

 

EFMD (the European Foundation for Management Development) was established in 1972 as an independent non-profit association of organisations dealing with education in the sphere of management. Today, together with the AACSB, it is one of the two major associations of the leading business schools worldwide. The EFMD holds quality accreditations for business schools at the level of an institution (EQUIS) and at the level of a programme (EFMD Accredited), as well as for the educational centres of companies (CLIP). It contributes to the development of network among the leading business schools and companies, creates and distributes knowledge about the best practices in management and about the trends in management development and management education. The Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University became a member of the EFMD in 2006 following the external audit confirming compliance with the requirements to the EFMD members. Since 2012, the Graduate School of Management at St Petersburg University has had institutional accreditation by the EQUIS. In November 2021, it was prolonged for five years.