Asia Pacific Accreditation Conference

Join fellow Chinese business school leaders for this dedicated regional meeting focused on networking, collaboration, and shared accreditation goals. This session offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers, exchange ideas, and discuss common challenges and opportunities within the context of AACSB accreditation and quality assurance. Participants will engage in open dialogue around strategic priorities, regional trends, and ways to strengthen collaboration among Chinese institutions. Whether you're new to the accreditation journey or seeking to enhance your school’s global impact, this meeting fosters a supportive community committed to advancing business education in China and beyond.

This workshop presents a practical, faculty-led approach to integrating experiential learning into a single class session while maintaining alignment with Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and Assurance of Learning (AoL) principles. Designed for faculty, academic leaders, and accreditation stakeholders, the session demonstrates how short, decision-based activities can generate observable evidence of learning without requiring curriculum redesign, additional assessments, or program-level changes. Emphasizing simple, repeatable, and adaptable instructional design, the workshop focuses on lecturer facilitation, observation of learning signals, and structured reflection to support course- and program-level outcomes within existing accreditation frameworks.

The conference will open with remarks from Joyce Strawser, AACSB Board of Directors Chair, who will celebrate AACSB’s 110th Anniversary, share organizational updates, and introduce the featured session. The 2026 Global Standards Refresh introduces targeted updates designed to clarify expectations, enhance alignment, and strengthen the overall accreditation experience. This session will provide a clear overview of what has changed, the rationale behind the updates, and how they may affect strategic planning, accreditation documentation, and continuous improvement processes. Designed for Asia Pacific institutions at all stages of accreditation, the session will also include dedicated time for participants to ask questions and gain clarity directly from AACSB experts, ensuring schools leave with greater confidence and practical next steps.

Enjoy refreshments while connecting with colleagues and peers. Take this opportunity to visit the Exhibitor Showcase and discover new ideas and partnerships. Be sure to stop by the Discover AACSB area to explore our full range of offerings – from the Academy to technology, data, and other valuable resources designed to support your institution’s success.

Effective strategic planning requires more than a mission statement—it requires a modern toolkit that helps institutions analyze their environment, clarify priorities, and translate strategy into action. This session introduces participants to what a contemporary strategic planning stack looks like for business schools, highlighting tools such as PESTLE analysis to understand external forces, the Business Model Canvas to examine value creation, and disruptive mapping to identify emerging threats and opportunities, culminating in SWOT analysis to synthesize insights and guide strategic direction. The session will also explore how AI-enabled tools can enhance environmental scanning, scenario planning, and strategic insight generation, equipping participants with practical approaches for building a more dynamic, data-informed strategic planning process that supports institutional differentiation, innovation, and long-term impact.

With the latest AACSB standards update introducing a refined Societal Impact table, business schools have an additional optional tool that can help organize and communicate their contributions to society. This session will explore the intent and structure of the table and discuss how institutions may choose to use it to align impact initiatives with mission, strategy, and measurable outcomes. Designed for Asia Pacific institutions preparing for accreditation or continuous improvement reviews, the discussion will highlight common challenges, effective reporting practices, and practical approaches for moving beyond activity reporting toward clearer, evidence-based demonstrations of societal impact.

Assurance of Learning remains central to demonstrating academic quality and continuous improvement under AACSB accreditation. This session will explore core expectations, highlight recent updates to Table 5.1 within the new standards, and address common pitfalls observed across the Asia Pacific region — including misalignment of learning goals, inconsistent assessment cycles, and limited evidence of closing the loop. Designed for AoL leaders and accreditation teams, the discussion will provide practical strategies to simplify processes, strengthen documentation, and ensure AoL systems demonstrate meaningful impact rather than mere compliance.

Teaching effectiveness remains central to delivering meaningful learner success and continuous improvement. This session will explore leading practices in designing, assessing, and enhancing teaching effectiveness across diverse institutional contexts, with particular attention to innovation, faculty engagement, and measurable impact. Participants will also receive an overview of recent updates to Standard 7, including clarified expectations and practical implications for accreditation documentation and strategic alignment. Designed for Asia Pacific institutions at all stages of accreditation, the session will provide actionable insights to strengthen teaching quality while meeting evolving AACSB standards.

Faculty qualifications remain a critical component of AACSB accreditation, reflecting a school’s commitment to academic quality, thought leadership, and learner success. This session will examine key expectations related to faculty sufficiency, deployment, and engagement, with practical guidance on documenting qualifications and aligning faculty activities with mission and strategy. Drawing on common challenges observed across the Asia Pacific region, the discussion will provide actionable insights to help schools strengthen reporting clarity, manage faculty portfolios effectively, and demonstrate sustained impact under the standards.

What truly changes after earning AACSB accreditation? In this dynamic panel session, newly accredited schools from the Asia Pacific region will share candid insights on how accreditation has strengthened their institutions — from driving innovation and sharpening strategy to unlocking new funding opportunities and enhancing reputation. Panelists will discuss both internal benefits, such as stronger processes and faculty engagement, and external gains, including partnerships, student recruitment, and market positioning. Join this conversation to hear real-world experiences and explore how accreditation can serve as a catalyst for meaningful and sustained institutional improvement.

Connect with your peers and make new friends! This reception is the perfect opportunity to unwind and continue the day’s discussions in a more informal setting. The event is sponsored by Chiang Mai University.