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Business Schools play a vital role in preparing students for future employment; by giving them the tools and skills to succeed in their professional lives. And while this is a vital aspect of a Business School, BGA believes that Schools also need to focus on broader aspects of the personal and professional growth of graduates. This includes the cultivation of social skills, ethical behaviour, self-confidence, and humility, all of which form the foundation to socially conscious and responsible leaders.
BGA was built to bring responsible management to the forefront of business education, and to advance the sustainability agenda. In the information age it is critical that stakeholders have a clear understanding of the role that the Business School is playing in developing responsible managers of the future.
Further, Business Schools, as a social utility must be at the forefront of responsible management and sustainability initiatives. It is for these reasons that BGA’s accreditation is achieved only by institutions that can clearly demonstrate their commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BGA’s accreditation involves an independent panel assessment that rigorously assesses an institution’s sustainability initiatives and analyses the School’s commitment to — and delivery of — responsible management principles.
At the heart of BGA accreditation lies the concepts of responsible management and sustainability. To achieve accreditation, Business Schools must evidence their commitment to the SDGs, through action, teaching and scholarship.
BGA believes that successful attainment of accreditation should reflect a Business Schools’ ability to meet its key strategic objectives and overall mission, while operating sustainably and demonstrating a positive impact on key stakeholders. This encourages Business Schools to specialise and experiment with numerous forms of programmes and courses, while using BGA’s criteria and CIM to measure the success of their endeavours.
BGA’s consultative accreditation process also provides Business Schools with practical guidance on programme and curriculum design. Business Schools can expect mentors and assessors to play a supportive role in the integration of responsible management principles.
Upon successful attainment of accreditation, the Business School receives an impact report that highlights the areas of positive impact within a number of dimensions, including societal impact. The impact report offers clear insight into the reasons why a Business School achieved accreditation and is an excellent tool for marketing purposes, highlighting the strengths of its business programmes and support services.
The BGA Charter, which includes specific reference to the the SDGs, is a principled document that all BGA member, validated and accredited Business Schools must sign if they are to join the BGA Network.
Upon joining the network, BGA Schools gain access to services structured to give them the tools they need in order to gain a competitive advantage and a leading edge in helping them serve their core markets of students, employers and society. This is achieved by supporting their continuous improvement, impact on individuals and society, and the ongoing development of responsible management practices.
BGA supports Schools to improve their responsible management initiatives through consultative services, capacity building workshops, promotion of impactful projects and initiatives, and ongoing general support. An example of a consultative service that is tailored to support Schools to improve responsibly is BGA’s Desktop Review.
BGA’s Desktop Review process is a complimentary service available to BGA Schools that evaluates a specific aspect of the Business School, such as the current marketing and admissions strategy, or a current undergraduate programme, where the Business School is seeking to improve. The Business School is confidentially assessed by an impartial business education expert, and provides the Business School with an opportunity to evaluate their current offering against internationally recognised standards, a process by which the School can use to gauge an understanding of crucial steps that need to be taken in order to achieve quality recognition.
BGA aims to ensure that Business Schools innovate and venture beyond conventional means of teaching. This is accomplished by factoring in the SDGs and the key principles of management in a meaningful way.
Thought Leadership
As a movement dedicated to improving business education standards globally, AMBA & BGA conducts research on topics that inspire Business School professionals and propel responsible management concepts to the forefront.
BGA’s Business School magazine Business Impact, is delivered in-person and online to thousands of Business School professionals and focuses on key issues impacting business education globally. Business Impact regularly features contributions and content that further the responsible management agenda with a truly global view, canvassing the opinions of business education specialists from all continents.
Events
AMBA & BGA’s award-winning global events and conferences are tailor-made for Business School leaders.
They provide an excellent opportunity to develop professionally, network and stay up to date on the latest trends impacting the business education sector. BGA offers seven core events for Business School leaders who want to grow in their role, broaden their networks and develop professionally. Each event delivers sessions focused on progressing the responsible management agenda in alignment with the 17 SDGs.
Students of BGA member, validated and accredited (and graduates of validated and accredited) Schools are eligible for complimentary BGA individual membership. It is through this membership that individuals gain access to tools and services designed to enhance their personal and professional development.
