The Olin School of Business at the Washington University in St. Louis recently announced a couple of milestones. First, they have earned triple accreditation. Additionally, the school will be launching an Online MBA program in January 2022.
Earning Triple Accreditation
If a business school is accredited, it means that their program adheres to the highest educational standards. Also, accreditation opens the door to federal funding for the institutions as well as federal and state financial aid for students. Different governing bodies, including Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), review teaching, curriculum, career development and employability, among other criteria. Only a quarter of business schools in the U.S. achieve accreditation from AACSB.
The Olin School of Business has earned accreditation from AMBA and AACSB. They just earned AMBA accreditation in March 2020 and their AACSB accreditation was renewed. Then, in late April this year, Olin earned accreditation from the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). Olin is now one of two business schools in the United States to earn triple accreditation. Additionally, they join roughly 100 international business schools in this achievement.
“Olin’s vision is to promote world-changing business education, research and impact. Embracing the process of triple accreditation affirms our progress toward that vision,” said Mark P. Taylor, dean of Olin. “These bodies have held us accountable for the standards we have set for ourselves.”
Olin Launches New Online MBA
On the horizon, Olin plans to launch an Online MBA in January 2022. Olin designed the 30-month program for people who are: working in a digitally mature company or environment; looking to improve their digital-business acumen; or seeking to lead a digital transformation in a company or industry, including entrepreneurs. The program will focus on digital technology, such as big data, blockchain, the internet of things, and artificial intelligence, in business. The composition of the Online MBA came to ideation as a result of surveys of alumni, faculty and consulting and advising firms including Deloitte, McKinsey and Bain. As a result of the surveys, Olin administrators realized a demand for digital competencies and competitiveness.
The core courses will be taught by the same faculty as in Olin’s in-person MBA program. Also, the school will enhance standard case studies by presenting them live online and hosting guest presenters. The broadcasting base for the online MBA is the Center for Digital Education, which has a full-time staff and eight studios.
For more on these developments from Olin, see the full article here.
