RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – UCUBS International Office and UCU International Business Institute director Ignacio Bartesaghi is familiar with the accreditation process; in his former role as Dean of FCE, he was responsible for leading it. In late 2019 he was anticipating what could happen.
“We could take a major leap forward in 2021 if we succeed in becoming AACSB certified, the association comprising the world’s leading business schools and universities. It is based in Tampa and has the highest recognition among the famous triple crowns of business school quality.”
“To qualify, schools must meet a set of very demanding standards. We are in the race, in February 2020 we delivered the third and last report. If everything goes well, we will be approved by the board and then they will come to evaluate us to see if everything we say is true. After AACSB aproval, both the FCE and UCUBS will be certified for 5 years.”
Finally, the great leap occurred – which Bartesaghi envisioned and which he shared with all UCU authorities.
In October 2021, after a marathon week of interviews that different working groups (deans, program directors, students, researchers, heads of central services) held with the international board, UCU received the news: its School of Business and its Faculty of Business Sciences were accredited by AACSB.
Thus, UCU is the only university in Uruguay with this recognition, as stated in the AACSB press release on November 16.
“For over a century, accreditation has been synonymous with the highest standards in business and administration education. (…) Achieving accreditation involves a rigorous process of internal review along with an assigned mentor and subsequent peer review. During these years, schools focus on developing and implementing a plan that is aligned with AACSB standards. These standards demand excellence in areas related to strategic management; innovation; active students, schools and partners; learning and teaching; and professional and academic engagement.”
Bartesaghi states that the AACSB board perceived “UCU’s vitality and strength to change.” “From the Dean’s presentation they confirmed the recent transformations undertaken with innovation and dynamism. They recognized the effort made to meet the standards of the association with very specific results and also mentioned the plans to continue improving in the areas where we still have opportunities for improvement,” says UCUBS International Office director.
Following the news, Bartesaghi is celebrating and expressing his gratitude.
“The first thing is to celebrate the achievement, which is certainly unique in the country. And, then, I cannot forget the moments experienced with my closest work team, Robert Scherer, our mentor for years, Lucía Oholeguy (member of the International Office) with whom we experienced moments of immense stress, the deans and the entire UCU team who committed themselves to achieve the goal,” he says.
Dean of the School of Business Marcos Soto sums up the feeling in an image: “we are filled with emotion.”
“The accreditation process is rigorous; it allowed us to show ourselves, to open our house, to display what we do, how we work, the programs we offer. Having been certified makes us proud of our proposal because it was reviewed by very demanding standards. I know that this accreditation is a leap in quality for our business school and that it is a great differential in the sector.”
The current Dean of the School of Business Sciences Isabelle Chaquiriand recalls the roller coaster of emotions that week. Several days later, she says that she cannot remember such intense moments. She chooses two instances that deeply moved her. The first is the image and feeling of knowing that the whole university community was vibrating together.
“There was an incredible energy in the air, very intense, very positive. A very large team vibrating and working together, in this beautiful challenge which is to train professionals and people with academic excellence and personal and professional purpose that the business world needs to build the future.”
And the second moment was the exchange with students and graduates after the interviews with the AACSB board. “At the end of the day, this is all by and for them and in each one there is a life story,” she concludes.