From June 21 to 25, a peer review team from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) visited SUES to conduct a four-day on-site initial accreditation review. The peer review team was chaired by Professor Jean J. Chen, Chair Professor in Accounting and Financial Management and Director of Higher Degree Apprenticeships at the University of Kent, UK. Dr. Shu Schiller, Dean of the Ed G. Smith College of Business, University of Missouri–St. Louis, USA, and Professor Yang Zhi, Dean of the School of Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, served as members of the peer review team. SUES President Lou Yongqi and Vice President Xia Chunming attended the relevant meetings, together with heads of functional departments and all members of the Party and administrative leadership of the School of Management Studies.
On the morning of June 22, SUES held a welcome meeting for the accreditation visit. In his address, President Lou Yongqi introduced the university’s history and its strategic positioning in the new era, emphasizing that SUES will continue to regard AACSB accreditation as a key driver in advancing the high-quality development of business education. Professor Jean J. Chen, on behalf of the peer review team, outlined the objectives, significance, and procedures of the visit. The meeting was chaired by Vice President Xia Chunming.
During the visit, the experts conducted a comprehensive review of over ten core areas, including strategic planning, internationalization, faculty development, curriculum design, and assurance of learning, etc. Sixteen thematic sessions were held, during which the team engaged in in-depth discussions with 139 participants, including administrators, faculty members, current students, and alumni of the School of Management Studies. The reviewers also examined a wide range of institutional documentation, visited the university library, and toured SUES innovation laboratories showcasing the “Engineering × Management × Design” talent development model.
On June 24, at the feedback session, the peer review team highly commended SUES for its policy support and resource investment in business education, as well as the School of Management Studies’ achievements in AACSB preparation. Drawing on the university’s engineering strengths and Shanghai’s regional advantages, the experts also provided constructive suggestions on the School’s six-year strategic plan, international faculty development, and overseas exchange programs.
On behalf of SUES, President Lou Yongqi expressed gratitude to the peer review team for their professional guidance. He pointed out that the university will carefully review and fully incorporate all recommendations, refine the improvement plan, and integrate it into the next-stage strategic development of the School of Management Studies. SUES will continue to strengthen resource allocation to address key development priorities. Taking this accreditation visit as an opportunity, SUES will further leverage the internationalization achievements of business education to enhance the overall quality of all disciplines and steadily advance the School of Management Studies toward becoming a well-recognized international local business school.
Founded in 1916, AACSB is one of the oldest and most prestigious business education accreditation bodies in the world. Its founding members include Harvard University, Columbia University, and Cornell University. AACSB accreditation is widely regarded as the highest global gold standard in business education, with only about 6% of business schools worldwide currently accredited.
