AACSB and Entrepreneurship: How An Accreditation Association is Paving a New Path Forward

Leonardo da Vinci once famously wrote, “To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art; study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.” This interconnectedness inspired the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) to rethink and redesign its business accreditation standards in 2020.

A Shift Toward Principles and Agility

Under the leadership of President and CEO Caryn Beck-Dudley, the AACSB moved away from the highly prescriptive "hard" skills approach—such as theory memorization and case study analysis—toward a model that is: * Principles-based: Allowing business schools to align standards with their unique missions and values. * Outcomes-focused: Emphasizing proactive, upstream solutions over reactive measures. * Encouraging of ingenuity: Prioritizing agility and innovation to support entrepreneurial thinking.

Embracing Behavioral Change

Beck-Dudley highlighted two key behavioral shifts necessary for modern universities:

1. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Schools must partner across departments to solve complex problems rather than staying in isolated "lanes."
2. Openness to Change: Established faculty must be willing to learn alongside younger scholars, embracing innovation and sharing failures as part of the learning process.

Leading with Humility

The new standards embody the spirit of Humane Entrepreneurship by viewing students as whole human beings. By shifting the focus from rigid rules to shared guidelines, the AACSB aims to empower educators to have a greater impact on society. As Beck-Dudley aptly noted in her keynote, “If we’re not making a positive impact, what are we doing with our time?”