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The IACBE is a leader in outcomes-based assessment and accreditation, in which excellence in business education is evaluated based on the results of the assessment of educational outcomes, rather than on prescriptive input standards. The IACBE believes that educational quality must be measured by outcomes rather than inputs, because inputs do not necessarily correlate with quality outcomes, since the quality of outcomes is dependent not only on inputs, but also on the processes used by the institution and its business programs to convert inputs to outcomes. The only accurate way to measure excellence in business education, therefore, is through the assessment of educational outcomes.
Because of the essential role that educational processes play in determining educational outcomes, the IACBE has developed accreditation principles based on best practices in business education. These principles promote excellence in business education through a benchmarking process, which is helpful in determining why the business unit is, or is not, achieving its mission and broad-based goals, and in interpreting the results of the outcomes assessment process.
The IACBE bases its accrediting process on principles, rather than standards. Standards and principles are similar, in that both may be used to evaluate effectiveness. Standards, however, may be arbitrary—they assume that achieving the standard ensures quality outcomes, which may not be true. Standards are more effective in a manufacturing environment, where products are standardized and outputs are easily measured. Standards are problematic in an educational environment, because people are individuals and human activity cannot be standardized. In comparison, principles are used to assess outcomes, not measure outputs. Principles are used to assess learning, not test products. Educational institutions are unique, with differing missions, goals, processes, and intended learning outcomes. Standards provide arbitrary cut-off points, where the standard is either met or not; while principles assess progress toward excellence, allow for a continuum of accomplishment, and encourage continuous improvement. There is no standard of learning that fits all institutions, but there are principles that can apply to all institutions.
The IACBE is committed to a developmental approach to excellence in business education. The IACBE and its members function in a collaborative and cooperative manner, encouraging each other toward higher levels of quality in business education.
The IACBE is both flexible and innovative in applying its philosophy of accreditation. It recognizes that business education exists within a dynamic, complex environment that requires innovative approaches to achieving quality educational outcomes.
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