Accreditations and certificates

akredytacje

Accreditations and certificates

 

For many years Kozminski University has been a holder of three prestigious accreditations – EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA which are granted to the best business schools in the world. KU has also been awarded numerous certificates by many international organizations, and is recognized by professional associations operating in the areas of management, HR, and CSR. The programs of study offered at KU are regularly awarded by the Polish Accreditation Committee.

 

The “Triple Crown" accreditation for Kozminski University

When we buy gold jewelry, we look for information about its purity, which is a specific, internationally understood standard indicating the quality of gold ore. Such an internationally understood business-standard are the AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA accreditations, which together form the so-called "triple crown":

  • EQUIS – European Quality Improvement System
  • AACSB – Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • AMBA – Association of MBAs

Each of these accreditations is a distinctive mark of quality business education, and their joint presence on a diploma is equivalent to the highest purity of gold. Regardless of which country in the world you are in, accreditations confirm the quality of a completed degree.

There are about 15,000 business schools and university economics departments in the world. Out of all of them, only 1% possess the "triple crown" accreditation – our University is among them. We have held it since 2012. We were the first and, until 2022, the only university in Poland and the entire region of Central Europe to receive this distinction (currently, in Poland apart from us, this distinction has been awarded to one other university).

triple crown

EQUIS

The accreditation is awarded to the best business schools by EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development) – an organization that rigorously and thoroughly assesses the quality of education and the conditions to study. There are about 15,000 business schools in the world. Only 221 of them hold this prestigious accreditation.

Our University was the first business school in the whole Central and Eastern Europe to receive such a distinction. We were therefore the only higher education institution in Poland to have met the requirements of the European Quality Improvement System. We were awarded this accreditation for the first time in 1999, as the 16th higher education institution in Europe to obtain it, next to world leaders such as London Business School, INSEAD in Fontainebleau, or IMD in Lausanne. KU was successfully reaccredited in 2002, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020.

The aim of EQUIS accreditation is to improve the quality of education in management, which is why focuses on all fields of study offered by a given institution. Both academics and business practitioners are involved in EQUIS accreditation processes. The assessment encompasses all of the higher education institution’s activities, including scientific research and postgraduate education initiatives. EQUIS places emphasis on the development of managerial and entrepreneurial skills among students and on the incorporation of innovations in education processes.

Find out more about the EQUIS accreditation HERE

EQUIS

AACSB

AACSB – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business is the oldest institution in the world to accredit business schools at all three levels of teaching: undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels – in the area of management, business, and accounting. At present (2024), around 7% (i.e. a total of approx. 1000) of all business schools worldwide have obtained AACSB accreditation, including universities like Harvard or Yale. Our University joined these esteemed ranks in 2012. We were successfully reaccredited in 2017, and 2022.

Find out more about the AACSB accreditation HERE

AMBA

AMBA accreditation is a proof of the highest quality of education in the scope of MBA programs, compliant with international standards. It is awarded by the Association of MBAs. The process of accreditation involves an assessment of e.g. the conditions to study, the programs, staff competence and qualifications, and student achievements. Kozminski University was accredited by AMBA in June 2008. It is currently (2024) held by 277 schools in 60 countries worldwide. In order to be accredited by AMBA, it is necessary to undergo an extensive process of assessment performed by a special board composed of representatives of already accredited universities.

Find out more about the AMBA accreditation HERE

Awards of the Polish Accreditation Committee

The Polish Accreditation Committee evaluates individual fields of study and grants awards if the requirements are met beyond the standard. PAC has rated as many as 3 fields of study at KU as outstanding: management, finance and accounting, administration.

MANAGEMENT  The Polish Accreditation Committee awarded our management program for its outstanding quality three times (in 2004, 2010, and 2019). In the period 2004-2010, we were the only higher education institution in Poland to boast such a respectable award. The awarding of the outstanding rating was motivated by the fact that KU far exceeded the staff, program, and organizational requirements adopted as standard.

FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING  According to a post-inspection report of the Polish Accreditation Committee, all the criteria for the field of study, including e.g. the curriculum, the teaching faculty, internationalization, and infrastructure, were met and up to the highest standard. The PAC Presidium decided to award the outstanding rating to finance and accounting at KU in February 2018.

ADMINISTRATION  In 2013, the Presidium of the Polish Accreditation Committee decided to award the outstanding rating to our field of study in administration. Out of eight quality criteria, seven were rated as outstanding. The Commission emphasized the level of competence of the research and teaching faculty as well as the high quality of the curriculum, the teaching infrastructure, and the system of support offered to students in the learning process. Apart from our University, only two other higher education institutions in Poland can boast PAC’s outstanding rating for the field of study in administration.  

Link to the PAC website HERE

pka

ISO – Quality Management System Certificate

Kozminski International Business School has held the PN-EN ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Certificate since 2002.

PN-EN ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard that defines the requirements of a quality management system. The purpose of the accreditation is to guarantee the repeatability of high-quality postgraduate education processes.

The certificate is a guarantee of an ongoing improvement process, the result of which is to fully understand and meet the requirements and expectations of students. 

The certificate is valid for 3 years, but a follow-up audit should be conducted annually.  

BSIS certification

In June 2020, Kozminski University was awarded the Business School Impact System (BSIS) certification, which demonstrates the awardee’s impact on their societal and economic environment. Our University was the only one from Poland to be featured among the awarded 50 business schools from 17 countries.

The certification, established by an international foundation supporting the development of managerial education – EFMD – assesses the impact of business schools on their immediate environments. It is defined as a local market in seven aspects: financial, educational, business development, intellectual, ecosystem development, societal, and image.

BSIS experts estimated the value of KU’s financial impact alone to amount to 200 million euro per year. This includes e.g. the University’s expenditure on research and development projects and employers’ investments in our graduates. The regional impact of the University as a provider of skilled employees, an organizer of opportunities to exchange of ideas and promote responsible civic attitudes was also taken into account, just like its commitment to a sustainable economy and care for human health and the natural environment.

Find out more about the BSIS certification HERE

Logo BSIS

Positive Impact Rating for Business Schools

Kozminski University is in the first edition the Positive Impact Rating (PIR) as one of 30 business schools in the world and the only one from Poland. The rating was announced in 2020 during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Positive Impact Rating is a list of the best business universities in terms of their social responsibility and concern for sustainable development, conducted by and for students. Students from top business schools around the world have evaluated their schools for their positive impact on the world, which goes beyond their contribution to business and the economy. The rating was developed in cooperation with an international group of professors, international organizations: UN Global Compact, WWF, OXFAM, and student associations – AIESEC, Oikos, Net Impact.

Our University is included in the PIR list every year. In 2022, we were promoted to the group of transforming schools, i.e. universities that consistently transform their entire policy and methods of education in order to protect the planet and its inhabitants (level IV).

Link to the Positive Impact Rating 2023 Report HERE

Positive Impact Rating grafika

Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME)

Since 2008, we have been a member of an international organization called Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), whose mission is to raise the profile of sustainable development at higher education institutions around the world.

PRME is the largest platform connecting the United Nations with business schools. In line with the established Six Principles, PRME supports higher education institutions in educating future leaders in responsible management and in the successful pursuit of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Find out more about PRME HERE

PRME

RRBM – Responsible Research for Business and Management

Social usefulness, credibility and reliable assessment of scientific research in the area of business and management are the basic values guiding the Responsible Research for Business and Management (RRBM), a virtual organization and community of scientists from all over the world.

Kozminski University has also become a member of the RRBM, which is committed to the connection between science and practice, responsible and ethical business, and above all, the contribution of universities and researchers to improving business and social life in Poland and worldwide.

Find out more HERE

RRBM logo 1

HR Excellence in Research

In 2017, the European Commission granted Kozminski University the right to use the HR Excellence in Research logo.

The award is granted to institutions operating in the field of R&D and research-funding organizations who adapt their internal rules and procedures in their everyday practice and in the recruitment of researchers to the guidelines given in the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, thus offering academic teachers attractive working conditions and making sure that recruitment is transparent and merit-based.

The Charter and the Code are among the most important documents developed by the Commission as part of its strategy to make working conditions and the open job market more attractive to academic teachers in the European Union. The European Charter for Researchers defines the rights and obligations of both researchers and the institutions employing them. The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers sets out principles for the recruitment of researchers, which should be respected by employing institutions to make sure that all researchers in Europe are treated equally.

In order to adapt internal regulations and procedures to the principles set out in the Charter and the Code, we have prepared, in accordance with the procedure of the European Commission, the Human Resources Management Strategy for KU academic teachers.

STRATEGY

ACTION PLAN 2023-2026

Logo HR Excellence in Research

IQA

International Quality Accreditation, an accreditation assessing the professionalism of education institutions, was awarded to our University by the Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN) in 2001.

The main objective of CEEMAN is to improve the quality of education in the scope of management in Central and Eastern Europe.

Kozminski University successfully completed the process of reaccreditation in 2007, 2013, and 2019.

Find out more HERE

ceeman

Trustworthy Brand

Our University has the title of "Trustworthy Brand 2023", awarded by the magazine "My Company Polska".

"My Company Polska" has been conducting the survey for 8 years through the Kantar market research institute. Every year the interviewers ask 20 thousand entrepreneurs, managerial staff representatives, and company presidents which brands they trust. In 2023 edition respondents indicated brands in 25 categories. Kozminski University won in the "School of Leaders" category.