International expansion of ABEST21 accreditation activities will be further promoted through cooperation with the accrediting institutions of the countries which applicant schools are based. It has become indispensable for ABEST21 to have reciprocal partnerships with other regional accrediting institutions.
ONESQA (Office for National Education Standards and Quality Assessment)
On October 14, 2015 at Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), ceremony for signing of MoU between ABEST21 and ONESQA was held attended by Deputy Prime Minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong. Based on the MoU, ABEST21 and ONESQA will aim to develop a Quality Assurance Process to enhance the quality of education in Asia.
MQA (Malaysian Qualifications Agency)
On August 13, 2015 ABEST21 signed the MOA (Memorandum of Arrangement) with the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) represented by Datuk Prof. Dr. Rujhan Mustafa (Chief Executive Officer of MQA), at the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia in the presence of Minister Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh (back row center in the photo). The main areas of co-operation covered by the Memorandum are: a) exchange of operational information, b) exchange of information on status of accreditation, c) mutual understanding of approaches to enhance the understanding of quality assurance in higher education, d) quality system to ensure the role of both agencies, e) promotion of developmental opportunities for the staff of both agencies, f) engaging reviewers from both parties, g) collaborative accreditation programs, h) sharing Good Practice Database, etc.
AQAN (ASEAN Quality Assurance Network)
on March 5, 2014, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) concerning management education quality assurance in Asia was signed by AQAN President Dr. Syed Ahmad Hussein and ABEST21 President Dr. Fumio Itoh on March 5, 2014 at Crowne Plaza Hanoi, Vietnam. Since many ASEAN schools have joined ABEST21 as school members, from Malaysia and Indonesia in particular, and the number of business schools applying for accreditation has increased, we will cooperate with AQAN in nurturing management professionals by active exchange of information on management education quality assurance.
“The Network for Professional Graduate School Accreditation Agencies” in Japan
On December 16, 2013, the network for conducting subject quality assurance and accreditation of professional graduate schools was established, consisting of three accreditation agencies: Japan Law Foundation, Japanese Institute of International Accounting Education, and ABEST21. Together with these agencies specializing in law and accounting, ABEST21 as a business accreditation institution will exchange opinions on specific issues that organizations conducting subject quality assurance and accreditation of professional graduate schools face.
BAN-PT (National Accreditation Agency for Higher Education) of Indonesia
On August, 1, 2011, we visited BAN-PT (Badan Akreditasi Nasional Perguruan Tiggi), the accreditation committee of Indonesian Government, and exchanged views with Mr. Adil Basuki Ahza, Executive Sectretary of BAN-PT, on guaranteeing the quality of management education. We explained about ABEST21 Accreditation System and that University of Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology and University of Brawijaya are applicants from Indonesia at present. The number of Indonesian applicant schools is expected to increase in the future. It was agreed that ABEST21 and BAN-PT will establish a cooperative relationship to promote the exchange of information and cooperation to guarantee the quality of education required to meet the needs of the globalization age. Reciprocal Agreement will be concluded between the two parties.
EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development)
On April 20th, 2009, President Itoh visited the headquarters of EFMD in Brussels, Belgium and meet with Mr. Eric Cornuel, Director General, CEO of EFMD and Mr. Jim Herbolich, the Deputy Director General. After their discussion, both of them agree to sign a Reciprocal Membership Agreement as a way to work together towards ensuring the international standard of quality for management education.