Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics received AMBA and BGA accreditations for a further five years

Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics (JSBE) received recognition for its high-quality education, as its AMBA and BGA accreditations were extended for a further five years. The assessments highlighted the effective, pragmatic approach of JSBE’s Executive MBA programme and noted the quality of learning outcomes and effective learning experiences.

Published

18.3.2025

In its accreditation process, the Association of MBAs (AMBA) looks at the scope of an MBA programme, the structure of its content, and students’ work experience in the business world.

The accreditation panel highlighted the uniquely individual and tailored learning path of JSBE’s Avance Executive MBA programme, which takes into account the special features of the Finnish business landscape.

The assessment emphasised the effectiveness of the programme and how it directs managers towards strategically relevant managerial issues. According to the panel, one of the programme’s key strengths is that the studies are closely connected to practical business activities and real-life managerial challenges.

“It’s great that the panel recognised the key strength of our programme,” says Pasi Aaltola, the director of EMBA education at JSBE.

It is about gaining knowledge, as well as holistic development that can lead to changes on the leadership and organisational levels.”

“We have been working hard to develop the programme while also examining the development process of managers and how impactful change is created. The results of the evaluation confirm that our EMBA programme supports the growth of managers and helps organisations in their strategic reforms.”

JSBE excels in the quality of learning outcomes and the management of education programmes

The Business Graduates Association (BGA) accreditation involves the assessment of responsible management practices and ethical aspects.

The accreditation panel considered the clarity and quality of JSBE’s learning outcomes to be excellent, pointing to JSBE’s commitment to the provision of well-structured and effective learning experiences as a particular strength.

The panel also made special mention of how JSBE emphasises students’ contributions to pedagogy and its impacts. A structured approach to goal setting and assessment at both the programme and course level supports self-understanding and promotes a culture of continuous development.

In addition, the panel highlighted the management of JSBE and its education programmes.

“At JSBE, we are committed to the continuous improvement of our operations and have worked long and systematically towards this end in all of our education and research activities as well as in our cooperation with stakeholders,” says JSBE’s Dean, Professor Hanna-Leena Pesonen.

Our success in developing quality is demonstrated by the fact that over the past year we have successfully passed all three of our international quality accreditations assessments. In each one, the significance of JSBE’s management has been highlighted as one of our strengths.”

The international assessment panel for AMBA and BGA accreditations visited JSBE on 2–3 December 2024. The assessment panel included Professor Luis Torras (EADA Business School, Spain), Professor Aggie Chidlow (Birmingham Business School, UK), Professor Tamim Elbasha (Audencia, France), and Joseph Pilkington (AMBA & BGA, UK).

JSBE’s Executive MBA programme was accredited for the first time in 2011. The BGA accreditation was granted to JSBE for the first time in January 2020. JSBE also received accreditation by the Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) for a further six years in summer 2024.