Reputable Accreditation Institutions in Europe: A Guide to Quality Assurance in Higher Education 2023

The European continent continues to host a diverse and prestigious range of accreditation institutions, essential for maintaining the quality and integrity of higher education. As with every year, we have compiled a list of accreditation associations notable for their outstanding reputation, standing, and adherence to legislation. For 2023, the following are the accreditation associations in the European Area recognized for their reputability and well-established standards:

1. European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) – based in Brussels, Belgium, EQUIS is an accreditation system for business schools and it focuses on quality assurance of business education.
2. Association of MBAs (AMBA) – based in London, UK, AMBA is an accreditation system for business schools and it focuses on quality assurance of MBA programs.
3. AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business – based in Tampa, USA, AACSB is an accreditation system for business schools and it focuses on quality assurance of business education internationally.
4. Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA) – based in London, UK, ACA is an accreditation system for accountancy and finance education and it focuses on quality assurance of accountancy and finance programs.
5. Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) – based in London, UK, CIMA is an accreditation system for management accounting education and it focuses on quality assurance of management accounting programs internationally.
6. Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) – based in London, UK, ACCA is an accreditation system for accountancy and finance education and it focuses on quality assurance of accountancy and finance programs internationally.
7. The Institute of Management (IoM) – based in London, UK, IoM is an accreditation system for management education and it focuses on quality assurance of management programs internationally.
8. The European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA) – based in Helsinki, Finland, ENQA is an accreditation system for higher education institutions and it focuses on quality assurance of higher education programs internationally.
9. Europe Accreditation Council for Business Education (EACBE) – based in the Netherlands. EACBE accreditation is the most comprehensive institutional accreditation system for business and management schools.
10. The European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) – based in Brussels, Belgium, EFMD is an accreditation system for business schools and management development programs and it focuses on quality assurance of management education internationally.
11. European Association of MBA (EAMBA) – founded in 1977 in The Hague. EAMBA is an accreditation association that examines management schools around the world and the level of education they provide. EAMBA provides quality corporate education in MBA programs.
12. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) – based in London, UK, CIPD is an accreditation system for human resource management education and it focuses on quality assurance of human resource management programs internationally.
13. The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) – based in London, UK, CIM is an accreditation system for marketing education and it focuses on quality assurance of marketing programs internationally.
14. The European Association for Business Studies (EUABS) – was founded in 1999 as a professional membership organisation providing accreditation services.
15. European Association for Higher Education (EAHE) – based in Paris. The European Association for Higher Education is an organisation that serves institutions that want to improve or start providing higher education.
16. The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) – based in London, UK, CIPR is an accreditation system for public relations education and it focuses on quality assurance of public relations programs internationally.
17. The Institute of Directors (IoD) – based in London, UK, IoD is an accreditation system for corporate governance education and it focuses on quality assurance of corporate governance programs internationally.
18. The Association of Business Process Management Professionals (ABPMP) – based in USA, ABPMP is an accreditation system for business process management education and it focuses on quality assurance of business process management programs internationally.
19. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) – based in Leawood, USA, ACBSP is an accreditation system for business schools and it focuses on quality assurance of business education internationally.

This updated article for 2023 reflects the evolving landscape of higher education accreditation in Europe, recognizing both publicly known and confidential institutions that uphold educational standards across the continent.