Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/57464
Vl'Accréditation ive by Julie Perrin-Halot and Mark Thomas W hen the Financial Times published its most recent ranking of specialized master's degree programs, seven of the top ten were French schools. This would be an impressive achievement for any coun- try, but it was remarkable coming from a nation reputed to resist globalization and the adoption of the English language. While many reasons contributed to the increasing visibility of French schools, accreditation has been a key factor. During the past ten years, French business schools have invested a significant amount of time and money into pur- suing accreditation. In 1997, ESSEC in Paris became the first business school outside North America to obtain accreditation from AACSB International, while HEC Paris earned EFMD's EQUIS accreditation. Later, HEC went on to earn accreditation from AACSB and the Asso- ciation of MBAs (AMBA) as well. Several schools in France then followed suit. It's clear that French institutions have realized that accredita- tion will boost both their quality and their international reputa- tions. They've also realized that accreditation offers extraordinary benefits, both as a means and an end. French business schools have seen rapid growth in the past decade, due largely to the improvements they have made to achieve accreditation. 32 BizEd SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008