SCMS-COCHIN Gets ACBSP Accreditation; The Hallmark Of Quality B-school Education

Online, October 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Laurels keep pouring in with the School of Communication & Management Studies, Cochin (SCMS-COCHIN) earning accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) based on the primary yardsticks of great teaching, faculty, and facilities and an overall academic administrative quality. ACBSP is headquartered in Kansas City, USA and is a global agency that is responsible for the accreditation of B-Schools.

During the accreditation ceremony at the SCMS-COCHIN campus on the 31st of August, Douglas Viehland, Executive Director of ACBSP, congratulated SCMS-COCHIN for its fine achievement. Explaining the accreditation process, Mr. Viehland laid emphasis on learning-centred education and the outcome-oriented approach of ACBSP, wherein the assessment of colleges is done on the basis of innovations and continuous quality improvement in teaching and learning. ACBSP being the second-largest accreditation body worldwide, focuses on teaching excellence, in which 'learning' is given top priority.

Based on the Malcolm Balridge National Quality Award Education Criteria developed and used in the USA, the ACBSP accreditation process is very stringent and sets high standards for its accredited colleges. Highlighting the quality of education at SCMS-COCHIN, Mr. Viehland said, "SCMS-COCHIN is doing the same thing businesses do out there. They improve the quality of education and learning and the focus is on improving the student."

Dr. G. P. C. Nayar, Chairman, SCMS-COCHIN expressed his joy at the international accreditation by calling it one of the happiest moments of his life. Recounting the many successes of SCMS-COCHIN, he spoke of the hard struggle behind every success SCMS-COCHIN has had, which have finally has culminated in the ACBSP accreditation. Recently, SCMS-COCHIN was also inducted as a member of the prestigious ABS (UK), which again reinforces its top position among B-Schools in India.

ACBSP's stamp of approval means greater visibility for SCMS-COCHIN and better placement opportunities for its students, as most global corporate giants have a policy of visiting only ACBSP accredited B-Schools for recruitment. Accreditation is considered the hallmark of a quality B-School education, and students at SCMS-COCHIN are thrilled by the honour bestowed upon it from ACBSP.

With an accreditation, SCMS-COCHIN is required to send in a quality report every two years. That will help ACBSP ensure that the quality of the college remains high and is also an opportunity for the college to improve itself. After ten years, the entire process of accreditation will have to be repeated so as to enable SCMS-COCHIN remain a top B-School.

In her closing speech, Prof. Mariakutty Varkey, Head of Dept. Systems and Operations who was also the leader of the core team that worked for the ACBSP accreditation, spoke of the processes and improvements SCMS-COCHIN had made to meet the standards set by the ACBSP. Prof. Maria said the accreditation by ACBSP is just another indicator of the excellence one can expect at SCMS-COCHIN. "The accreditation process has also helped SCMS-COCHIN to integrate a series of globally recognised best practices with regard to our programmes and courses," Prof. Maria said.

Regarding the future prospects for the college after this accreditation, Prof. Maria said, "We are also looking at other standards from UK, etc. This standard is mainly focussed on the teaching aspects of the college while some other standards are focussed on the research." She added that she was extremely happy that their hard work had paid off now that they have got this accreditation. "I'm happy but also apprehensive because we have to keep it moving. This is an added responsibility but all the faculty members are very supportive," said Prof Maria.