AACSB Leadership Conference 2023: Innovation, Quality, and the Future of Business Education

Attending the AACSB Leadership Conference 2023 was a powerful opportunity to connect with academic leaders, quality assurance experts, and industry innovators from around the world, all united by the goal of shaping the future of business education.

The conference focused on the strategic challenges and opportunities facing higher education leaders today:

• Navigating digital transformation while maintaining academic excellence.

• Embedding sustainability and social impact into institutional strategy.

• Leveraging technology and AI to prepare graduates for an unpredictable labor market.

• Strengthening international collaborations to foster innovation and resilience.

My Focus and Takeaways

Given my background in instructional design, technology integration, quality assurance (AACSB, AQ Austria), and international university alliances, my main interest was in how AACSB standards evolve to reflect a fast-changing educational environment. I engaged in discussions on:

• Aligning accreditation processes with innovation - ensuring quality frameworks support, rather than slow down, technological adoption.

• Integrating micro-credentials and digital badges into accredited programs while safeguarding academic integrity.

• The role of AI and data analytics in continuous improvement and curriculum alignment with industry needs.

Value for My Work

The AACSB Leadership Conference provided valuable insights and peer learning that I am applying to my current projects, including:

• Developing blended and digital learning strategies that meet both accreditation requirements and market demands.

• Designing quality assurance processes that are agile enough to adapt to new technologies.

• Strengthening international cooperation within the Ulysseus Alliance, aligned with AACSB principles of global engagement.

Being part of this conference reaffirmed that leadership in higher education today requires balancing innovation with rigorous quality assurance, and that both are essential to preparing students for the future of work.