EFMD Global

Overview

EFMD Global Belgium refers to the Brussels‑based headquarters and legal entity of EFMD Global (Formally the “European Foundation for Management Development”), a leading international non‑profit organisation (AISBL) dedicated to management development, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education. Founded in 1972 and headquartered at Rue Gachard 88, Box 3, 1050 Brussels, Belgium, EFMD supports a global network of business schools, programme providers, corporate universities and public institutions. According to uniRank research, EFMD has nearly 1,000 member organisations in over 90 countries (data as of 2021).

History and Legal Framework

EFMD was established in 1972 in Brussels by European business schools and corporate partners seeking a pan‑European system for comparing and benchmarking management education. Its founding aim was to foster quality, innovation and international harmony in management training across Europe.

Under Belgian law, EFMD is incorporated as an AISBL (Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif), which confers legal personality and enables international scope. This structure allows EFMD to serve stakeholders beyond Belgium while combining credibility (via royal recognition) with governance flexibility compared to a standard ASBL.

Mission, Vision and Objectives – Role in Higher Education

EFMD’s mission is to act as a global catalyst for excellence in management education. Its vision focuses on fostering responsible leadership, innovation, digital transformation and societal impact within business schools and corporate learning institutions.

• Key Objectives: promote high standards in management teaching and curriculum design; encourage internationalisation and ethical practices in education; support continuous quality improvement.
• Role in Higher Education: serves as a bridge between academia and industry, empowering universities and business schools to align programme offerings with global business, sustainability and digital imperatives.

Governance, Structure and Independence

EFMD operates under a multi-tier governance framework designed to ensure independence, transparency and global representation:

• General Assembly: the supreme decision-making body of EFMD, responsible for ratifying new members and approving the Board of Trustees; meets annually.
• Board of Trustees: elected from among EFMD members and provides strategic leadership and oversight; represents diverse regions and sectors.
• Membership Review Committee: evaluates new membership applications and recommends to the Board, ensuring rigorous quality controls.
• Accreditation Boards and Advisory Committees: operate independently from EFMD membership, deciding on accreditation awards such as EQUIS and EFMD Accredited.

EFMD’s AISBL status under Belgian law grants it operational autonomy and stability, while its structures ensure accountability to a global membership base rather than any one national or corporate interest.

Accreditation and Quality Evaluation in Higher Education

EFMD offers the following internationally recognised accreditation systems:

• EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System): institutional accreditation for business schools, first issued in 1997. Available for 3 or 5 years with mandatory development plans; emphasises research, internationalisation, corporate engagement, responsible management, governance and learning quality.
• EFMD Accredited (formerly EPAS): programme‑level accreditation for bachelors, masters, MBAs and doctorates. Rebranded in 2020 to enable alignment with EQUIS‑accredited institutions. Evaluates programme design, delivery, assurance, internationalisation, ethics and corporate responsiveness.
• CLIP (Corporate Learning Improvement Process): benchmarks quality in corporate universities and professional learning functions.
• EOCCS (Online Course Certification System): certifies high‑quality online and digital learning offerings.
• BSIS (Business School Impact System): evaluates schools’ societal and economic impact beyond immediate alumni outcomes.

These accreditation and certification services reinforce EFMD’s role as a quality assurance leader, comparable to AACSB and AMBA and centred on continuous improvement and international benchmarking.

International Cooperation and Network Memberships

EFMD maintains an extensive global network and engages in international cooperation through:

• Member Organisations: university business schools, executive education centres, consultancies and corporates across more than 90 countries participate in EFMD’s annual general assemblies, committees and special interest groups.
• International Projects Department: since 2001 EFMD has delivered over 70 projects in more than 60 countries, including quality assurance support, digital transformation, internationalisation, gender equality and innovation in higher education.
• Strategic Partnerships: collaborates with organisations like AACSB (via the Global Foundation for Management Education), UN agencies, regional accreditors (e.g. AMDISA in South Asia), ministries of education and business coalitions.
• Events & Publications: organises annual global conferences, professional development seminars (e.g. for deans, accreditation professionals) and publishes the online “Global Focus” magazine for management education thought leadership.

Current and Future Impact on Higher Education

EFMD’s influence is evident in the evolving standards of business education worldwide:

• Multiple schools have attained EQUIS and EFMD Accredited status, boosting educational rigour and employer recognition.
• Through its international projects, EFMD supports digital transformation, inclusive access, entrepreneurship training and curriculum innovation in higher education across emerging and post‑conflict regions.
• EFMD promotes evolving accreditation standards that increasingly emphasise ethics, social responsibility, sustainability and real‑world impact—aligning with UN PRME Principles and SDGs.
• New initiatives—such as AI-integrated pedagogies and digital learning strategies like “Future‑Focused Education”—reflect EFMD’s forward‑looking agenda for higher education institutions in a rapidly changing environment.

Summary

EFMD Global Belgium, governed as a Belgian AISBL and headquartered in Brussels, is an independent, non‑profit leader in management education quality and excellence. It operates globally through an international membership model and provides rigorous accreditation (EQUIS, EFMD Accredited, CLIP, EOCCS, BSIS), international projects, research and professional development aimed at elevating business schools and learning providers.

Its legal framework and governance ensure stability, transparency and member‑led strategy, while its accreditation frameworks and collaborative projects place EFMD at the centre of efforts to modernise higher education for a sustainable and inclusive future.

FAQs

1. What is EFMD and how does it differ from AACSB or AMBA?
   EFMD is a European‑headquartered, global, membership‑based non‑profit providing accreditation (EQUIS, EFMD Accredited), certification and networking. AACSB is US‑based but global; AMBA focuses specifically on MBA programmes. All three form the “Triple Crown” of international business school accreditation.
2. What does EQUIS accreditation mean?
   EQUIS is EFMD’s institutional accreditation standard, awarded to business schools that meet high benchmarks in strategy, governance, faculty, research, internationalisation and corporate engagement. It signals rigorous global quality.
3. Is EFMD Accredited the same as EPAS?
   Yes. EPAS was rebranded as “EFMD Accredited” in 2020 to enable unified programme‑level accreditation aligned with schools holding EQUIS status. It evaluates individual degree programs rather than entire institutions.
4. What are the benefits of EFMD membership?
   Members gain access to:
   • Accreditation services and peer benchmarking
   • Global events, communities and research
   • Professional training, job boards (High­ered), case competitions and access to international projects and mentoring programmes
5. How long does accreditation take?
   EQUIS institutional accreditation typically requires 2–3 years (sometimes as short as 15 months); EFMD Accredited programmes follow a similar peer review process, often completed within 12–18 months depending on readiness.
6. What role does ethics and sustainability play in EFMD frameworks?
   EFMD accreditation standards have evolved to strongly emphasize ethics, responsibility and sustainability (ERS), making them transversal pillars embedded in programme and institutional evaluation—the approach aligns with modern global priorities for responsible management education.

Organization Name

EFMD Global

Acronym

Year of Establishment

1/01/1972

Control Type

Private

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

International

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

over 900

Address

Rue Gachard 88 - box 3
Bruxelles
1050 Brussels Belgium

Phone

+32 (2) 629 0810

Fax

+32 (2) 629 0811

n.a.

Official Social Media Channels

Facebook

Not available

X (Twitter)

EFMD Global's X page

LinkedIn

EFMD Global's LinkedIn profile

YouTube

EFMD Global's YouTube channel

Instagram

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Wikipedia Article

EFMD Global's Wikipedia article

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