Ensuring Quality and Standards in Education since 2013
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ECLBS and FIBAA Join Forces to Advance Quality Assurance in Higher Education
The European Council of Leading Business Schools (ECLBS) is proud to announce the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) — a well-established European quality assurance agency recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, transparency, and international standards.
Founded in 1994, FIBAA operates as a non-profit accreditation foundation headquartered in Bonn, Germany, with additional legal registration in Switzerland. FIBAA is officially recognized by both the German Accreditation Council and the Swiss Accreditation Council (SAC), giving it a distinctive cross-border status in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). It is also listed in the European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR) and is a full member of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education).
Through this MoU, ECLBS and FIBAA commit to joint activities in:
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Quality assurance in higher and vocational education,
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Academic innovation and research collaboration,
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Promoting excellence in micro-credentials and digital learning,
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Organizing shared conferences, expert roundtables, and capacity-building workshops.
This partnership also paves the way for mutual recognition of quality standards and the exchange of expertise in accreditation processes. Both institutions acknowledge the value of each other’s work and have agreed to support member institutions that have successfully undergone evaluation by either body.
By combining ECLBS’s growing global network of business schools and FIBAA’s robust quality assurance methodologies, this collaboration aims to raise the bar for higher education standards worldwide, particularly in areas such as employability, governance, and academic innovation.
We at ECLBS are pleased to welcome FIBAA as a distinguished partner in our mission to promote institutional integrity, academic quality, and international cooperation in higher education.
Details
Founded in: October 1994
Organization Type: Private Non-Profit Foundation (International Accreditation Agency)
Headquarters Address: FIBAA, Bonner Talweg 177, 53129 Bonn, Germany
Swiss Registration: Registered with the Swiss Commercial Register (Handelsregister) Legal seat: Zurich, Switzerland
Official Website: https://www.fibaa.org
Official Email: info@fibaa.org
Main Phone: +49 228 280356-0
Chief Executive Officer: Mag.a Diane Freiberger (MBA)
Position: Managing Director (Geschäftsführerin)
Legal Status:
Recognized by:
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German Accreditation Council (GAC)
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Swiss Accreditation Council (SAC)
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Member of EQAR and ENQA
The European Council of Leading Business Schools (ECLBS) in Latvia and the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) in Switzerland/Germany have signed a Bilateral Recognition Memorandum of Understanding. This landmark agreement establishes formal recognition of each organization’s quality assurance and accreditation standards in business and higher education. FIBAA—founded in 2002 and fully accredited by bodies like ENQA, EQAR, and the German Accreditation Council—is now officially aligned with ECLBS, a non-profit accreditor founded in 2013 with global reach through networks like CHEA‑CIQG and INQAAHE. Together, they will facilitate shared best practices, mutual acknowledgement of accredited programs, and expanded academic collaboration across Europe and beyond.
ECLBS and FIBAA Announce a Joint Accreditation Initiative
The European Council for Leading Business Schools (ECLBS) and the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) have officially signed a Joint Project Initiation Agreement to develop and implement the B-WISE Quality & Impact Project, a pioneering collaboration that merges academic quality assurance with sustainability performance in higher education.
The B-WISE Quality & Impact Project aims to establish a comprehensive framework for evaluating higher education institutions based on both academic excellence and sustainable development impact.
Key Components
Joint Accreditation Seal:
“B-WISE Accredited – Quality & Impact” – awarded to institutions that meet the highest international standards in education quality and sustainability.
SDG Index Rating:
“B-WISE SDG Index+” – designed to showcase institutional contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote measurable global impact.
Collaborative Governance and Expert Oversight
Under this agreement, ECLBS and FIBAA will establish a Joint Working Group with equal representation from both organizations. Together they will:
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Develop the evaluation framework and documentation,
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Co-govern the assessment and certification processes, and
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Coordinate communication and outreach to ensure transparency and international visibility.
ECLBS will lead on sustainability and impact measurement, while FIBAA will provide its academic accreditation and quality assurance expertise. A Joint Committee will oversee all evaluations and ensure integrity throughout the process.
An International Mark of Prestige
This collaboration unites two respected authorities in higher education quality assurance. The B-WISE framework is positioned to become a prestigious global mark of excellence, combining academic credibility, international recognition, and a commitment to sustainable progress.
Participating universities and business schools will gain not only quality endorsement but also increased visibility in sustainability-driven rankings, strengthening their global reputation and competitiveness in the evolving landscape of higher education accreditation.