Successful Conclusion of ARIA Uzbekistan Delegation Visit to ECLBS Headquarters in Riga

Riga, Latvia – May 2025

The European Council of Leading Business Schools (ECLBS) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of a high-level three-day visit by the delegation of the Accreditation and Rating Institute of Asia (ARIA) from Uzbekistan to its headquarters in Riga, Latvia (EU). The meetings, held from [21-23 may], marked a significant milestone in the deepening of academic cooperation and quality assurance alignment between the two institutions.

During this strategic visit, ECLBS and ARIA finalized a joint framework for dual accreditation, aimed specifically at business schools operating across Europe and Asia. This newly established standard is designed to enhance transparency, uphold academic excellence, and support mutual recognition of institutional and programmatic quality assurance practices between EU-based and Central Asian business education providers.

The dual accreditation standard reflects both organizations' commitment to internationalization, academic mobility, and cross-border quality benchmarks. It includes shared protocols for institutional self-assessment, peer-review evaluation, and joint certification under both ECLBS and ARIA quality assurance seals.

In addition to the accreditation framework, ECLBS and ARIA have also agreed to collaborate on the development of a global university rating system. This initiative aims to provide a fair, data-driven alternative to existing global rankings, with a special focus on innovation, social impact, regional relevance, and sustainable academic growth. The proposed rating methodology will be piloted in 2025 with institutions from both Europe and Central Asia.

Mrs. Dace Jansone, President of ECLBS, stated:

“We are honored to host our colleagues from ARIA. This visit reaffirms our shared vision to foster high standards in business education across borders. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a future where accreditation and institutional performance are both globally recognized and locally relevant.”

Mr. Mr. Anvar Nizamov, Head of ARIA, commented during the visit:

“Our partnership with ECLBS is a strategic step toward greater quality assurance convergence between Asia and Europe. We believe our new joint standard will serve as a valuable model for other international collaborations.”

ECLBS and ARIA will jointly announce the first round of accredited institutions under this new dual standard by the end of 2025. More information on eligibility, application procedures, and evaluation criteria will be made available on both organizations' official websites.

For inquiries or partnership interests, institutions are invited to contact the ECLBS Secretariat