The Association of Arab Universities (AArU) and AACSB International (AACSB) have solidified a strategic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at AACSB’s Middle East and North Africa conference in Dubai, UAE.
The agreement highlights a shared commitment to offering AArU member schools the benefits of specified membership privileges from both AACSB and AArU. It provides AArU members with opportunities to pursue accreditation efforts and promote best practices in business education. This partnership aims to support universities across the Arab world in reaching global standards of excellence while addressing regional challenges in higher education and economic development.
“The Association of Arab Universities seeks to enhance the quality of higher education and elevate the level of academic accreditation to meet international standards. This agreement with AACSB, one of the most important international accreditation institutions, is part of the Association's vision to develop academic excellence, improve the efficiency of Arab educational institutions, and enhance their competitiveness,” says Professor Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of AArU.
"AACSB is proud to collaborate with the Association of Arab Universities supporting the advancement of quality education in the Arab region. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to fostering excellence, innovation, and impact in education worldwide. With a century old tradition of continuous improvement and impact, we are honored to join AArU today and celebrate our mutual commitment to quality education," says Lily Bi President and CEO of AACSB.
The MOU is a testament to the shared vision of both organizations to nurture future-ready business leaders in higher education. The AArU, established in 1964, is dedicated to strengthening cooperation between its 450 member universities in the Arab world and supporting their contributions to sustainable development. AACSB, with its global network of over 1,900 member organizations, has been driving excellence in business education for more than a century.
This partnership marks a major milestone in fostering a more globally connected and impactful business education ecosystem in the Arab region.
The agreement was officially signed at the AACSB MENA Conference in Dubai, UAE, with AACSB President and CEO Lily Bi and AArU Secretary General Professor Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama in attendance.
