Undergraduate Program in Business with 13 specialisations has renewed EFMD seal of quality

The Business School at Pforzheim University is delighted to announce the reaccreditation of its Undergraduate Program in Business with 13 specialisations. This means that it will be able to carry the international seal of quality from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) for the next five years.

The “EFMD-accredited” seal confirms the excellence of teaching in the business administration bachelor's programs in an international comparison. In 2022, the Business School at Pforzheim University received this second international accreditation for the first time and was the first and only bachelor's program in the German-speaking world to receive both EFMD program accreditation and AACSB accreditation. The EFMD seal stands for the highest quality standards in management study programs, which are characterized by a strong international orientation, high academic standards, close links to practice, and a clear focus on ethics and sustainability. 

“In recent years, our university has achieved top rankings in all major rankings. The successful reaccreditation by EFMD confirms the excellent study conditions and high quality of our education. We are very proud that our Faculty of Economics and Law ranks among the best business schools worldwide,” says Rector Professor Dr. Ulrich Jautz. 

“We are delighted to have been successfully reaccredited by the EFMD,” emphasizes Professor Dr. Thomas Cleff, Dean of Pforzheim Business School. “It impressively underscores our international orientation and our sustained commitment to excellence in academic management education.” He adds that the school is particularly proud of the trust that EFMD has placed in it by awarding the maximum possible accreditation period of five years. 

“The EFMD reaccreditation has also helped us greatly in recent years, particularly with regard to the further internationalization of our business school and its offerings, and has provided important impetus for this,” said Vice Dean Professor Dr. Harald Strotmann, who was in charge of both the accreditation three years ago and the current reaccreditation. He is delighted that EFMD has confirmed the excellent work being done at the business school by reaccrediting it for the maximum period of five years: “A big thank you to everyone whose work and commitment have contributed significantly to the outstanding quality of teaching and research here in Pforzheim, and to all the professors, students, staff, alumni, corporate partners, and the many others who have once again actively supported us in the reaccreditation process!” 

The recognition by EFMD is both confirmation and incentive for the business school to continue developing its range of courses in the coming years, while ensuring excellent and modern academic education “that places particular emphasis on practical relevance, internationalization, and aspects of ethics and sustainability,” says Strotmann.

EFMD and AACSB are among the most globally recognized accreditations that universities can voluntarily obtain in addition to mandatory national recognition. While EFMD program accreditation, as a European seal of quality, evaluates the excellence of individual degree programs in particular, AACSB International, based in the USA, assesses entire business schools on a global level.