Quality and Accreditations
The ZHAW School of Management and Law (SML) invests in continuous internal quality development and has its services externally accredited on a regular basis. These accreditations are both proof of quality and a valuable quality instrument.
Quality at the SML is defined by excellence in teaching, high academic standards, strong practical relevance, lived responsibility, and a consistent focus on impact. We continuously work to develop our programs and services further – together with our students, staff, partners from business and society, as well as international experts.
Our quality work guided by the ZHAW Quality Framework Concept, which outlines the quality requirements within the areas governance, services and resources. It supports the achievement of our strategic goals and visions.
The staff unit Strategy, Quality & Projects (SQP) develops and implements appropriate instruments and supports the departments in their quality assurance and quality development activities.
Quality is not a project, but an integral part of our culture. It is created through the everyday actions of all staff members and students. Through regular evaluations, feedback loops, and open dialogue, we ensure continuous development.
Triple Crown Accreditation
External accreditations and peer reviews foster quality development and provide valuable insights for improvement. As a Triple Crown accredited Business School, we meet the highest global standards for governance, teaching, research, and internationality. The Triple Crown comprises accreditations by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD, EQUIS), and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).
AACSB
Since 2015, the SML has been proud to be accredited by AACSB International - The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB is regarded as the leading international organization for the accreditation of business schools and certifies excellence in research and teaching. Only around six percent of all business schools worldwide bear their seal of quality.
AACSB accreditation guarantees SML students, employees, and collaboration partners an ideal framework in which to operate. This includes:
- A high quality of education as well as an excellent teaching and learning environment.
- Active involvement by lecturers in both teaching and applied research.
- An ongoing dialogue between students and lecturers.
- Successful cooperation with commercial organizations and international partner universities.
- Excellent career entry opportunities for graduates.
- Commitment, innovation, and impact as key strategic principles by which the university is measured.
- Continuous improvement within the entire organization.
The SML reports various key figures to AACSB on an annual basis, and a continuous improvement review is carried out, which the SML passed successfully in 2020 and 2024.
AACSB accreditation enables the very best students at the SML to become members of the Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma. Further informations can be found here: SML Collegiate Chapter
EQUIS
The European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) awarded the ZHAW School of Management and Law the EQUIS label in 2023. EQUIS stands for European Quality Improvement System and is one of the leading systems for the international assessment, improvement, and accreditation of business schools. Only around 200 business schools worldwide are EQUIS accredited.
The EQUIS label rewards business schools with high teaching, research, and continuing education standards. EQUIS accreditation verifies the strategy's implementation in the university's operational areas. In addition, the university's efforts in digitalization, internationalization, links with business partners, and the integration of ethics and sustainability are examined and evaluated.
AMBA-BGA
The Association of MBAs (AMBA) accredited the ZHAW School of Management and Law (SML) in 2025. Together with AACSB and EQUIS, the SML now possesses the coveted “Triple Crown.” The AMBA accreditation was awarded to the SML in the form of a Joint Accreditation AMBA-BGA. This means that in addition to the Master of Business Administration (MBA), the Business Graduates Association (BGA) evaluated the SML as a whole organization.
FIBAA Program Accreditation
The Bachelor's degree programs in both Business Administration and Business Information Technology have been accredited by the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) since 2003 and achieved the premium seal status in 2019 when they were reaccredited.
Details of the principles for awarding the FIBAA Premium Seal can be found here.
The reports are linked below:
International Rankings
An important quality feature of a university is the confirmation of its performance by independent external organizations. International rankings also offer an excellent opportunity to compete with the best universities worldwide.
The Financial Times is widely regarded as the world's leading provider of business school rankings, both in terms of business schools and study program. By including the SML in their rankings, the Financial Times has confirmed that our business school offers quality education for future business professionals and managers by international standards.
International Rankings