Six ways to integrate AI for business school accreditation

As important as accreditation is as a mark of quality assurance, for academic excellence and institutional credibility, the intricate processes involved – ranging from achieving compliance and faculty engagement, through to data management and strategic programme oversight – can be daunting. Very often, there is a disconnect between teams that manage accreditation, and the faculty and students in higher education institutions.

Enter generative artificial intelligence, which is revolutionising how business schools can correctly approach accreditation in an ethical manner. 

• An AI toolkit for all aspects of academic life
• How to integrate AI into strategy and business education
• Four objectives to guide artificial intelligence’s impact on higher education

Here, follow our top tips on how institutions can harness GenAI to help simplify their accreditation operations, make communications more accessible and enhance overall informational quality.

1. Streamlining accreditation processes

Accreditation demands meticulous documentation, data synthesis and alignment with established standards. GenAI can automate the drafting of comprehensive reports by integrating data from various sources, ensuring consistency with accreditation criteria. For example, AI-powered chatbots can be used as tools to streamline complex accreditation tasks linked to reporting and assessment.

2. Enhanced visual communication

The visual representation of data can play a pivotal role in conveying complex information succinctly. GenAI can be used to craft compelling visuals, such as infographics summarising assurance of learning results, or competency maps that detail programme-specific learning outcomes. These visual tools make data more accessible, and can improve stakeholder engagement during accreditation reviews.

3. Content delivery innovation

Beyond text and visuals, GenAI further extends its capabilities to video and speech applications. By deploying text-to-video tools, business schools can produce engaging content that clarifies the assurance of learning process, condenses strategic plans or highlights programme competencies. AI-generated narrations can also transform traditional material into dynamic and interactive experiences, boosting faculty and student learning.

4. Data management and insights

Effective data management is crucial for informed decision-making. GenAI can develop automated key performance indicator dashboards, offering real-time tracking of essential accreditation metrics, including faculty qualifications, student outcomes and assurance of learning cycle progress. 

These dashboards minimise manual data aggregation and present actionable insights at a glance. Additionally, AI-powered notifications can be programmed to send reminders or updates based on accreditation milestones, for efficient communication with faculty and staff.

5. Immersive 3D experiences

GenAI’s capabilities extend to creating immersive 3D applications – like virtual campus tours, which provide accreditation reviewers or prospective students with an engaging way to explore facilities remotely. 3D exploration of classrooms, labs and other campus features remotely are an excellent method of encouraging in-person visits.

6. Fostering innovation and engagement

GenAI opens avenues for creative solutions that transcend traditional methods. For example, gamifying assurance of learning processes can make faculty and student participation more interactive and enjoyable, while still fulfilling compliance requirements. AI-generated audio explanations can also present accreditation standards in a more relatable and less intimidating manner.

We’ve put a number of these approaches in place, integrating GenAI tools with our School of Business Administration’s accreditation efforts. Successful examples include:

• Automated faculty CV analysis: A custom-trained GPT-4 agent evaluates faculty CVs against our academic and professional qualification criteria, streamlining the assessment process.
• Programme-specific informational videos: AI-generated videos summarise learning objectives and competencies for various programmes. These videos are displayed throughout our campus and intranet to raise awareness among internal stakeholders.
• AI-assisted meeting documentation: AI tools automatically transcribe faculty meetings, ensuring accurate record-keeping and the easy retrieval of information.
• Gamification of accreditation concepts: Interactive exercises during faculty meetings gamify accreditation-related ideas, fostering engagement and deeper understanding.
• Infographic and chart generation: AI generates infographics and charts from accreditation data to enhance the clarity and impact of our reports.

Key considerations for AI implementation

While the benefits of GenAI are substantial, institutions should approach its implementation thoughtfully and with a level of caution, considering:

• Data privacy: Implement robust data protection measures to safeguard student and faculty information.
• Human oversight: Use AI to augment human expertise, not replace it. Human judgement remains an essential factor in interpreting AI-generated insights.
• Revisit ethical implications: Remain vigilant about potential biases in AI algorithms, and strive to ensure fair treatment of all students and staff.

Our experience is that GenAI offers the power to transform accreditation processes in business schools and universities. By embracing it, institutions can streamline their accreditation tasks, democratise the process by embedding quality assurance throughout all operations and bridge the communication gaps between the various stakeholders involved in accreditation efforts.

This integration ultimately allows universities to better communicate their achievements and goals to both internal and external stakeholders, while reducing manual effort to favour more impactful areas. This empowers staff to meet accreditation demands with confidence and efficiency, ensuring academic quality and fostering continuous improvement.

Yassine Benrqya is professor of logistics and supply chain management and Lakshmi Goel is dean of the School of Business Administration, both at Al Akhawayn University. Isabelle Fagnot is associate dean of quality and accreditation at Kedge Business School.

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