EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF ACCREDITATION POLICY FOR DEVELOPING THE QUALITY OF BUSINESS SCHOOLS IN PAKISTAN: A CASE STUDY OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUSINESS SCHOOLS OF SINDH

Abstract

Accreditation stands firm today as the most paramount pillar for quality assurance in higher education globally: it seeks to ensure compliance with internationally acceptable standards and hence nurturing conformance and improvement in those institutions. In Pakistan, the HEC and its NBEAC have introduced policies for standardization and improvement of business education. This study sets out to investigate the effects of the accreditation policy on the quality development of business schools in Sindh, embracing both public and private domains. Using the case research paradigm and a mix of primary and secondary data, the study establishes the influence of accreditation on governance, curriculum, quality of faculty, research productivity, and employability of graduates. Findings depict that while the private sector takes the utmost advantage of its accreditation for reputation enhancement along with better stakeholder participation and globalization, the public sector is hampered by bureaucratic constraints, inadequate funding, and ineffective faculty development systems. Accreditation, however, did ensure a degree of accountability, bringing the curriculum somewhat closer to industry needs and access to research funding in both private and public sectors. The study speaks of unequal implementation of accreditation frameworks and reveals challenges such as compliance-oriented mentalities, a lack of resources, and disengagement of stakeholders. With sustained policy enforcement, capacity building, and enhanced engagement of stakeholders, it is argued, accreditation could be a catalyst for changing business education in Sindh. This study situates Pakistan's experiences and contexts within the global setting of relevance to accreditation, thus contributing to the theoretical and policy consideration of quality assurance in higher education, and gives policy recommendations for accreditation strengthening in its role as a tool for sustainable institutional development.