Philippine Business Schools at Critical Juncture as International Standards Beckon
A recent gathering at De La Salle University (DLSU) may have marked a pivotal moment for Philippine business education, as local institutions increasingly eye international accreditation standards that could reshape how the country prepares its future business leaders.
The January 23 visit by Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International executives Geoff Perry and Hana Zainoldin sparked unprecedented interest among Philippine business schools, with several institutions expressing immediate interest in international membership and accreditation.
Regional Competition Intensifies
The urgency becomes clear when considering regional dynamics. Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia already boast AACSB-accredited business schools, with some holding the prestigious "triple crown" of international recognitions. Only about 6% of business schools globally achieve AACSB accreditation, and Philippine institutions remain notably underrepresented.
"We might be entering a tipping point of quality business education," Perry observed, highlighting both the opportunity and the challenge facing Philippine institutions.
Vietnam currently matches the Philippines' accreditation level, but without decisive action, Vietnamese institutions may soon surpass their Philippine counterparts. This competitive pressure comes at a time when ASEAN integration means Filipino graduates will compete directly with peers from these internationally recognized programs.
Beyond Prestige: Impact That Matters
For a nation grappling with governance challenges and corruption issues that dominate headlines, the push for quality business education transcends mere academic prestige. AACSB's framework emphasizes engagement, innovation, and impact, with the latter proving most crucial for the Philippines.
"The real question is simple: Can business schools show that we have changed anything?" asks Patrick Adriel H. Aure, founding director of the PHINMA-DLSU Center for Business and Society. "Not just produced graduates, but shaped how organizations behave, how communities develop, and how policy gets made."
Philippine business schools could redefine impact by producing graduates who build enterprises creating dignified employment across the archipelago, conducting research that informs local government decisions, and strengthening small and medium enterprises in the provinces, not just Metro Manila.
Faculty Development: The Critical Challenge
Quality education demands quality faculty, and here lies a significant challenge. Research productivity in Philippine business schools lags behind regional peers, with many faculty publishing primarily in local conferences rather than internationally recognized outlets.
The structural issues are complex: industry salaries often exceed academic compensation by multiples, heavy teaching loads leave little research time, and support systems for faculty development remain uneven across institutions.
However, progress emerges in select institutions through research chairs, publication incentives, and protected writing time. Whether these initiatives become standard practice will determine Philippine business education's trajectory.
A Distinctively Filipino Approach
The collaboration between AACSB and the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) suggests a promising path forward. Rather than wholesale adoption of foreign frameworks, Philippine schools could develop approaches bridging local standards with global expectations.
This tipping point need not mean imitation but could define quality education suited to Philippine conditions: engaged with local realities, innovative in addressing local constraints, and impactful in ways that matter to Filipino communities.
The recent DLSU gathering generated enthusiasm and expressions of interest. Yet as Aure notes, "Appetite is not commitment. Conferences produce enthusiasm. Sustained effort produces outcomes."
The question remains whether this moment becomes a genuine turning point or another well-intentioned gathering that produces little lasting change. With real crises demanding solutions and regional competition intensifying, Philippine business schools face both unprecedented pressure and opportunity to elevate their standards and impact.
For the Philippines to realize its economic ambitions, its business education must match the quality of institutions producing the graduates with whom Filipinos will compete. The tipping point approaches, but success requires sustained commitment beyond initial enthusiasm.