Assessment of Learning (AOL)

Assessment of learning refers to a process where methods are used to generate and collect data for evaluation of courses and programs to improve educational quality and student learning. As an AACSB accredited business school, there are assurance of learning standards that each school must implement and practice. These standards support two principles which are the foundation of AACSB accreditation, accountability and continuous improvement.

AACSB AOL Standards

Standards 15, 16, 18, 19 and 21 deal with the requirements to establish learning goals in terms of required knowledge and skills for programs at different levels.

Standard 15 (Management of Curricula) states:

"The school uses a well documented, systematic process to develop, monitor, evaluate and revise the substance and delivery of the curricula of degree programs and to assess the impact of the curricula on learning."

Standard 16 (Bachelor’s or undergraduate level degree: Knowledge and skills) states:

"Adapting expectations to the school’s mission and cultural circumstances, the school specifies learning goals and demonstrates achievement of learning goals for key general, management-specific,4 and/or appropriate discipline-specific knowledge and skills that its students achieve in each undergraduate degree program."

Standard 18 (Master’s level degree in general management (e.g., MBA) programs: Knowledge and skills) states:

"Adapting expectations to the school’s mission and cultural circumstances, the school specifies learning goals and demonstrates
master’s level achievement of learning goals for key management-specific knowledge and skills in each master’s level general management program."

Standard 19 (Master’s level degree in specialized programs: Knowledge and skills) states:

"Adapting expectations to the school’s mission and cultural circumstances, the school specifies learning goals and demonstrates
achievement of learning goals in each specialized master’s degree program."

The spirit and intent of Standards 15, 16, 18 and 19 also apply to doctoral programs which are addressed in Standard 21 which outlines broad learning goals for such programs.

Standard 21: Doctoral level degree states:

"Doctoral programs educate students for highly specialized careers in academe or practice. Students of doctoral level programs demonstrate the ability to create knowledge through original research in their areas of specialization."

The office of Academic Relations relies heavily on Program and Department cooperation to fulfill its assessment of learning objectives and implementation of standards. Assessment of learning activities fulfills an institutional requirement but they also support change, innovation and creativity for continuous improvement within our business school.