2025 EFMD Conference for Quality, Impact and Accreditation Professionals

17:00 – 17:30

Welcome and opening remarks

• Friedemann Schulze-Fielitz, Director Business School Services, EFMD
• Joan Rodón, Dean, ESADE Business School, ES
• Chair: Björn Kjellander Director of Quality and Accreditation, Jönköping International Business School (JIBS), SE

17:30 – 18:15

Opening keynote: Disruptive nature of AI looking at the consequence on human beings

• Xavier Ferràs Professor, Department of Operations, Innovation and Data Sciences, ESADE Business School, SP

18:15 – 19:15

Ice-breaking activity

19:30 – 21:00

Welcome dinner

09:00 – 10:30

Panel: How does AI change the nature of accreditation?

As AI becomes more common in report writing, accreditation visits become more significant. This session explores how the reviewer’s role evolves and how standards and processes adapt to this technological shift.

• Robina Xavier, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President Academic, Business School, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

• Martin Meyer, Vice-rector, University of Vaasa, FI

• Alfons Sauquet, Director Quality Services & EQUIS, EFMD Global

• Moderator: Björn Kjellander Director of Quality and Accreditation, Jönköping International Business School (JIBS), SE

10:30 – 11:00

Coffee break

11:00 – 12:30

Discussion in small groups and feedback

12:30 – 14:00

Lunch

14:00 – 15:00

Breakout sessions: Quality assurance, impact and accreditation

A1: How is your quality/impact team structured?

• Diane Hsieh, QED Accreditation Expert, IE

A2: Combining (Artificial) Intelligence and (Human) Insight – Striving for the best outcomes

• Kathleen Andries, Accreditation manager, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics, BE

• Susan Benvenuti, Head of Academic Quality Assurance, WITS Business School, ZA

A3: Business School impact metrics

• Abir Sinno, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Continuous Improvement, American University of Beirut, LB

• Moderator: Debra Leighton, Senior Advisor, BSIS

15:00 – 15:30

Coffee break

15:30 – 16:30

Repetition Breakout sessions: Quality assurance, impact and accreditation

A1: How is your quality/impact team structured?

• Diane Hsieh, QED Accreditation Expert, IE

A2: Combining (Artificial) Intelligence and (Human) Insight – Striving for the best outcomes

• Kathleen Andries, Accreditation manager, University of Antwerp, Faculty of Business and Economics, BE

• Susan Benvenuti, Head of Academic Quality Assurance, WITS Business School, ZA

A3: Business School impact metrics

• Abir Sinno, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Continuous Improvement, American University of Beirut, LB
• Moderator: Debra Leighton, Senior Advisor, BSIS

19:30 – 22:00

Conference dinner

09:00 – 10:00

Internal communication

This session explores how to motivate administrative staff and effectively communicate the importance of accreditation, its implications, and the critical role the staff plays in the process.

• Kirsteen Daly, Accreditations and Reputation Manager, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, UK

• Maria Avila, Rankings and International Accreditation Manager, EAE Business School, ES

• Susy Rodriges, Quality Director, Nova Business School, PT

• Eric Neutuch, Accreditation and Institutional Projects Partner, IMD, CH

10:00 – 10:30

Group discussion

10:30 – 11:00

Coffee break

11:00 – 12:15

Building your external impact narrative

This session explores how to build external impact narrative to capitalize on the value of your accreditation

• Wilfred Mijnhardt Policy director general, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM), NL and honorary Professor at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University (EBS-HWU), UK

12:15 – 12:45

Closing remarks

• Chair: Björn Kjellander Director of Quality and Accreditation, Jönköping International Business School (JIBS), SE

12:45 – 14:00

Lunch