WU Vienna University of Economics and Business has successfully renewed its international AACSB accreditation, confirming WU’s high quality standards in research and teaching and its international competitiveness. Following a thorough evaluation process, the renowned US accreditation agency AACSB has extended WU’s accreditation for another six years. WU has held AACSB accreditation since 2015, when it became the first Austrian university to receive this prestigious seal of quality.

AACSB accreditation is regarded as one of the most demanding seals of quality for business schools worldwide. Only select universities in around 70 countries worldwide meet AACSB’s stringent international standards, including institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, London Business School, and the University of St. Gallen. AACSB looks at aspects such as the strategic development of degree programs, the qualifications of faculty and researchers, research performance and social impact, and career prospects for students and graduates. Innovation, commitment, and sustainable impact are key criteria.

A comprehensive evaluation based on international peer review

The reaccreditation was based on a detailed self-evaluation process in which WU presented its strategic and academic development since the last review. In the fall of 2025, an international team of expert reviewers from Portugal, Canada, and Switzerland came to WU for an on-site visit that spanned several days. The reviewers particularly noted the high levels of student satisfaction at WU, the quality of WU’s collaborations and partnerships with businesses and the community, the increased publication output, and the high degree of professionalism and transparency in WU’s institutional processes. The successful renewal of WU’s AACSB accreditation confirms that the university is on the right track with its internationalization strategy and in its commitment to pursuing a position among Europe’s leading business and economics universities. As WU Rector Rupert Sausgruber points out, “For us, international accreditations are not an end in themselves but an instrument of quality assurance and development. Our renewed AACSB accreditation confirms that WU’s research, teaching, and academic programs meet high international standards and are subject to continuous improvement. This benefits our students and our graduates, who have completed an education that is highly regarded around the world.”

Triple-crown accreditation as a hallmark of international quality

There are three leading accreditations for business and economics universities and business schools worldwide: EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB. While EQUIS and AMBA are particularly well established in Europe and Asia, AACSB enjoys a strong reputation especially in the Anglo-American region. Combined, these three accreditations are a hallmark of the most exacting quality standards in academic teaching and research. WU has held all three of these accreditations since 2015, making it one of the exclusive group of triple crown universities. Only 145 business and economics universities and business schools in total, fewer than 1% worldwide, have achieved triple accreditation, with only eight triple-accredited universities in the entire German-speaking region. WU obtained its initial EQUIS accreditation in 2007, and its MBA programs have carried AMBA accreditation since 2010.

Press contact:
Cornelia Moll
Press Relations Officer
Tel: + 43-1-31336-4977
Email: cornelia.moll@wu.ac.at