What was the AMBA accreditation process like?

“The accreditation process was a major undertaking, but we had already designed the programme based on AMBA requirements from the very beginning, so the process was smoother as we did not have to drastically change the existing structure,” explains programme director Martin Toding.

Although preparing the report was time-consuming, it provided a thorough overview of the programme as a whole and an opportunity to evaluate team activities. “The external feedback from the evaluation committee was invaluable. While there were no major elements that we had to revise during the initial accreditation, we received many suggestions for smaller technical improvements, which we have already implemented. The positive feedback confirmed that we are moving in the right direction and motivated us to keep improving,” he adds.

He emphasises that accreditation compels the programme to adopt a proactive and systematic long-term approach. “It enables us to constantly evaluate, analyse and enhance the programme. Thanks to this, we have implemented developments that might not have happened as quickly otherwise. However, this progress does not come from AMBA alone — our goal is to provide students with a high-quality, relevant and contemporary education. In that sense, AMBA, our students, and the programme are fully aligned.”

What tangible impact has AMBA accreditation had on the MBA programme?

The AMBA label is a key factor in students' decision-making process. "After receiving the accreditation, the number of confirmed applicants to our programme increased significantly. As our programme is the only AMBA-accredited MBA in the Baltics, many candidates clearly decided in our favour. Several students have explicitly stated that they chose the programme because of the accreditation,” says Toding.
The accreditation also strengthens TalTech’s reputation more broadly. “AMBA signals that we are in the same quality tier as many renowned universities. It attracts more motivated candidates and helps increase student numbers, which is especially crucial in a competitive international market,” he adds.

What was the main area for development during the accreditation process?

“One of the main areas of focus was strengthening engagement between different stakeholders,” says Toding. The accreditation process particularly emphasised the need for a more systematic and strategic approach to alumni involvement. 'Maintaining relationships with alumni is extremely important. We recognised that we had not paid enough attention to this before, but we have already taken concrete steps in this direction.”
Another important development area was enhancing the international dimension. "There was an expectation to provide students with more meaningful international learning experiences. As a result, we have started organising regular study trips and strengthening/expanding collaboration with universities abroad.”

Toding adds that AMBA accreditation has opened up new and exciting collaboration opportunities. "The AMBA network has given us access to partnerships with other leading MBA programmes, resulting in more invitations and offers of cooperation. For example, Aalto University, NOVA School of Business and Economics, and the Polytechnic University of Milan are currently looking to find common goals and areas of mutually beneficial activities with us."

Why would you recommend that other universities pursue accreditation?

“As I mentioned earlier, accreditation provides a thorough and systematic understanding of how a programme functions,” explains Toding. 'It forces you to reflect on why certain decisions are made and helps you to identify areas for improvement.' According to Toding, accreditation is a powerful driver of development. "It prevents you from becoming complacent; it simply doesn’t allow you to become comfortable relying on past achievements. The key words here are continuous improvement."

"Accreditation is not merely about external reputation; it is first and foremost an internal quality standard," he adds. "Ultimately, the question is: what level of quality do we want to offer our students, partners and faculty? The answer is simple: only the best.”

Explore the programme: https://taltech.ee/en/entrepreneurial-management