The perceived benefits of accreditation on students’ performance: The case of private business schools

Abstract

In a world of globalization and transparency, many academic institutions are prioritizing the accreditation of their teaching and learning environments in order to achieve a strategic advantage over their competitors. This research examines the perceived benefits of accreditation from students’ perspectives and, in particular, assesses the extent to which accreditation adds value to students’ performance, academic motivation, and future career prospects. For comparison, the research also evaluates whether students’ knowledge of the strategic objectives of the program or college can have a similar impact on their performance, motivation, and career prospects. The research data were gathered from senior students at the College of Business at Alfaisal University, and the analysis was performed using structural equation modeling through the SmartPLS statistical package. The χ 2 statistic was used to determine whether or not gender affected the perceived value of accreditation on overall performance. The results suggest that students’ knowledge of the value of accreditation has a 60% higher impact on their overall performance than their awareness of the program’s or college’s strategic objectives. The gender of the student seems to have no bearing on these findings. The results highlight the value of accreditation and will help academic organizations develop awareness programs focused on this value. Such awareness programs have the potential to enhance the efforts of organizations trying to achieve accreditation by providing them with the direct support of their students.