The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FEB UGM), Bayu Sutikno, S.E., M.S.M., Ph.D., together with the former Dean of FEB UGM for the 2021–2026 term, Prof. Dr. Didi Achjari, S.E., M.Com., Akt., attended the AACSB Deans Conference 2026, held on October 18–21, 2026, in Orlando, United States. Through this international forum, both engaged in discussions and exchanged ideas with deans from AACSB-accredited business schools worldwide.
Organized by AACSB International, the conference brought together nearly 700 business school leaders from more than 60 countries. The forum provided an opportunity for deans to exchange perspectives, foster collaboration, and discuss various leadership challenges in managing business education institutions amid global changes.
Under the theme “Leading Across Boundaries,” the AACSB Deans Conference 2026 explored the challenges of business school leadership in bridging different disciplines, sectors, stakeholder groups, cultures, and technological developments. The conference featured several prominent speakers, including Sal Khan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Khan Academy, and Laura Huang, DMSB Distinguished Professor of Management and Organizational Dynamics at Northeastern University.
Various strategic topics were discussed during panel sessions and parallel discussions, including efforts to maintain the relevance of business schools in the future, the implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for business education, and the role of research in generating meaningful societal impact.
Bayu explained that during the international forum, he and Prof. Didi Achjari participated in a Peer Review Team (PRT) simulation based on the 2026 AACSB standards. Before attending the conference, both completed preparatory learning modules through a Learning Management System (LMS). During the simulation, participants assumed the role of peer reviewers conducting site visits and assessing a business school’s Continuous Improvement Report (CIR).
Through this activity, participants gained insights into the accreditation assessment process, including how to interpret accreditation standards and evaluate institutional efforts toward continuous quality improvement. Bayu emphasized that the assessment process requires not only a thorough understanding of the applicable standards but also sound judgment and wisdom in decision-making.
“Through the simulation, we learned that, in addition to ensuring compliance with the standards, we must also cultivate wisdom in exercising judgment,” Bayu explained.
As a newly appointed dean, Bayu also had the opportunity to attend a special meeting with AACSB International President and CEO Lily Bi during the New Deans Luncheon Meeting. The meeting brought together 15 newly appointed deans from various AACSB-accredited business schools. During the session, the deans engaged in discussions and shared experiences regarding leadership practices, challenges in managing business schools, and strategies for institutional development.
On the sidelines of the conference, Bayu also held bilateral meetings with several business school leaders from other countries. These included discussions with Prof. Chia-Hsing Huang, Executive Dean of SolBridge International Business School in South Korea, and Prof. Albert Jing-Fuh Yang, Dean and Director of International Affairs at the College of Management, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. The meetings provided opportunities to discuss and explore potential interinstitutional partnerships, particularly in strengthening academic collaboration and international networks.
Through its participation in the AACSB Deans Conference 2026, FEB UGM seeks to strengthen institutional leadership capacity, expand its network of internationally accredited business schools, and create opportunities for cross-border collaboration. The perspectives and best practices gained from the conference are expected to serve as valuable references for advancing business education at FEB UGM, ensuring that it remains adaptive, innovative, and relevant to societal needs and global developments.
Reported by: Kurnia Ekaptiningrum
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