
By Dr. Vlad Krotov
In today’s competitive academic environment, ensuring the quality and effectiveness of business education is more important than ever. Business schools around the world are increasingly held accountable for the outcomes that they produce for students and other key stakeholders served by business schools. That’s why AACSB Standard 5: Assurance of Learning (AoL) plays a critical role in accreditation for business schools. But if you’re new to AoL, you may have heard the term “loop” and wondered: What exactly does that mean? This article will provide a short explanation of what a “loop” is and what “closing the loop” mean.
The essence of AACSB Standard 5
AACSB Standard 5 requires that institutions demonstrate student achievement of learning goals for each degree program. It’s not enough to just have goals; schools must assess whether students are meeting them and use that information to continuously improve. Thus, these improvements have to be driven by data (and not opinion or wishful thinking).
What is a “loop” in AoL?
In the context of AoL, a loop refers to the continuous cycle of assessment, evaluation, and improvement aimed at enhancing student learning. This cycle is comprised of the following steps (see Figure 1 below):
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- Define Learning Goals and Outcomes: Define what students should know or be able to do upon graduation.
- Assess Student Performance: Use tools such as exams, rubrics, presentations, or portfolios to measure learning outcomes.
- Analyze Results: Review assessment results to identify patterns, strengths, and areas for improvement.
- Implement Improvements: Use insights to make informed changes to curriculum, pedagogy, or resources—and document those changes.
- Re-assess Performance: Measure attainment of learning outcomes again to see whether the implemented actions had their intended positive effect.
Figure 1. Assurance of Learning Loop as a Quality Improvement System
What does it mean “to close the loop”?
Going through this cycle once means that you “closed the loop”. AACSB Standard 5 requires that business schools “close the loop” for each program at least once in the accreditation cycle. Of course, assurance of learning should not stop once the loop is closed. The cycle begins again to improve student learning even further.
Conclusion
In summary, a “loop” in Assurance of Learning is more than just a process—it’s a commitment to quality, accountability, and continuous improvement in business education. By systematically assessing learning outcomes, analyzing data, and making informed changes, institutions not only meet AACSB Standard 5 but also demonstrate that they truly value student success. “Closing the loop” ensures that assessment isn’t just an academic exercise, but a meaningful driver of educational excellence. As business schools strive to meet the evolving needs of students and stakeholders, maintaining and refining these loops is essential for delivering programs that are both effective and impactful.