Quality of ISM

The evaluations of Lithuanian universities according to the fields of bachelor’s studies show that the strongest economics, management and finance specialists are prepared by the ISM University of Management and Economics. In these fields of study, ISM ranks first in the ranking table and is the leader in Lithuania! (“Reitingai”magazine, 2023).

ISM is rated with four palm trees in the EDUVERSAL ratings.

ISM’s bachelor’s programs in Economics and Data Analytics, Economics and Politics, and master’s programs in Financial Economics are the only ones in Lithuania that have received international FIBAA accreditation.

The University shall ensure and enhance quality in all its activities – teaching and learning, programmes, research, and services through a regular review and continuous improvement process.

The aims of the quality assurance and enhancement are:

• To secure the academic standards of ISM awards, assuring applicants, students, graduates, and the public that:
  • The level of achievement required for those awards meets or exceeds national requirements and relevant international requirements such as AACSB, FIBAA;
  • Curricula are up to date and in line with external expectations: future students, employers, and external experts.
• Assure and continuously improve the academic quality of the student learning experience, ensuring that students receive excellent and effective forms of teaching, assessment and support which enables them to achieve their individual potential, develop the experience and skills to enable them to achieve successful professional outcomes after graduation.
• Assure and continuously improve competences of the teaching staff.
• Enhance the University’s reputation for quality, evidenced in reports from external accrediting bodies including national and international quality assurance agencies.

The principles on which the quality assurance and enhancement are built in the University are developmental, to ensure continuous improvement through the involvement of all relevant parties within and outside the university. Quality assurance rests on several principles:

• Quality assurance and enhancement are developmental and are part of the University’s strategy for ensuring the highest quality learning, teaching, curricula, and research. Quality assurance is an integral part of the University Strategic plan for 2020- 2025.
• Quality assurance contributes the development of a quality culture. Responsibility for the assurance and enhancement of learning and teaching quality rests with every member of staff involved in teaching delivery. Students are responsible for their learning and for providing constructive feedback on teaching and courses. Responsibility for the oversight of learning and teaching quality is distributed throughout the University, through faculty, Programme directors, and Executive School Dean.
• Quality assurance and enhancement involve external stakeholders: representatives of business and other organizations, academic partners, governmental institutions.
• Quality assurance and enhancement focus on the input, processes, outcomes and impact and follows Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle.

ISM Quality Assurance Framework is informed by:

• The Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG)
• Principles and requirements of the Lithuanian Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher education https://www.skvc.lt/default/en/quality-assurance/about-quality-assurance; .;
• The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) Business Standards https://www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/standards/business

ISM stakeholders are represented in the following University bodies and Committees:

• The Board;
• The Senate;
• University Academic Committees: Study, Curriculum; Faculty Assessment and Promotion;
• Bachelor and Master Thesis Defense Committees;
• New Programme Development Groups;
• Self-Assessment Groups of Study Fields and University.

ISM collects and analyzes information for the quality monitoring and assessment for its main stakeholders by:

• Conduct mid-term Programme Director’ – students meetings
• End of the semester student surveys;
• End of the year students surveys;
• Students’ surveys on the quality of the mobility programmes in which they participated;
• End of the year faculty surveys on students’ engagement, administrative support, facilities, achievement of module/course aims;
• Students’ surveys on the quality of bachelor and master thesis supervision;
• Graduate surveys on the competences gained during their studies at ISM;
• Graduate career destinations;
• Internship supervisors’ reports;
• Any other surveys required for the Study or any other departments.

ISM students are provided support and guidance:

• ISM Students receive academic support from the Programme Directors, Module/Course leaders, faculty members through individual and/or group consultations;
• ISM Students are consulted by the International Office on the mobility opportunities;
• Career Centre provides consultations on how to write a CV, a motivation letter; how to prepare for the job interview; how to plan their careers;
• ISM Student can receive career mentoring from ISM Alumni and Business Partners;
• ISM provides financial support to its best students who otherwise will not be able to study at ISM;
• ISM provides Psychological consultations.

ISM facilitates development of the competences of its Faculty and Staff by organizing:

• Winter and Summer Academies;
• “Brown bag” sessions;
• Seminars;
• “Writing retreats”;
• Individual consultations from the invited renown researchers.

To promote life-long learning, ISM has approved regulations for the recognition of periods of formal study, informal, non-formal learning.

ISM publishes information on:

• Vision, mission, values: https://www.ism.ltapie-ism/ ;
• ISM management bodies: https://www.ism.ltism-valdymas/ ;
• University Strategy: https://www.ism.ltapie-ism/ ;
• Annual Reports: https://www.ism.ltapie-ism/ ;
• Study Programmes: https://www.ism.ltbakalauro-studijos/; https://www.ism.ltmagistranturos-studijos/; https://www.ism.ltdoktoranturos-studijos/; https://www.ism.ltvadovu-studijos/; https://www.ism.ltsvietimo-lyderyste/ ;
• Services to Students and Alumni: https://www.ism.ltinformacija-istojusiems/ ; https://www.ism.ltism-alumni/ ; https://www.ism.ltkarjeros-centras/ ;
• Faculty
• Programme accreditation decisions: https://www.ism.ltkokybe-ism/ ;
• Institutional Accreditation decisions: https://www.ism.ltkokybe-ism/ ;
• Students’ Survey results: https://www.ism.ltkokybe-ism/ ;
• Quality Assurance: https://www.ism.ltkokybe-ism/ .

ISM University of Management and Economics claims to receive the highest level of accreditation from the World Network of Business Schools (AACSB), which demonstrates the international recognition of business and society.

AACSB International is an organization that unites more than 1,500 business education institutions worldwide and provides quality assurance services. AACSB has accredited more than 785 leading business schools. There is not a single AACSB-accredited business school in the Baltic countries yet.

The principle of subsidiarity is important for quality assurance; this principle means that the decisions concerning activities must be made at the level at which the solution of all problems and procedural issues is the most effective. In such a way, when the right to make decisions is delegated to the level where it is the most effective, responsibility for the quality of the activities is also divided among all levels:

• Institutional level
• Programme level
• Subject / module level

Studentų apklausos rezultatai:

• 2017 Spring
• 2017 Fall
• 2018 Spring
• 2018 Fall
• 2019 Spring
• 2019 Fall
• 2020 Spring
• 2020 Fall
• 2021 Spring
• 2021 Fall
• 2022 Spring
• 2022 Fall

• Quality Manual
• Procedure for the External Review and Accreditation of Higher Education Institutions
• Procedure for the External Evaluation and Accreditation of Studies
• Descriptor of Study Cycles
• Description of General Requirements for the Provision of Studies
• Institutional Action Improvement Plan
• ISM Regulations of Bachelor Studies (2022-2023)
• ISM Regulations of Master of Science Studies (2022-2023)
• ISM Regulations of MBA Studies (2022-2023)
• ISM Policy on Recognition of Non-formal and Informal Learning
• Procedure for Recognition of Periods of studies at other Higher Education Institutions
• Rules for Academic Recognition of Foreign Qualifications
• Procedure for Submission and Consideration of Applications and Appeals

An international group of experts of FIBAA (Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation, Germany) performed an external expert assessment of the Economics, Economics and Politics and Financial Economics study programmes of ISM University on 14-15 November 2018. The group of experts consisted of: Prof. Dr. Petra Jordanov, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Jerger, Prof. Dr. Tomas Kačerauskas, Robert Kotal ir Sarae El-Mourabit.

During the visit, the experts met the social partners of ISM University: students, lecturers, employees of the administration, partners of the institution, and assessed the internal study quality assurance system of the university, compliance thereof with the qualitative and quantitative criteria, strategic management of the institution, scientific activities, consistency of the lifelong learning conditions with the provisions of higher education of Lithuania and Europe as well as the impact of the activities of the university on the country and region.

You are kindly invited to familiarize yourself with the experts’ conclusions:

Economics: Economics-Assessment-Report

Economics and Politics: Economics-and-Politics-Assessment-Report

Financial Economics: Financial-Economics-Assessment-Report

An international group of experts of the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (CQAHE) performed an external expert assessment of the Master’s of Innovation and Technology Management study programme of ISM on 13-14 December 2016. The group of experts consisted of: Prof. Dr. Csaba Forgacs, Prof. Dr. Pandelis Ipsilandis, Prof. Dr. Georgi Apostolov, Ugnė Bartašiūtė ir Eimantas Kisielius.

During the visit, the experts met the social partners of ISM University: students, lecturers, employees of the administration, partners of the institution, and assessed the internal study quality assurance system of the university, compliance thereof with the qualitative and quantitative criteria, strategic management of the institution, scientific activities, consistency of the lifelong learning conditions with the provisions of higher education of Lithuania and Europe as well as the impact of the activities of the university on the country and region.

You are kindly invited to familiarize yourself with the official conclusions of the assessment of CQAHE:

Innovation and Technology Management: Innovation-and-Technology-Management-Assessment-Report

Education Leadership: Educational-Leadership-Assessment-Report

An international group of experts of the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (CQAHE) performed an external expert assessment of the Bachelor’s of Finance Study Programme of ISM on 14 April 2014. The group of experts consisted of: Brian O’Connor, Prof. Dr. Andreas Dietrich, Prof. Dr. Daniel Havran, Stasys Švagždys, Monika Kavaliauskaitė.

During the visit, the experts met the social partners of ISM University: students, lecturers, employees of the administration, partners of the institution, and assessed the internal study quality assurance system of the university, compliance thereof with the qualitative and quantitative criteria, strategic management of the institution, scientific activities, consistency of the lifelong learning conditions with the provisions of higher education of Lithuania and Europe as well as the impact of the activities of the university on the country and region.

The Finance Study Programme was accredited for six years and received 23 points out of 24.

You are kindly invited to familiarize yourself with the official conclusions of the assessment of CQAHE: Finance-Assessment-Report

An international group of experts of the Centre for Quality Assessment in Higher Education (CQAHE) performed an external expert assessment of the Bachelor’s of International Business and Communication Study Programme of ISM on 13 November 2013. The International Business and Communication Study Programme was accredited for six years, i.e. an unlimited accreditation was granted.

You are kindly invited to familiarize yourself with the official conclusions of the assessment of CQAHE: International-Business-and-Communication-Assessment-Report

2021 – International Marketing and Management: Marketing_accreditation_2022

2013 – Business Management and Analytics: Accreditation

2013 – Management: Accreditation

2010 – International Marketing and Management: International-Marketing-and-Management-Assessment