University of Missouri Recognized by AACSB International for Leading the Way in Entrepreneurial Education

{COLUMBIA, MISSOURI} Today AACSB International (AACSB), the world’s largest global education network, recognized the University of Missouri Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business for its commitment to creating and incubating cutting-edge business innovations and fostering entrepreneurship in the next generation of business leaders. The Trulaske College of Business is one of 35 business schools around the globe to earn this distinction.

In its inaugural year, AACSB’s Entrepreneurship Spotlight Challenge highlights AACSB-accredited schools that deliver innovative and creative best practices through a range of distinctive entrepreneurship programs, or through a variety of impactful center formats. Accredited schools were invited to submit one example of how they demonstrate a unique commitment to student learning, while providing opportunities for students to gain the skills required to be successful in business—whether it’s in a startup or within a world-renowned corporation. Central to the challenge was uncovering schools’ unique approaches to engaging the business community, expanding the reach of education beyond the classroom and positively impacting society.

 “The University of Missouri is being recognized this year in AACSB’s Entrepreneurial Spotlight Challenge for its commitment to fostering in its students the creativity, problem solving, and innovative mindset required of future business leaders,” said Thomas R. Robinson, president and chief executive officer of AACSB International. “Core to AACSB’s mission is ensuring that the future of business education is built on innovative and cutting-edge thinking, exemplified by Mizzou, which we are proud to showcase.”

As part of the selection process, the nominations were reviewed by a panel of corporate leaders from a variety of disciplines, including venture capital, consulting, and accounting. Core to the Collective Vision for the industry, AACSB supports the collaboration of business practice with business education. By integrating the perspectives of business professionals into the selection process, relevant impact could be identified.

A total of 120 nominations were submitted by AACSB-accredited schools across 34 countries, all of which highlighted unique approaches to fostering and developing entrepreneurship in undergraduate and graduate students

The University of Missouri was recognized for its submission centered on the Entrepreneurship Alliance, a cross-disciplinary program for students from all majors that are well-positioned for the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship. The Alliance engages in experiences that develop entrepreneurial traits and characteristics such as a problem solving, tenacity despite failure, self-determination, management of risk, self-confidence, idea validation, creativity, initiative, and detail orientation. The program challenges students with experiences that will develop the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

The program’s director, Dr. Greg Bier, said “We recognized years ago that we needed to push students beyond the classroom and engage them in physically and mentally challenging activities that allow them to truly experience entrepreneurial grit, failure, risk, teamwork and success. We focus as much on the student-entrepreneur as we do the venture.” 

About AACSB International

As the world’s largest business education alliance, AACSB International (AACSB) connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and professional development services to over 1,500 member organizations and more than 785 accredited business schools worldwide. With its global headquarters in Tampa, Florida, USA; Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, AACSB’s mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education. For more information, visit aacsb.edu.

About the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business

The Trulaske College of Business, founded in 1914, today enrolls nearly 5,000 students. The college has four academic units – accountancy, finance, management, and marketing. The college offers an undergraduate degree in business administration, a full-time MBA and an execMBA for working professionals, a 150-hour program that confers both undergraduate and master’s degrees in accountancy, and PhD programs in accountancy and business administration. The college takes great pride in its graduates. More than 34,000 alumni are contributing their expertise to the public and private sectors in every state in the U.S. and in a host of foreign countries.