Türkiye
Alper Ertürk
Professor of Engineering Management and Dean, Istanbul Health and Technology University
The Impact of International Accreditation as a Driver of AI-Enabled Innovation and Economic Development on Higher Education: Insights from the AACSB Experience
Isam Zabalawi, Alper Ertürk, Helene Kordahji, and Ghaleb Elrefae
The University of Jordan, Jordan · Australian University, Kuwait · Istanbul Health and Technology University, Türkiye · Al Ain University, Al Ain, UAE
Abstract
The Impact of International Accreditation as a Driver of AI-Enabled Innovation and Economic Development on Higher Education: Insights from the AACSB Experience
Isam Zabalawi, Alper Ertürk, Helene Kordahji, and Ghaleb Elrefae
The University of Jordan, Jordan · Australian University, Kuwait · Istanbul Health and Technology University, Türkiye · Al Ain University, Al Ain, UAE
Higher education institutions are increasingly expected to play a strategic role in supporting innovation, digital transformation, and knowledge-based economic development. Recent years witnessed increasing attention given by most universities to international accreditations. However, international accreditation is not only perceived as quality assurance of the educational system, but also as a catalyst for change in university’s overall environment. The culture of continuous improvement and Impact is a corner stone for any higher education institution seeking and maintaining international accreditation. Although the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) plays a significant role in shaping how business schools integrate AI into business education by promoting innovation, technological relevance, and continuous curriculum improvement can also indirectly impact on the overall culture of the university by the conferences take aways brought back by faculty members attended these conferences. This chapter will highlight how AACSB accreditation affected not only the business school, but also how the business school had a leading role in changing and shaping the overall technological culture of the university giving Al Ain University experience in this regard. Bringing insights from five annual conferences, the college of business has each year proposed AI and innovation-related ideas that were adopted and implemented in the university. The chapter argues that international accreditation can function as a governance and policy mechanism that strengthens universities’ capacity to contribute to innovation ecosystems, enhance university–industry knowledge exchange, and generate economically relevant outcomes. By linking accreditation, AI integration, and institutional transformation, the study offers insights into how Arab universities can leverage global frameworks to support sustainable economic development and competitiveness in the AI-driven global economy.
Biography
Alper Ertürk
Prof. Alper Ertürk (PhD) is Professor of Engineering Management and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Istanbul Health and Technology University, Türkiye. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Australian University, where he is Deputy Head of the College of Business Accreditation Committee and a member of the University Research Committee. Prof. Ertürk earned his Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the Turkish Naval Academy, an MSc in Information Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA, and a PhD in Management Science from Gebze Institute of Technology, Türkiye. With more than 20 years of academic, research, and professional experience across Türkiye, the United States, Belgium, Germany, Morocco, and Kuwait, Prof. Ertürk has developed an international profile spanning higher education, research, academic leadership, and project management. He has published more than 35 journal articles, delivered over 45 conference presentations, authored 11 book chapters, and served as editor of 11 academic books. His research has been published in internationally recognized journals, including the Journal of Business Research, European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, and Journal of Small Business Management. His scholarly work has received more than 3,000 citations. He has also secured external and internal research funding and served as Project Manager for large-scale industrial projects. Throughout his academic career, Prof. Ertürk has received several awards, including an Outstanding Teaching Award, Best Paper Award, and Academic Excellence Award. He completed his postdoctoral studies at Vlerick Business School in Ghent, Belgium, and is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, through which he conducted research at Portland State University in Oregon, USA. In addition to his academic career, Prof. Ertürk brings extensive leadership and field experience. He has served in senior university leadership roles, including Vice President, Dean, Director of a Graduate School, and Department Chair, at different institutions. He also served for more than 20 years in the Turkish Navy, where he undertook a range of leadership, operational, and managerial responsibilities, including serving as a Working Group Chair and Senior Project Manager within a multinational organization. His current research interests include data science, business analytics, organizational leadership and trust, and perceptions of workplace fairness. His interdisciplinary research integrates management, organizational behavior, analytics, and technology to address contemporary challenges in organizations and higher education.