Global standards, local impact: AUT’s adoption of the CMBE scheme

Auckland University of Technology (AUT) Business School’s decision to explore the Certified Management Business Educator (CMBE) scheme stems from international academic collaboration. Now, with a structured trial underway in 2025, AUT is aligning its professional development framework with global standards while actively contributing to the wider institutional adoption of CMBE worldwide. Dilani Gedera CMBE, Director of Learning & Teaching at AUT Business School, shares more about this collaboration and its potential impact. 

How did AUT Business School first hear about the Certified Management Business Educator (CMBE) initiative? 

Last year, a few colleagues and I at AUT Business School met with Toni Hilton, when she was visiting Auckland. Toni was previously a Dean at Brighton University. She had previously worked at AUT Business School, and she highly recommended the CMBE framework to us. She introduced me to Oliver Lowe from Charted Association of Business Schools. Later, when I was in the UK, I had a meeting with Oliver, and we discussed the idea of running a CMBE trial at AUT in 2025. That conversation was the starting point. 

How did AUT Business School set up the CMBE trial? 

This trial has been managed through a collaborative effort involving the Director, Faculty Strategy and Operations, the Accreditation Manager, and myself as the Director of Learning and Teaching at the AUT Business School. 

To set up the CMBE trial, we first ensured that our Professional Activity Expectations  for academics on a ‘teaching path’ contract aligned with the CMBE framework — and fortunately, the existing requirements matched very well​. We then organised a couple of information sessions for our teaching path colleagues to introduce the CMBE and support their applications. We plan to touch base with participants again in a couple of months to check on their progress in recording professional development activities. At the end of the trial, we’ll conduct a review to assess outcomes and plan next steps. 

Why did AUT Business School choose to adopt the CMBE framework? 

AUT Business School adopted the CMBE framework because it strongly aligns with our mission to enable success for all learners and to foster continuous educational excellence​. The CMBE offers professional recognition, supports structured continuous professional development (CPD), and provides a robust framework to strengthen the quality of our teaching and learning practices​. It also helps enhance our global standing and ensures our teaching practices are benchmarked against international standards. By embedding CPD and professional standards into our academic culture, we ensure that our educational delivery remains locally and globally relevant. 

What do you hope AUT Business School will achieve through the CMBE initiative?

Through the CMBE initiative, we hope to foster a strong culture of continuous professional development and teaching excellence​. We hope to support educators' growth, enhance student learning outcomes, encourage innovation in teaching practices, and demonstrate our commitment to academic and professional standards in business education, both in New Zealand and globally​. We hope to highlight the positive impact of this trial and our subsequent adoption of CMBE in support of our business school accreditations  (AACSB and EQUIS)​, and to strengthen our reputation as an institution committed to educational excellence and innovation. 

Once the trial concludes and we’ve had the opportunity to review its outcomes, we anticipate the possibility of formally adopting the CMBE and extending it to other academic staff in the Business School.  

How do you see CMBE benefitting AUT's staff and students?

For staff, it provides structured professional development pathways, access to a global community of educators, and formal recognition of teaching excellence. Being part of the CMBE network fosters ongoing pedagogical innovation and supports a commitment to lifelong learning in higher education. 

For students, the CMBE ensures they are taught by educators who are not only dedicated to teaching but also aligned with current industry trends, evidence-informed practice, and international benchmarks. This translates into a more engaging learning experience, greater career readiness, and stronger educational outcomes. 

As a CMBE myself, I’ve experienced these benefits firsthand. Being part of the CMBE community has opened doors to valuable international collaborations. For example, I had the privilege of presenting at the LTSE conference and engaging in thought-provoking discussions with colleagues in the UK. One of the most exciting outcomes has been a collaborative research project with Professor Sally Everett from King’s College London. We’re exploring how AI can support skills development in Business Education, bringing students, academic staff, and industry partners together. This opportunity simply wouldn’t have emerged without the CMBE. 

The Certified Management & Business Educator (CMBE) scheme is helping the global business school community to raise standards in business & management education. If you are interested in learning more about how the CMBE can support your professional development as an individual Subscriber or help support faculty development as Institutional Subscriber, visit here for more information.