Only about 5 percent of all college business schools are worthy of accreditation from AACSB International, the gold standard for business school accreditation worldwide. Last spring, a rigorous review process culminated in AACSB granting the University of Northern Iowa’s (UNI) College of Business Administration unconditional reaffirmation of accreditation for another five years.

The AACSB reviewers’ report noted that the blending of three fundamental elements – essential business knowledge, traditional work values and contemporary professional skills – sets UNI business graduates apart from their peers.

The first two qualities capitalize on our existing assets: our professors and our students. The third – contemporary professional skills – remedies the subtle but telling deficiency resulting from the absence of meaningful professional exposure.

Our students characteristically exhibit a limited sense of the assertiveness, confidence and savvy needed to hit the ground running as professionals, and to build and manage successful careers. To bridge that gap, we have introduced the Professional Readiness Program (PRP) to develop students’ adaptability, tolerance for ambiguity, critical thinking, communication skills and professionalism.

Students are trained in 30 skills within six professional categories: self-awareness of personal values and traits and career management; knowledge of the business enterprise; communication skills; interpersonal skills; thinking skills; and professionalism.

Relative to these categories, students will be prepared for leadership and team positions; be trained in networking, first impressions and social graces; have a solid grasp on ethics and emotional intelligence; and have a full understanding of corporate governance and business structure in both large and small organizations.

Students enrolled in a UNI business major will begin PRP training as freshmen. The training continues throughout the undergraduate years, in concert with students’ assimilation of essential business knowledge. Through workshops, events, mentoring, study abroad opportunities and internships, the students are better prepared to transition from student to working professional upon graduation.

To leverage the traditional work values that students bring to UNI and the essential knowledge they gain while they’re with us, we enlist the expertise and experience of alumni and business professionals. Members of the PRP’s Executive Support Network share what it takes to be successful in contemporary organizations. Members of the program’s Corporate Support Network lend professional trainers who travel to our campus.

Many of these professionals also experience the benefits directly after hiring UNI business graduates.

We are always looking for new partners to be part of UNI’s Professional Readiness Program. To join the Executive Support Network or lend your organization’s training expertise as part of the Corporate Support Network, please contact me at farzad.moussavi@uni.edu.

Farzad Moussavi is dean of the University of Northern Iowa College of Business Administration.