East African business schools in race towards world class status

The purpose of the paper is to explore the extent to which East Africa Community (EAC) business schools are inching closer to a world-class business school status. The paper is informed by a review of literature on world-class universities/business schools (WCU/WCBS). Attributes/elements of excellence of WCU/WCBS are identified and used as a yardstick to gauge EAC business schools performance and drive towards word-class status. An exploratory web analysis of EAC business schools is then conducted to establish gaps in their pursuit of world-class status. Opportunities for improvement are identified and recommendations made to enable EAC business schools embed a culture of excellence that should enable them realise a world-class status. EAC business schools have an uphill task to achieve a WCBS status, thanks to a host of shortcomings, particularly their poor research track record. Embracing the opportunities for improvement as identified is crucial to their future. EAC business schools can only afford to ignore the drive towards world-class status at their own peril. The wind of change is blowing hard and there cannot be any complacency in embracing all-round excellence, networking and forging for international recognition, which is indeed the way forward for EAC business schools. The line of inquiry pursued by this paper provides additional insights into understating the drive towards word-class status, particularly for business schools of developing countries.