Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU)

Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU) was founded in 2016 as part of the University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and now it is established as a separate organisation in Germany.  ACEEU has set the world's first accreditation framework for the third mission of universities, and by this supported the transformation of universities towards third generation institutions innovative in its approach. ACEEU works with transformational leaders and change makers to make change happen and the world a better, more sustainable place - with universities at the heart.

ACEEU is committed to redefining the standards of quality in higher education, empowering university stakeholders to be proactive agents of change and accelerate innovation and collaboration through third mission. Its mission is to promote cultural change, to accelerate institutional development and to amplify the recognition of excellence through the provision of world-class accreditation services.

ACEEU envisions universities to become more entrepreneurial and engaged, ​ultimately generating greater social, cultural and economic impact. According to ACEEU, an engaged university is oriented towards and strategically positioned ​to deliver a range of societal contributions, benefits and impacts. ​The institution undertakes education and research aligned with society ​and business needs. Research and projects are collaborative ​and mutually beneficial. The priority in third mission activities is engagement ​and the institution accordingly develops its people, organisational capacity, ​support structures and external collaborations. An engaged university ​is an influential organisation within the wider ecosystem and is ​dedicated to continuous improvement and the generation of greater ​social and cultural impacts for the city and for the region.

ACEEU offers institutional and divisional accreditation. HEIs can choose between Entrepreneurial University Accreditation or Engaged University Accreditation or go for both of them. ACEEU is currently exploring opportunities to drive the quality of educational programmes by evaluating 21st Century Skills.

ACEEU has 34 members, including 7 Polish HEIs. On May 17-18, 2023, the on-site accreditation visit took place at TUL. The ACEEU team met with the staff, students and alumni of the university, as well as representatives of institutions and companies with which TUL cooperates within its engagement.

More information (https://www.aceeu.org/)

ACEEU accreditation is financed by the Ministry of Education and Science as part of the POWER project "International accreditations". The aim of the project is obtaining international  accreditations and certificates by Polish HEIs, increasing the international competitiveness of universities. Co-financing of the project from EU funds is 84.28%, the remaining funds come from the state budget.