Australian Institute of Business


The Australian Institute of Business is a private higher education provider in Australia. Founded in 1984, the business school is now one of Australia’s most established private institutions, specialising in postgraduate education.
AIB's degrees are delivered via online learning to students around the world through its interactive Student Learning Portal and online specialist lecturers.
AIB is registered by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency and offers multiple postgraduate business degrees online, all of which are accredited within the Australian Qualifications Framework.
As the practical business school, AIB qualifications are delivered through a practical work-based lens so that students can benefit from their learning immediately. AIB believes that everyone should have the right to education, and is committed to removing the artificial barriers to entry that exist within higher education.

History

Founded by Emeritus Professor Selva Abraham, AIB first began as a management consultancy in 1984, before transitioning into higher education. Previously known as the Gibaran Learning Group, in 1995, it gained accreditation to deliver its first higher education course, and by 2002, they were offering the full suite of business degrees, including the Doctor of Business Administration and Doctor of Philosophy – the first Australian private education provider to do so.
In 2011, it amalgamated as the Australian Institute of Business, combining the Gibaran Graduate School of Business, the Australian Institute of Business Administration, the Tourism Institute of Australia, and the Entrepreneurship Institute Australia.
Partnering with learning providers across the world, including in Singapore, Britain, Trinidad and Tobago and Sri Lanka, AIB’s business courses were studied on-campus globally through its teaching centres.
Recognising the early demand for learning which can occur when and where it suits working professionals, AIB transitioned into distance learning, offering both on-campus weekend workshops in Adelaide and self-guided learning at home.
In 2015, AIB transitioned its learning to fully online, and coincidingly became the MBA market share leader in Australia. The same year, private equity firm Crescent Capital Partners invested in AIB, and now holds 50% stake in the company.
Today, AIB specialises in postgraduate education delivered exclusively online, offering its market-leading Master of Business Administration, Graduate Certificate in Management, Master of Management, Master of Management, Doctor of Business Administration, and Doctor of Philosophy. Its reach is wide, with over 16,000 students and graduates in the discipline of business across 90 countries.
The business school has also launched non-award short courses called Masterclasses, which are delivered online over a 30-day period by industry-leading practitioners.

Accreditation, Registrations and Memberships

Accreditation

AIB is registered as a higher education provider by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, the sole government body in Australia authorised to register institutions of higher education, including universities. Additionally, all AIB programmes are accredited within the Australian Qualifications Framework and are internationally recognised.
AIB’s MBA is also accredited in Canada by the National Centre for Management Accreditation of the Canadian Institute of Management.

Memberships and Listings

AIB has a range of memberships and listings with leading industry associations and professional membership bodies that speak to its practical learning focus.
AIB is the online MBA market share leader in Australia. In 2015, AIB transitioned its suite of postgraduate qualifications to be fully online, and now are specialists in online education delivery. AIB programmes are delivered through the school’s Student Learning Portal, a Moodle-based interactive online resource that can be accessed from any device. Additionally, students receive 24/7 access to online learning support tools such as its comprehensive online database library, LinkedIn Learning and Studiosity.

Programmes

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The AIB MBA is Australia’s most popular online MBA, delivering practical learning that can be immediately applied in the workplace. The accredited degree is 12 subjects in total and is comprised of the Graduate Certificate in Management, Graduate Diploma in Management and MBA stage, each of which are four subjects. Every student starts their MBA journey by studying the GCM, starting with the school’s Leadership module. Students undertake one subject at a time for part-time study, or two at a time for full-time study, if they meet the requirements to do so. The MBA can be completed in 18 months, up to 3 years.
There are six intakes and start dates each year which are bi-monthly. Students can choose to specialise their AIB MBA if they wish in the following disciplines: Entrepreneurial Management, Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
The entry criteria for AIB’s MBA include pathways for those with prior degrees. Applicants without prior qualifications who have management, significant technical or business ownership experience can gain entry to the MBA through the successful completion of the GCM.

Graduate Certificate in Management (GCM)

AIB’s Graduate Certificate in Management is an accredited postgraduate qualification that is internationally recognised. Comprising of four subjects, students can complete this programme in 8 months. AIB’s GCM allows student to focus on a specific skillset that aligns with their business or career goals. AIB holds six annual intakes for their GCM. Students who successfully complete the GCM are eligible to enrol in the MBA and continue their studies.

Master of Management (MMgt)

AIB’s Master of Management programme is tailored to working managers, and combines Master's-level coursework with an in-depth research project. MMgt students often undertake their research project in a subject area related to their current industry or work projects. The programme can be completed in 18 months, but may take up to 3 years. The MMgt provides a pathway to the Doctor of Business Administration, for students looking to further their study.

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

The Doctor of Business Administration is a research degree designed for experienced managers. It features a deeper level of business and management training and relates it closely to the workplace needs. This is done through a combination of coursework, webinars and the research and writing of a thesis. Like the PhD, the DBA offers a doctoral qualification but is more directly linked to the world of work. The programme can be completed in 3 years, but may take up to 6 years.

Doctor of Philosophy in Management (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy is the traditional doctoral qualification that is associated with a wide range of subjects in universities across the world. It allows for research to be undertaken in greater depth, and for the outcome to be assessed as a contribution to knowledge. Although it has a theoretical dimension, the research programme at AIB can also enable managers to explore specialist areas of practical application.

30-Day Masterclass

In addition to the suite of postgraduate qualifications, AIB offers non-award short courses on in-demand and contemporary business topics. The courses are delivered online over a 30-day period by industry-leading practitioners.

Faculty and Staff

Leadership and Governance

The AIB executive leadership team oversees the daily operations of the institute, led by Chief Executive Officer Paul Wappett. Along with Academic Dean Professor Ingrid Day and Chief Operating Officer Jo Thomas, the executive team works closely with the Board of Directors to ensure AIB’s trajectory in on path.
The AIB Board of Directors as the corporate governing body is collectively responsible for AIB operations and course delivery, and is composed of:
AIB is half owned by Sydney-based private equity firm Crescent Capital Partners.

Academic Board

The AIB Academic Board is responsible for promoting and maintaining the “highest academic standards in teaching, scholarship and research”. The Academic Board oversees the development and implementation of AIB academic policies and procedures, and ensures the academic standards are of the highest quality possible.  Members of the Academic Board are:
AIB Academic Dean Professor Ingrid Day leads the academic arm of the institute that champions practical learning. Working collaboratively with Professor Day are:
All AIB lecturers hold a PhD or Masters level qualification, and possess practical business experience. Many faculty members also undertake further research within the AIB research framework, and many have presented their research at leading domestic and international conferences, including regularly publishing in top-tier management and business journals.

Founder

Emeritus Professor Selva Abraham is the founder of the Australian Institute of Business. Over the last 40 years, his focus has been on Work-Based Learning, which he has extended into the concept of Work-Applied Learning. Harnessing his passion for practical learning, Abraham has published four books on the subjects of work-applied learning, management and action research. A leading scholar in the field, he also regularly contributes to research papers and case studies, and is Chairman of the Global Centre for Work-Applied Learning.

Research

Many AIB research activities are concentrated and developed within the AIB Research Centre. The Centre is led by the Associate Dean, Research and Research Higher Degrees, and brings together full-time and part-time faculty, plus the school’s research degree candidates.
AIB is built on a foundation of work applied learning and research that is focused on analysing contemporary issues confronting managers in the workplace and finding Evidence Based solutions that can be immediately applied.
This stems from the interest and experience of the founder of the organisation, Emeritus Professor Selva Abraham who champions the workplace as a rich source of learning and research.

Alumni

All graduated students of AIB become part of the institute's alumni community. As of 2019, AIB has 10,107 graduates from over 90 countries around the world. Notable alumni include:
AIB offers regular networking events for its student and graduates in major capital cities. In addition, two graduation ceremonies with associated events are held twice a year in South Australia.

Scholarships

AIB’s scholarships to study at the Masters and Doctorate level assist those who may not otherwise be able to study to pursue higher education. Through their scholarships and enhanced programme accessibility, the institute is committed to making higher education accessible to more people and helping to foster social inclusion.