For Rob Dixon, the new dean at Durham Business School, his role is nothing if not busy. Since taking up the reins at the beginning of May after the sudden departure of his predecessor, the professor of management accounting has overseen a series of changes at the UK institution.

Faculty recruitment, a rebalancing of the school’s portfolio of courses, and a restructuring of the EMBA programme and executive education are just some of the changes afoot. Perhaps most importantly, says Prof Dixon, Durham is close to acquiring accreditation from the AACSB, the US body to complement its accreditation from Equis in Europe and the UK’s Association of MBAs.