The University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu’s Keith H. Sakuda, professor of management and international relations, was recognized by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) as a distinguished recipient of the 2025 ACBSP Teaching Excellence Award.
The prestigious award is bestowed upon educators who demonstrate outstanding teaching prowess within the academic realm, according to a press release issued by ACBSP, whose mission is to promote continuous improvement and recognize excellence in the accreditation of business education programs around the world.
“I appreciate the recognition from our ACBSP accreditors and I am thankful to my collaborating partner, Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan, for the nomination,” Sakuda said.
Sakuda continued, “For the past few years we have cooperated on a number of international teaching projects. Our current program, international fully integrated virtual exchange (IFIVE), has connected my UH West O‘ahu classroom with students in over 18 different countries. Working with them has been a wonderful experience. I would also like to thank my UH West O‘ahu students for making teaching both fun and exciting.”
Sakuda, acknowledged for his commitment to excellence in the classroom, will be celebrated alongside other regional awardees at the ACBSP Conference 2025, taking place June 19-22 in Las Vegas.
During the event, he will be presented with a physical award and a $500 honorarium, according to the press release. Additionally, the recipients of the International Teaching Excellence Award, representing both baccalaureate/graduate and associate degree-granting institutions, will be announced at the conference in Las Vegas and formally recognized at the ACBSP Conference. Sakuda, as a regional recipient, is now in contention for the esteemed International Teaching Excellence Award.
Jeffrey Alderman, ACBSP President and CEO, emphasized the heightened significance of business programs in preparing graduates for the global marketplace. “ACBSP is dedicated to fostering, promoting, and acknowledging best practices that actively contribute to the ongoing improvement of business education. Recognition of teaching excellence stands as a pivotal approach through which we fulfill this mission,” Alderman said in the release.
Established in 1995 by the ACBSP Associate Degree Commission, the International Teaching Excellence Award acknowledges exceptional educators in the classroom. In 2002, a parallel award was introduced by the Baccalaureate Degree Commission, recognizing teaching excellence at the baccalaureate/graduate degree level. ACBSP remains the sole accrediting body for business schools that presents an award for teaching excellence, open to applications from its extensive global membership.