50 year timeline

1973 – ABE starts

1973 – The first handheld cellular phone goes on sale, priced at $4,000

1973 – The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) is inaugurated

1977 – ABE launches the Certificate and Diploma in Business Administration

1977 – First ABE exams in UK, Singapore & Hong Kong

1978 – First ABE exams in Cyprus, Greece, Ghana and Zimbabwe

1979 - First ABE exams in Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria and Zambia

1980 - ABE launches the Advanced Diploma in Business Administration

1980 - ABE is granted a Coat of Arms

1980 - First ABE exams in Cameroon

1981 - IBM launches the first 16-bit business computer and starts the transition to computing in the workplace

1983 - The internet is born

1984 - ABE launches the Advanced Diploma in Marketing

1985 - The first Microsoft Windows operating system is released

1989 - The Berlin Wall falls

1990 - First ABE exams held in Trinidad & Tobago

1991 - In South Africa the Population Registration Act is repealed

1992 - The world's first mass-produced GMS mobile phone is released (Nokia 1011)

1993 - The world wide web software is released into the public domain

1994 - Amazon.com is launched

1996 - Webmail services become available starting the switch to office based instant messaging between organisations

1998 - Google is launched

1999 - The first ABE college is accredited in Mauritius

2000 - First ABE exams in Tanzania

2000 - First ABE exams in Myanmar

2000 - First ABE college is accredited in Sri Lanka

2001 – First ABE exams in Maldives

2004 – Facebook is launched to the public

2005 – First ABE exams in Malawi

2005 – YouTube is launched

2007 – Business Administration renamed Business Management

2007 – ABE Human Resources units launched

2007 – ABE is officially recognised by the QCA

2009 – WhatsApp is founded

2010 – ABE is officially recognised by the newly formed Ofqual

2011 – First ABE centre accredited in Guyana

2016 – Business start–up certificate launched

2017 – ABE Endorsed service is launched

2017 – ABE launches Level 2 and Level 3 short awards

2018 – ABE Endorsed course starts in Somaliland

2018 – ABE funded research to help start-up businesses survive and thrive launched at the Houses of Parliament

2018 – ABE launches Level 3 Business Essentials

2019 – ABE launches its programmes for schools with ABE Endorsed KidsMBA

2020 – ABE launches alternative assessment methods to ensure no one is left behind during the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 – ABE funded report into the long-term impact of providing entrepreneurial education from age 11, is published

2021 - ABE publishes the ABE way manifesto

2021 - ABE digital courses are launched

2022 - ABE publishes a collective Environmental and Social Impact Pledge and recruits centres around the world to become Impact Partners

2022 - The first ABE Future Entrepreneur of the Year competition takes place

2023 - First delivery partner in Australia

2023 - ABE celebrates its 50th anniversary