Behind Oxford came IESE Business School in Spain, and last year’s leader, HEC Paris, ranked third in QS Quacquarelli Symonds annual rankings, released on July 17, 2024.
“This year’s rankings underscore that executive education excellence is becoming increasingly widespread across different regions, despite the enduring dominance of traditional hubs,” QS founder Nunzio Quacquarelli told The PIE News.
“This trend reflects a more globally connected and diverse landscape for business education, where quality programmes are emerging from various parts of the world, enriching the global executive education ecosystem,” he added.
The success of Oxford’s Saïd Business School, who’s latest EMBA cohort includes students from 32 nationalities, was due to its “excellent reputation, eclectic student profile and thought leadership,” according to the report.
“Our transformational and competitive programme, now in its twentieth year, challenges students to explore the answers to complex business issues, delivering innovative and cutting-edge solutions to solve the problems of today, and those that will emerge tomorrow”, said Kathy Harvey SBS associate dean.
The results positioned the UK as a premier location for business education, home to five of the world’s top 20 executive MBAs, with London Business School climbing from seventh to fifth place.
Executive education excellence is becoming increasingly widespread across different regions
Nunzio Quacquarelli
The US is the most represented location, with 67 ranked business schools, followed by France and Canada with 16 and 12 institutions respectively. Overall, there are 45 countries represented.
HEC Paris’s fall from first to third position was put down to “significant drops in cohort work experience and managerial experience”, according to the rankings, alongside “moderate drops” in other areas.
The rankings are based on several datasets relating to employability outcomes, program recognition among employers, the quality and diversity of students, and research and innovation.
While the MBA remains a popular degree, more students are considering professional qualifications, master’s degrees and other career development options ahead of MBAs, according to a 2024 report.
Students’ increased interest in AI content and a demand for hybrid and remote programs are also shaping the MBA landscape, according to the report.
According to Quacquarelli, the “X-factor” of MBA programs lies in their emphasis on “learning to learn”, as well as the expansive peer-to-peer interaction and alumni networks.
“In an age where technological advancements, particularly AI, are constantly reshaping industries, the ability to continuously acquire and apply new knowledge is invaluable. MBA graduates are trained to think holistically and to adapt swiftly to new challenges, making them invaluable assets to any organisation,” he said.
In the US, Northwestern (Kellogg) and Yale School of Management made big jumps into the world’s top 10, ranking seventh and eighth respectively.
All three leading MBAs in the Asia Pacific region are found in Singapore, which is home to the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Business School and SMU (Lee Kong Chiang).
Meanwhile, Chile is spearheading business education in Latin America, with the region’s two highest-ranked MBAs belonging to Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (37th, globally) and Universidad de Chile (50th).
Despite Canada and Australia’s strengths in undergraduate and postgraduate education, the countries are less dominant in the world of business, with AGSM @ UNSW Business School taking Australia’s highest rank at 27th place, and Canada’s Toronto (Rotman) climbing to 31st.
