Later this month, we’re partnering with our sister site TopMBA.com to bring you a ranking of the best full-time MBA programs around the world. Designed to complement the Business Master’s Rankings which are also launching at the end of November, this new ranking should provide unique insights and support for any students considering studying a business-related master’s degree at postgraduate level. Over 350 business schools in more than 50 countries have been considered for inclusion in these rankings.
The full-time MBA rankings, which will be viewable either globally or by region, is based around five key metrics: employability, entrepreneurship and alumni outcomes, return on investment, thought leadership and diversity. Although MBA rankings have been published on TopMBA in the past, this year’s ranking is being viewed as a distinct evolution.
To get more information on why we’re bringing you these new rankings on TopUniversities, we spoke to QS CEO Nunzio Quacquarelli (as seen in the video above) and Ben Sowter, Head of QS’s Intelligence Unit.
There are plenty of MBA rankings already out there. What sets this ranking apart from others available?
Nunzio: This year we have added many new metrics which we believe will provide deep insight for candidates seeking to start their own business or looking for strong employability outcomes with the most active MBA and masters employers around the world.
I am particularly excited by the entrepreneurship and alumni outcomes metric. This looks at founders, CEOs, directors and partners of the world’s most successful companies, with over 49,000 of the most successful alumni of business schools contributing to this metric.
In addition, we have calculated the return on investment of over 250 business schools, across MBA and masters programs.
Ben: The alumni outcomes metric is the stand-out element for me too. We’ve tracked which programs graduate the highest proportion of emerging entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a future blue-chip CEO or a start-up tycoon, there’s something here for you.
Why have QS decided to put a considerable emphasis on entrepreneurship in these rankings?
Nunzio: The profile of MBA candidates is changing, with a growing proportion (now in excess of 30 percent) seeking to start their own business. QS will be the first ranking organization to measure alumni success and entrepreneurship, as well as the first to conduct a truly global employer survey.
Ben: Entrepreneurship is a growing phenomenon and our work with applicants confirms that a key reason many people consider an MBA, or indeed a business master’s, is to equip themselves with the skills and knowledge to feel more confident establishing their own business. Our first thought is always to the prospective student and we couldn't overlook this increasingly vital dimension.
How does this ranking fit in alongside the other ones produced by QS?
Ben: Better decisions require better data, more data and easier ways to bring it to bear on the problem at hand. Ultimately that means more rankings, not less. QS aims to enable users to combine our different studies at institution, subject and now program level to efficiently build personalized shortlists but it remains down to them to make the final choice.
