Controversial New Economist Executive MBA Ranking

A new executive MBA ranking produced by The Economist has proved controversial, as many of the world's top programs are not included in the executive MBA ranking.

 

Released late last week, The Economist Executive MBA Ranking lists the top ten executive MBA programs as:

 

1. Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA

 

2. IE Business School's Global Executive MBA

 

3. UCLA-NUS Executive MBA

 

4. University of Oxford Saïd Business School's Executive MBA

 

5.  IESE Business School's Global Executive MBA

 

6. Kellogg-HKUST Executive MBA

 

7.  Kellogg-WHU Executive MBA

 

8. Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management's Executive MBA

 

9. University of Chicago Booth School of Business' Executive MBA

 

10.  IMD Business School's Executive MBA

 

However, while the 62 programs listed in The Economist Executive MBA Ranking are undoubtedly of great quality, some analysts have questioned why many other executive MBA programs that are normally considered to be of the highest quality are missing from the list.

 

"Missing from The Economist's ranking of 62 Executive MBA programs is the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, regarded by many as having the best EMBA program in the world," says John A Byrne, editor in chief at C-Change Media Inc. "Also absent is the London Business School, INSEAD in France, Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, New York University's Stern School, and the University of Southern California's Marshall School--all business schools with widely recognized EMBA programs that are of better quality than many of the other schools that somehow make The Economist's list."

 

Byrne then points out that many of the top schools may have chosen not to be included in The Economist Executive MBA Rankings as a result of their feelings towards previous MBA rankings from the magazine. He says: "many business school officials believe that The Economist's ranking of full-time MBA programs is so flaky and flawed they wanted no part of yet another ranking from the magazine."

 

Notable exclusions from the ranking include executive MBA programs offered by The Wharton School, London Business School, INSEAD, Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, NYU Stern, and UNC Marshall.

 

Of course, the most useful advice for many an MBA applicant is to consider MBA rankings as one person's point of view. After all, the methodology of one ranking cannot cater for the varied backgrounds and future aspirations of all that pay attention to it. While The Economist's Executive MBA Ranking may be useful to see yet one more view of the so-called top executive MBA programs, the only method of selecting the best program for you is to conduct your own research.