Executive MBA programs in Latin America

Latin America’s economy has come a long way since the financial turmoil of the 1980s. The region’s economic growth, traditionally driven by the larger economies of Argentina and Brazil, is coming on in leaps and bounds, with emerging markets, such as Peru, Chile and Colombia becoming increasingly significant players.

With increasing GDP, declining poverty and improving education at all levels, the southern half of the Americas has certainly established itself as a player to watch.

Where’s there is business, there is of course business education – Latin America is no different, boasting a rapidly-improving business education sector. Today, there is no need for executives, professionals and future leaders of the region to head north in search of a top business schools qualification. The likes of Brazil and Mexico, two countries tipped to be a key part of the next generation of economic giants, are home to some top business schools and Executive MBA programs.

Excellent business education is by no means limited to these two behemoths though, and can also be found in the emerging markets of Peru, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador. Professional Executive MBA students, who wish to specialize in the region, would do well to consider Latin America as a study destination.

Here are some of the programs worth keeping an eye on.

EMBAs in Brazil

COPPEAD Graduate School of Business, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

Ranked in the top 100 of the 2014 Financial Times Executive MBA Rankings, COPPEAD delivers high quality business education for executives and managers in the region and further afield. The business school offers a full-time MBA program, a four-year doctoral program and a range of executive programs with specializations in marketing, energy management, health management, finance and logistics. The Brazilian business school, which is accredited by EQUIS and AACSB, benefits from a wide international network and has forged partnership programs with 40 top business schools across the globe.

Business School Sao Paulo

Business School Sao Paulo (BSP), despite dropping out the QS Global 200 MBA rankings this year, is a traditionally strong player in the region. The school offers an Executive MBA degree which prides itself on being ‘bold and dynamic’. The program draws on games and simulations, discussions, workshops and debates to deliver an ambitious program that combines theory and practice. Executive MBA students receive individual coaching to develop skills which are relevant to their respective professional environments.

EMBAs in Mexico

EGADE Business School, Tecnológico de Monterrey

In addition to providing a strong full-time MBA program that focuses on innovative approaches to business, EGADE Business School is also one of the five globally recognized business schools to offer the ‘OneMBA’ Executive MBA. The OneMBA program, ranked 38th in the 2014 Financial Times Executive MBA Rankings, is a global collaboration between high-profile business schools in the US, the Netherlands, Brazil and Mexico. The EMBA takes students to residencies in four different countries and offers a thoroughly global experience and skillset for its candidates. EGADE, which runs seven academic programs in addition to its executive education programs, is a substantial player in the ‘OneMBA’ endeavor. The school sits at the pinnacle of the QS Latin American business school ranking.

Instituto Technológico Autonomo de México (ITAM)

Ranked fourth in the 2014/15 QS Global 200 Latin America rankings, ITAM has a longstanding tradition of professional education and has played a significant role in the industrial and economic development of Mexico over the past 50 years. In addition to its traditional Executive MBA program, the business school offers an EMBA in business negotiations in collaboration with Hong Kong’s HKUST (providing an emphasis on business in China), IE Business School in Spain (with an emphasis on innovation) and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (for an emphasis on negotiation).

EMBAs in Peru

CENTRUM Católica Graduate School of Business, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Peru

CENTRUM Católica offers innovative MBA programs in partnership with other top business schools in the US, Europe and Asia; specifically Tulane University in the US and Maastricht School of Management in The Netherlands. Accredited by EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA, CENTRUM Catolica’s EMBA offering is ranked 52nd in the 2014 Financial Times Executive MBA Rankings. Although a general degree, candidates can specialize in the energy sector via modules on offer in partnership with the University of Calgary.

Interest in emerging markets

Latin America’s strong economic growth and multiple emerging markets continue to provide a fascinating story, as does the rapid strides being made in its business education sector. As a rising star in the future of the global economy, ambitious prospective Executive MBA students with designs of becoming the next generation of business leaders could do a lot worse than to look to this dynamic region when considering their options.