QS Global EMBA Rankings 2017 - Out Now!

Today sees the release of two new executive MBA rankings, the QS Global 100 EMBA Rankings by Region 2017 and the QS Global Joint EMBA Rankings 2017. The executive MBA rankings incorporate traditional (albeit executive MBA-customized) ranking metrics, and make use of the QS Global Employer Survey to give candidates an insight into programs attached to leading business schools for employability.

The new rankings are split regionally and there is a separate ranking for executive MBA programs that are offered jointly between business schools. Here are the top results for the QS Global 100 EMBA Rankings by Region 2017 and the QS Global Joint EMBA Rankings 2017.

Kellogg School tops two categories in inaugural EMBA rankings

The United States is well known for a having a solid footing in the MBA market, claiming ownership to many of the world’s most prestigious MBA programs. In QS’s EMBA rankings, Kellogg School of Management not only tops the chart for executive MBA program provision in the North America region, but appears three times within the top 10 of the joint executive MBA program ranking as well. In North America, the Kellogg School stands ahead of the executive MBA programs available at Wharton and Chicago Booth. In the joint EMBA ranking, the Kellogg School holds first place together with Hong Kong’s HKUST Business School for the program they offer in partnership.

• See the QS Global 100 EMBA Rankings by Region 2017: North America and the QS Global Joint EMBA Rankings 2017 in full

Business schools in China and Hong Kong dominate Asia-Pacific top 10

There is no underestimating the colossal potential that countries such as China and its special administrative region of Hong Kong can wield to compete with the world’s best business schools. Indeed, China and Hong Kong dominate QS’s regional EMBA ranking for Asia-Pacific, taking 50% of the top 10 places, with CUHK Business School leading these representatives in third place. However, the two coveted top spots are taken by National University of Singapore Business School and Australia’s Melbourne Business School, which claim first and second place, respectively.

• See the QS Global 100 EMBA Rankings by Region 2017: Asia-Pacific in full

The UK leads in the regional EMBA ranking for Europe

The UK, like the US, is a recognized leader in MBA provision and has an established executive MBA market. It’s therefore no surprise that the country prevails in QS’s regional EMBA ranking for Europe. Oxford University’s Saïd Business School leads in this assessment, followed closely by London Business School. France’s HEC Paris lies in third position.

• See the QS Global 100 EMBA Rankings by Region 2017: Europe in full

Chile’s Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez claims first place in Latin America

Latin American countries are working hard to gain traction in the EMBA sphere. QS’s inaugural EMBA rankings by region have recognized four programs in the region, with Chile’s Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez at the helm of these.

• See the QS Global 100 EMBA Rankings by Region 2017: Latin America in full

The methodology

In putting together the inaugural QS Global EMBA Rankings, the QS Intelligence Unit assessed input from two main sources; academics in business and management, and international employers recruiting from the best EMBA programs worldwide. A total of five indicators were used to evaluate each business school’s executive MBA program, with the results of the QS Global Employer Survey and the QS Global Academic Survey carrying the most weight. Here’s a brief synopsis:

• Employer index (25%): Employers list the business schools they are most likely to hire from.
• Academic index (25%): Academics rate domestic and international institutions for research excellence. Survey responses are assessed alongside an analysis of faculty citations per paper. 
• Executive profile (20%): Measures include years of work experience (5%), management experience (5%), c-suite experience (5%) and previous salary (5%).
• Career outcomes (20%): Measures include salary uplift (10%) and promotion (10%).  
• Diversity of class(10%): Measures include the number of nationalities (5%) and female representation (5%).

For a more complete view of the QS Global EMBA Rankings methodology, please click here.

A new measurement of executive MBA programs: The experts’ view

We asked a few business schools their view on QS's new global EMBA rankings and of the methodology, in particular. Here's what they had to say:

“It is refreshing to see a new ranking with a different take on how it is constructed. It is important for students to realize when studying a ranking how it has been put together and the different weightings given to certain areas of a course. They all tend to reveal a different aspect about a business school and when used together can present a more detailed picture of the business school market.” John Colley, associate dean at Warwick Business School

"What really sets the QS ranking apart is the engagement with employers which benefits candidates and their organizations as well as potential employers reviewing the quality of a business school’s EMBA program. In the EMBA market, the candidate’s manager is an important decision maker and influencer so having employer input is highly valuable." Michala Røder, senior alumni relations manager at Copenhagen Business School

"QS has come up with a new rigorous approach to tackle a complex decision and provide students with a multi-perspective that will certainly help them decide what is right for them…Other sources (in particular, the admission process) also need to be considered, but this ranking will help students decide what is the right executive MBA program for them."Ignacio Gafo, associate dean at IE Business School