The Employers Name World’s Top MBA Marketing Programs | TopMBA.com

The Employers Name World’s Top MBA Marketing Programs

By Nicole Willson

Updated Updated

Marketing is one of ten MBA specialization areas covered in the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report, which rates MBA programs based on employer perception. As technological changes make it easier for consumers to access product information, MBA employers view marketing as an important skillset for their recruits, writes Nicole Willson.

The Internet has completely transformed the role of marketing, making it far easier for consumers to get product information. As a result, marketing has become increasingly important in the business world.

The majority of employers worldwide view marketing as an important skill for MBA graduates, as indicated by the findings of the QS TopMBA.com Jobs and Salary Report.

Ashok Som, associate dean of France’s ESSEC Business School’s Global MBA program, states that employers place value in marketing skills because “selling is the most difficult part” of running any business.

That’s why MBA employers are seeking job candidates who have selling and marketing skills in addition to basic managerial skills. According to Som, MBA employers are looking for candidates who are well versed in “people skills, negotiation, domain knowledge of the product, product specifications, design aspects, the value chain, entrepreneurial skills and the ability to take initiative.” Som states that each of these skills are embedded within the function of marketing.

Technological change has increased the value of marketing to business. Som says “technological changes have had an immense effect on the marketing space” as a direct result of three interacting factors.

The first factor is the fact that it is easier for consumers to find information related to each piece of the marketing mix, known as the ‘five Ps’: product, price, place, promotion, and people. The second factor is social media, which produces a network effect allowing us to share information among friends.

The third contributing factor is the new generation of tech-savvy consumers who are able to use technology to search for the goods and products in which they are interested.

ESSEC is ranked 28th in this year’s QS MBA subject specialization ranking for marketing. One of the most dramatic improvements in this year’s marketing ranking comes from another French business school, INSEAD France, which has risen 10 spots from number 14 to number 4.

Other European business schools that have significantly improved their position in this year’s marketing ranking include IE Business School (up from 15th to 6th) and London Business School (up from 20th to 10th).

Outside of Europe, the US continues to dominate the marketing specialization ranking, with 23 schools in the top 50. This includes the number one school, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. One of the most improved US schools for marketing is Stanford Business School, which rose from tenth to seventh.

The top Asia-Pacific school for marketing is NUS Business School, ranked 16th this year, which puts it ahead of Melbourne Business School and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad.

This article was originally published in . It was last updated in

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