On the Financial Times executive program ranking, the first places are taken by IMD (Switzerland) and IESE (Spain). Among the open-enrolment programs, the top spot belongs to the Lausanne School. Meanwhile, Barcelona School is the first on the customized courses list (bespoke courses for corporate clients).
Financial Times Executive Program Ranking: Top Performers
The first place among the open-enrolment courses has been taken by Lausanne for seven straight years, FT reports.
However, education at this school costs quite a lot, according to the Financial Times alumni survey. Still, the number of students ready to pay this high price is growing: it increased by almost 10%. According to Guy Schroecker, the school’s executive director of marketing and communications, these courses are competitive and worth their money. A graduate of the Lausanne School mentioned that the IMD gives well thought-out and well-balanced courses.
IMD is among the top three schools for 8 out of 10 criteria, as rated by graduates, while IESE has been the first among customized programs for 4 straight years, as well as one of the best internationally inclined schools. Based on the criteria of suitability for international clients and diversity among the faculty, IESE possesses the top spot. At the same time, it has the second place based on the overseas programs and partner institutions criteria. According to a client, their work with IESE was a very good experience. The school knew what their students needed and based their courses on the clients’ background.
Results Compared to Previous Rankings
However, for other twin rankings, IMD and IESE have gone down to the third place. Overall, the ranking contains 90 customized programs (more than in any previous year) and 80 open-enrolment programs from all the world.
The survey’s methodology was based on the satisfaction of clients, revenues of schools, the international outreach of schools and diversity of school faculty. Top US business schools – Stanford and Harvard – have returned to the top-10 list of the Financial Times rankings for executive customized and open programs.
Highlights on the Best Performers
As has been previously mentioned, the highest place for customized programs belongs to the Spanish school IESE. The executive customized course was unanimously rated as the world’s best, but at the same time ‘ridiculously expensive’.
The highest new 2018 entrant was Renmin University of China School of Business that has immediately taken the 13th place in the rankings. The most consistent prices, according to the participants, could be found at Kenan-Flagler Business School in North Carolina.
Among open enrolment programs, the best performer was IMD (Lausanne, Switzerland). The first place for preparation (and second for course design) belongs to Chicago Booth, and the absolutely best for food and accommodation is Stanford School of Business.
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