Largest ever survey of MBA employers reveals top business schools by region and elective specialization
An annual report of the world's top 200 business schools most preferred by MBA employers is released today (5th December) on www.topmba.com. Over 2000 responses were received from 72 countries in the world, making this the largest survey of its kind.
The QS Global 200 Business Schools Report, produced by the QS Intelligence Unit, provides an alternative to traditional MBA rankings by highlighting the value of MBA programs around the world according to the qualification's end consumer- the MBA employer.
MBA employers from around the world* were asked to identify the business schools of which they most prefer to hire from.
Business schools which are gaining reputation with international employers were also identified in the report. The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (Lebanon) and University of Witwatersrand (South Africa), moved up three and one places respectively, entering the region's five most-preferred business schools in 2011.
The survey also asks respondents to identify any business schools they deem to produce excellent hires in ten popular areas of elective specialization: finance; strategy; marketing; entrepreneurship; corporate social responsibility; information management; innovation and international management.
No Middle East and African business schools featured in the specialization list.
Top 5 Middle East & African business schools most favoured by international employers
| 2011 | 2010 | Institution | Country |
| 1 | 2 | University of Cape Town, Graduate School of Business | South Africa |
| 2 | 1 | American University in Cairo | Egypt |
| 3 | 5 | University of Stellenbosch Business School | South Africa |
| 4 | 7 | The Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, The American University of Beirut | Lebanon |
| 5 | 6 | University of Witwatersrand | South Africa |
Nunzio Quacquarelli, managing director of QS says, "Three out of five of the schools are located in South Africa. There are many more business schools across the African continent, but management education is still in its infancy and it will take many years before these schools achieve real prominence on the international stage."
He continues, "There is a shortage of recognised international business schools in the Middle East. Undoubtedly some schools will emerge in the near future and satellite schools in the UAE are helping to fill this gap, but a strong regional player is needed. London Business School, for example, has a campus in Abu Dhabi. However, none of these institutions appear in the report in their own right, as they do not produce dedicated full-time MBAs serving employers in the region, and so are not included in the research."
Full results of individual specializations and employers' most-preferred business schools in Europe, Asia, Latin America as well as North America can be viewed on www.topmba.com on 5th December. Comparable data from all listed schools including: average GMAT score; percentage of international students; average salary; percentage of female students; average years of work experience, and average class size will also be available.
*For the purpose of the QS Global 200 Business Schools Report, only respondents who have indicated their MBA recruitment efforts as "international" and/or "regional" were taken into account. MBA employers who only recruit at a local level were not included in the report.
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QS Global 200 Business Schools Report
The research originated in the early1990s, as an alternative to business school rankings.
The report's objective is to enable employers to identify the business schools from which they most actively recruit, without inferring any overall ranking. At the heart of the report is the list of 200 business schools currently preferred by the most international employers for the purpose of hiring MBA graduates. This list is compiled from an annual survey of Human Resources (HR) managers and line managers with recruiting responsibilities at companies around the world.
Nunzio Quacquarelli, managing director of QS
Nunzio took his MBA at The Wharton School in the USA, where he won the Glockner Prize for Management, after gaining an MA at the University of Cambridge in the UK. At Wharton, Nunzio also led the team that won the Moot Corp Business Venture Award in 1990, in competition with teams from the top US and European business schools. Before starting his own business Nunzio worked in strategy consulting for Mercer Management Consulting and Bain & Company, in the UK and Italy.
Nunzio is responsible for the annual QS TopMBA.com Applicant and Recruiter Research, producing several reports including the annual 'QS Global 200 Business Schools: The Employers' Choice'. He is also research director for the annual QS World University Rankings(r) and is recognized as an authority on the strengths, weaknesses and specializations of business schools and universities around the world.
© Press Release 2011
