The UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School has maintained its top 100 spot in the Financial Times Top 100 Global Full-time MBA Rankings. The 2016 rankings saw the School ranked at 79th place in the world, and 24th in Europe.
The scores are heavily based on alumni career progression, looking at how their earnings have increased over the three years since they completed their MBA. These are then factored in as both a weighted salary and a salary increase based on a different test. Other criteria measured include a value for money rank, a career progression rank, and the percentage of graduates who secure employment in less than three months after graduation.
As it is Ireland’s top business school for MBAs, the national press takes an interest in it. Most of the coverage welcomed the rankings as evidence of the School maintaining its position, and noted how it is the only Irish business school in the top 100. However, the Irish Independent chose to frame it with reference to the fact it dropped six paces from 73rd spot in 2015.
Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Dean of Business at UCD, welcomed the rankings, but said there was more work to be done. Last month, the College of Business announced it had renewed its EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) accreditation with the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). This ensures that part of its prized “triple accreditation” status will continue for another five years.
The rankings saw the Harvard Business School lose its first place position to Insead, which rose from fourth place in last year’s table. Branded as “The Business School for the World”, Insead originally opened in France, but now also has expanded into Asia. Similarly, the London Business School dropped from second to third place.
- Cian Carton, News Editor
