MBAs 2016 MBA RANKINGS Regardless of whether you’re pursing an MBA to broaden your current skill set, climb the ladder or launch a start-up, it’s probably safe to say that you’ve done a lot of thinking, weighing and measuring: time, money, effort, outcomes etc.

o, having decided to take the plunge, all is the point at which we can help. you have to do now is choose the right We look beyond the marketing brochures and school which, in theory, shouldn’t be that ad campaigns and examine the nuts and bolts difficult. If you have an idea of the delivery of an MBA: the learning environment, class Syou’re looking for (full-time, part-time etc.), the sizes, tuition fees, faculty, delivery methods, budget you have to work with, and the geography international diversity, gender make-up and more. you’d consider (see our MBA search tool at www. Our objective is simple: to identify schools which ceo-mag.com) you’ve gone some way to narrowing marry exceptional quality with great ROI. the field, which is a great start. However, not all The results, or ‘rankings’ as we call them, can MBAs are created equal, which makes putting be viewed below, and should help to provide that together a shortlist a lot more challenging, but this quality benchmark. NORTH AMERICA TIER ONE

American University: Kogod Gonzaga University Auburn University HEC Montreal Boston University: Questrom Hult International Bryant University Jacksonville University California State University-​Chico Kennesaw State University: Coles California State University-​Long Beach Kent State University California State University-San Bernardino Loyola Marymount University California State University-East Bay Loyola University Chicago: Quinlan Case Western Reserve University: Weatherhead Lynchburg College Chapman University: Argyros Marquette University College of William and Mary: Mason** Mercer University-Atlanta: Stetson Colorado Technical University Millsaps College: Else Drexel University: LeBow** Niagara University Florida International University Northern Illinois University Fordham University Pepperdine University: Graziadio Georgetown University: McDonough Purdue University-West Lafayette: Krannert* ** Georgia State University: Robinson Queens University of Charlotte

12 ceo-mag.com / Summer 2016 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Lally University of Massachusetts-​Boston Rochester Institute of Technology: Saunders University of Massachusetts-​Lowell Seattle University: Albers University of Michigan-Flint Saint Joseph’s University: Haub University of North Carolina-Charlotte: Belk** Saint Mary’s College: School of Economics & Business Ad- University of Notre Dame: Mendoza ministration University of Oklahoma: Price Temple University: Fox University of Oregon: Lundquist Texas A&M University-​College Station: Mays University of Pittsburgh: Katz Texas Christian University: Neeley University of Richmond: Robins The University of the Sciences University of South Florida: Muma University of Alberta University of Tampa: Sykes* ** University of California at Berkeley: Haas University of Texas - Arlington University of California at Davis University of Texas-​Dallas: Jindal University of California-San Diego: Rady University of Utah: Eccles University of Cincinnati: Lindner University of Vermont: Grossman University of Colorado-​Colorado Springs University of West Georgia University of Connecticut University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Lubar University of Delaware: Lerner** Virginia Commonwealth University University of Hawaii-​Manoa: Shidler Virginia Tech: Pamplin University of Louisiana-​Lafayette: Moody Willamette University: Atkinson

TIER TWO Appalachian State University University of Florida: Hough Boston College: Carroll* ** University of Kentucky: Gatton Bowling Green State University University of Nebraska -Lincoln Cleveland State University: Monte Ahuja University of Nevada-Las Vegas: Lee Fairfield University* University of North Carolina-Wilmington: Iowa State University Cameron Northwest Missouri State University University of Notre Dame: Mendoza* ** Oakland University University of Washington: Foster University of Akron Wake Forest University University of Baltimore* Washington State University: Carson EUROPE TIER ONE Aston Business School HHL Leipzig Graduate Business School Audencia Nantes School of Management Trinity College Dublin Birmingham Business School IE Business School School of Business Brunel Business School IESE Business School UBIS Business School Netherlands ISEG Lisboa School University of Amsterdam Carlos III University of of Economics & Management University of Exeter Copenhagen Business School LISBON MBA Durham University Business School MIP Politecnico di Milano Management School École des Ponts Business School Porto Business School University of Sheffield ESADE Business School SBS Swiss Business School Management School EU Business School Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management AUSTRALIA TIER ONE 1 Australian Institute of Business Sydney Business School 6 RMIT University 2 Victoria Graduate 4 University of Southern Queensland 7 Deakin University School of Business =5 Central Queensland University 3 University of Wollongong =5 Griffith University ceo-mag.com / Summer 2016 13 MBAs RANKINGS GLOBAL EMBA

AIX Marseille Graduate School of Management Europe Saint Mary’s College: School of Economics Auburn University North America & Business Administration North America Audencia Nantes Europe SBS Swiss Business School Europe Australian Catholic University Australia Solvay Brussels School of Economics Boston University: Questrom North America and Management Europe California State University-​Long Beach North America Stockholm School of Economics Europe California State University-East Bay North America Technische Universität München (TUM) Europe Case Western Reserve University: Temple University: Fox North America Weatherhead North America Texas A&M University-​College Station: Mays North America CENTRUM Católica Graduate Business School South America Texas Christian University: Neeley North America Chapman University: Argyros North America Trinity College Dublin School of Business Europe College of William and Mary: Mason** North America UBIS Europe Copenhagen Business School Europe University of Alberta* North America École des Ponts Business School Europe University of California at Berkeley: Haas North America ESADE Business School Europe University of California-San Diego: Rady North America EU Business School Europe University of Exeter Europe Florida International University North America University of Hawaii-​Manoa: Shidler North America Fordham University North America University of Kentucky: Gatton North America Georgetown University: McDonough North America University of Nevada-Las Vegas: Lee North America Georgia State University: Robinson North America University of Notre Dame: Mendoza North America HEC Montreal North America University of Oklahoma: Price North America HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management Europe University of Oregon: Lundquist North America Hult International Business School North America University of Ottawa: Telfer North America IE Business School Europe University of Pittsburgh: Katz North America IESE Business School Europe University of South Florida: Muma North America IfM Institut für Management Europe University of Texas - Arlington Jacksonville University North America University of Texas-​Dallas: Jindal North America Kedge Business School Europe University of Utah: Eccles North America Kennesaw State University: Coles North America University of Washington North America Kent State University North America University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: Lubar North America Lorange Institute of Management Europe University of Wollongong Sydney Business School Australia Loyola Marymount University North America Virginia Commonwealth University North America Europe Washington State University North America Marquette University North America Bowling Green State University North America Mercer University-Atlanta: Stetson North America Cleveland State University: Monte Ahuja North America Millsaps College: Else North America Drexel University: LeBow** North America MIP Politecnico di Milano Europe Loyola University Chicago: Quinlan North America Northern Illinois University North America Oakland University North America Pepperdine University: Graziadio North America Seattle University: Albers North America Porto Business School Europe University of Connecticut North America Queens University of Charlotte North America University of Florida: Hough North America RMIT University Australia University of Louisiana-​Lafayette: Moody North America Rochester Institute of Technology: Saunders North America University of Tampa: Sykes* ** North America Rutgers Business School North America Virginia Tech: Pamplin North America Saint Joseph’s University: Haub North America

14 ceo-mag.com / Summer 2016 MBAs NO ORDINARY EXECUTIVE

Alexandra Skinner talks to Kent State University’s Laurie Walker

n response to the scheduling demands of busy our students have full time jobs, as it gives them professionals, Kent State University’s (KSU) valuable time to balance their school, work and Executive MBA has undergone some format personal lives. changes that will commence in fall 2016. I Q (c). What other efforts do you have in place to Q (a). Please summarise the key changes? support this demanding demographic, outside of the The programme will now meet with a once programme format? monthly on-site format, consisting of on-site class We have recently introduced Executive “After graduation, meetings on a Saturday, all day, and Sunday for a MBA Concierge Services - students have a we have a half day. During the intervening weeks, online coordinator that handles registering for all learning takes place in both synchronous and their courses, providing on-site meals and VIP dedicated Career asynchronous formats. parking. In addition, we coordinate all details for Services Office In addition, the curriculum has been the international experiences business trip and streamlined and redesigned to further integrate arrange for all graduation. There are also two that provides content relevance between courses. During the non-credit Professional Development workshops teaching of core courses in leadership, analysis, within the programme, with added emphasis on support as finance and strategy, interconnections with other career advancement. alumni encounter subject areas are discussed. This allows students In addition to this, individual coaching for to apply greater depth of cross functional learning EMBA students enables them to advance within opportunities and to their final live capstone strategy case. their unique career goals. Post-graduation, we have challenges while a dedicated Career Services Office that provides Q (b). How important is it for professionals who support as alumni encounter opportunities and advancing their undertake an EMBA to be supported by their business challenges while advancing their careers. careers.” school? The ‘all inclusive’ support from the College Q. Your Executive MBA programme is supplemented of Business provides busy professionals with with online delivery elements. How do you ensure that additional time to focus their attention on executives remain engaged and actively participate to learning. This is extremely important given that the extent that they would in an onsite lecture?

36 ceo-mag.com / Summer 2016 at their individual companies. The outcomes are subsequently discussed in a synchronous online class. The emphasis continues in subsequent courses and culminates with a live case project “The ‘all inclusive’ related to strategy at the end of their programme . support from Q (b). How much support do you receive from the local, regional and national business community, and are KSU the College of students able to take advantage of these relationships? Business provides We connect to the business community on a variety of levels ranging from local to international. busy professionals We have established wonderful connections with with additional businesses through community relationships, alumni, current students and our Career Services time to focus Office. By way of example, in March of this year, their attention on we connected with alumni and current students to arrange visits to several major companies in India, learning.” including Eaton, KPMG, Nestle and Suzlon. Also on this business experience, students successfully completed a project with Allstate in Pune, India.

Feedback from industry plays a key role in maintaining a programme’s relevance when it comes to ‘real-world’ business needs.

Q (a). What would you say are the three most important skills that the market requires from business leaders? In my opinion, these would be leadership, strategic decision making, and clear BIOGRAPHY communication. Laurie Walker earned a Bachelor Q (b). How are you equipping your Executive MBA of Science degree students to meet these demands? in Civil Engineering Preparation begins with early assessments on from the University of Michigan and a As synchronous online learning functionality soft skills and quantitative skills that are used Master’s in Business has improved, we have now added several as a basis from which to advance learning. A Administration degree synchronous sessions during intervening off site course sequence designed to build on this base from Harvard Business weeks in order to ensure an engaged learning includes both qualitative and quantitative skill School. She worked experience. As part of preparation for the new development. Throughout the program oral in engineering and/or programme, we designed and conducted trial communication improves through presentations marketing roles with synchronous online experiences in current and team assignments, while concise written British Petroleum, cohorts. Over the past two years, one synchronous communication improves through papers General Motors, and class session was added to each of the two summer assigned which require executive summaries. Nestle. In 2001, she courses. Both qualitative and quantitative courses Analytics are taught from a strategic viewpoint launched a consulting were included, which provided information on in order to encourage more informed decisions on practice that specialized in business the synchronous activities that best contributed issues that are relevant to the business. plan development and to engagement for each course type. Student marketing research. and professor feedback was solicited in order to Q. Although executives on your programme will have Her consulting further improve the engagement experience. many years of experience, they are by no means the involvement with finished product. How much emphasis do you place on the creation of the Learning and development at a postgraduate professional development and the honing of ‘soft-skills’? EMBA for Healthcare level extend beyond the walls of the classroom, We prioritize these areas during the program Professionals making experiential learning an essential part of the and also highlight the need for continued programme led to development of such endeavours. development on a lifelong basis. During the an avid interest in program the coursework on team building, education and lifelong Q (a). How hands-on is the learning experience at KSU? leadership and executive communication learning. As Director of EMBA Programmes, There has always been an emphasis on emphasizes professional development and soft she focuses on encouraging depth of learning through hands-on skills. This is supplemented by material in the facilitating a learning applications of business concepts in students’ non-credit Professional Development workshops. environment that workplaces and through live case projects. This After graduation, alumni receive continued prepares business begins at the start of the programme in Executive support through EMBA Advisory Board events professionals for Communications, as students are challenged to and free workshops conducted by our Career advancement in utilize their newly learned communication skills Services Office. leadership positions. ceo-mag.com / Summer 2016 37