NTU's business school deemed 13th best Executive MBA

According to Financial Times' global rankings.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has debuted at 13th place in the Financial Times’ (FT) rankings of the world’s top 100 Executive MBA (EMBA) programmes, according to an NTU release.

The EMBA programme offered by Nanyang Business School was ranked second among programmes conducted solely by Asian universities, and tops among those offered solely by Singapore universities. This is the first year NTU's EMBA programme is participating in this ranking.

Strong salary increases, rich international experience, and a culturally diverse class were key factors for Nanyang Business School achieving good results in its first year of participating in the Financial Times EMBA league table, said NTU.

"Nanyang Business School’s extremely strong debut on the FT EMBA rankings is the latest endorsement of its stature as a top global business school. Earlier this month, it went up to 64th -- the highest rank ever by a Singapore institution -- on the Economist MBA league table. We are pleased with Nanyang Business School's good performance in their first year in this league table," said NTU President Professor Bertil Andersson.

Earlier this year, NTU's business school moved up two spots to 32nd position on the FT full-time MBA rankings. In March, faculty member Professor Vijay Sethi was named the world’s Business Professor of the Year by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The average annual salary of Nanyang EMBA alumni three years after graduation is US$206,660, after adjusting for purchasing power parity. Their salaries were the third highest rising among holders of the top 20 EMBA degrees.

International students from about 15 countries across Asia, Europe, South America and Africa make up about 80% of the 60 to 70 participants that the Nanyang EMBA accepts each year.

Professor Ravi Kumar, Dean of Nanyang Business School, said, “Achieving such a high rank in our debut in the FT global EMBA rankings speaks volumes for the enriching and empowering education offered at Nanyang Business School. Balancing analytical rigour with practical relevance, our faculty have helped many corporate and public leaders build on their strengths and experiences, while imbibing new insights from their peers.

“Our students told the Financial Times that they cherish their class diversity and close relationships with professors, and alumni’s salaries are the third highest-rising among the top 20 EMBA programmes. All these are strong indicators that our Nanyang Business School continues to impress.”

The Nanyang Business School’s strong showing in the Financial Times’rankings matches NTU’s own fast-rising status in various global rankings.

In the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings announced in September this year, NTU ranks 41st worldwide, moving up six places in one year, and 33 places within the last three years. In the recent Times Higher Education world rankings, NTU climbed 10 places to No. 76, building on last year’s spectacular rise of 83 places, and it was also ranked No. 1 globally for Industry Income and Innovation.

Nanyang EMBA participants come from a wide gamut of industries, including financial services, transportation, and arts and media. More than 75% of them are senior managers, while 65% have over 10 years of work experience, noted NTU.

Mr Vinod Menon, Nanyang EMBA class of 2010, said, “The Nanyang EMBA has shaped my professional growth, empowering me to lead my firm from start-up to a public-listed company.

Mr Menon, who founded Mindwave Solutions, an IT consulting company, is on the verge of listing his firm on a European stock exchange, after joining hands with another Nanyang EMBA alumnus Willie Wong. Additionally, Nanyang Business School professor Wee Chow Hou sits on the company's board of advisors.

“I have been deeply enriched by the amazing ecosystem, formed by a rigorous curriculum, a network of driven business visionaries, and a wellspring of wisdom offered by a learned faculty that knows business first-hand,” he said.