Top spot for first time entrant in prestigious MBA ranking
The University of Sydney Business School's MBA is the nation's number one program of its kind, according to the biennial MBA ranking published by the Australian Financial Review's highly respected BOSS magazine.
, launched in 2013, achieved top place on its inaugural appearance in the highly competitive ranking of 15 programs offered by Australia鈥檚 leading universities.
The ranking success comes in the wake of the next year, which it says will be unique in its focus on the skills to 鈥渓ead in an increasingly complex and volatile world鈥�.
In welcoming the ranking result, the Dean of the Business School, , said that it had 鈥渟erved to reinforce the School鈥檚 preeminent position as a provider of leadership oriented executive education鈥�.
鈥淚n 2013 we entered a crowded and highly competitive field with a program that focused on personal as well as professional development and we are proud of what we have been able to achieve,鈥� Professor Whitwell said.聽
We are a School that wants to make a positive difference and we have again shown that we are able to do so.
The 2017 AFR BOSS MBA ranking is based on a survey of more than a thousand alumni who provided feedback on participating programs, their delivery and their value. The schools were also asked to provide information on their entry requirements, research output, staff and the quality and diversity of students.
鈥淲e are particularly pleased with the way we have been able to address the MBA gender gap鈥� said the Business School鈥檚 MBA Director, Professor Guy Ford. 鈥淲hile most programs have a 30 to 35 per cent female participation rate, we have achieved a gender balance through our strong commitment to diversity of inclusion.鈥�
Professor Ford went on to say that the unique nature of the School鈥檚 now top ranked part-time MBA will be reflected in the full-time program when it begins in next year鈥檚 second semester.
In order to thrive in an increasingly complex and volatile world, where business models are changing rapidly, students must be offered more than standard MBA business oriented units of study.
鈥淎s with our current part-time program, next year鈥檚 full-time MBA will focus on developing skills around creativity, critical analysis and a systems approach to problem solving. We will also work to develop the personal and interpersonal skills needed to lead effectively,鈥� he added.
While the School鈥檚 part-time MBA has been restricted to domestic students, the full-time program will be open to international participants and the School has already launched a global advertising campaign.
The School believes that international students will be attracted by the University of Sydney鈥檚 鈥渆xtremely strong brand鈥� and the opportunity to develop leadership skills capabilities appropriate to the economically dynamic Asia-Pacific Region.
When announcing the full-time MBA, Professor Whitwell said that it was 鈥渟ymbolic of what we believe a business school should be doing in an era characterised by extraordinary changes in the scale, scope and complexity of forces such as digital technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, the peer-to-peer economy and unprecedented demographic shifts.鈥�
鈥淲e feel it is our responsibility to nurture future leaders who can thrive in a world subject to more change and uncertainty than ever before. A full-time MBA is an important vehicle for us to do so,鈥� he said.
Professor Ford said the factors that underpinned the Business School鈥檚 AFR BOSS MBA ranking success should make the choice of School so much easier for anyone thinking of joining a part-time or full-time program.
鈥淚n just four short years, we have shown the world that we can deliver an MBA program that is right for those who want to succeed personally and professionally in these challenging times,鈥� Professor Ford concluded.聽