Competition intensifies among world’s highest-ranking Executive MBAs

This year, the Aalto Executive MBA was again the only Finnish program to make the Financial Times (FT) global ranking. This is an internationally rated annual ranking with room at the top for only the hundred best of the world’s 3,000 or so EMBA programs. The Aalto EMBA is now ranked 93rd alongside the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (last year’s ranking was 78th).

15.10.2018

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The Aalto EMBA program has gained popularity from year to year. For the first time this year, the Helsinki-based program had two groups, with a total of 90 leaders and top experts as new participants. The growing number of participants reflects the strong investment in continuous learning made by individuals and organizations amid the fundamental disruption of several businesses.

"Leadership is subject to new pressures and none of us can sail through our careers confidently relying on what our old, basic degrees taught us. For executives, there is no such thing as success through quickfixes – a long-term approach is needed. In addition, the monitoring of results and impact must be continuous and systematic. The Aalto EMBA offers an unrivalled platform for growing together with others who are among the most promising leaders of their generation. Each of them has their own unique goals and dreams," says Dr. Pekka Mattila, Group Managing Director for Aalto EE.

Aalto University’s EMBA program is the largest such program in Finland, with an exceptionally high percentage of completion by international comparisons.

“The varied organizational backgrounds and experience of the executives and top experts selected for the program provide the basis for a strong and valuable network which continues afterwards. The benefits of a diversified network are highlighted in a complex business environment where changes are both difficult to predict and very fast," says Hanna-Riikka Myllymäki, Business Area Director responsible for Aalto EE's MBA and EMBA programs.

"I had been working in a management team for some time, but I felt that I couldn't give my all to the development of the company as a whole. Since the Aalto EMBA, I’ve been able to take better advantage of my expertise, because I have a broader understanding of our field of business," says Aalto EMBA alumnus Tiina-Liisa Liukkonen, who was appointed CFO of Olvi Group in September.

"The program has left me with an excellent network, a larger personal comfort zone, and healthy confidence in my ability to work successfully outside my comfort zone," says Aalto EMBA alumnus and attorney Harri Jussila of the legal firm Iquja Asianajotoimisto Oy.

The highly rated Financial Times uses a number of factors when comparing programs. The average salary increase is one of the most heavily weighted criteria, which means that the results tend to favor programs in the world's financial centers. The joint programs of Anglo-American universities continue to dominate the top places in the ranking: the top spot was once again held by the Kellogg (USA) - Hong Kong UST Business School pairing. HEC Paris, London School of Economics and Stern School of Business (New York University) came second. The program offered by Tsinghua University and the French Insead was ranked third.

The FT Ranking is based on information provided directly to the FT by program participants, and statistical data provided by universities. In every case, the survey respondents are alumni who graduated from their Executive MBA program three years ago.

Aalto University and its School of Business are also ranked in numerous other comparisons. For example, Aalto was the best European university in one of the key university rankings, the QS Top 50 under 50 listing. This listing compared the world’s 50 leading universities founded less than 50 years ago.

More information

Aalto Executive MBA program

Pekka Mattila
D.Soc.Sc., Group Managing Director, Professor of Practice
Aalto University Executive Education Ltd
Tel. +358 40 738 7221
pekka.mattila@aaltoee.fi

Hanna-Riikka Myllymäki
Business Area Director, Degree Programs
Tel. +358 10 837 3851
hanna-riikka.myllymaki@aaltoee.fi

Aalto University Executive Education Ltd 

Aalto University Executive Education Ltd offers thought provoking leadership development services (Aalto EE), professional development services for specialists and managers (Aalto PRO) and creative solutions covering the whole life cycle of entrepreneurship (Aalto ENT). Aalto University brings to our offering a multidisciplinary approach, together with innovative learning methods; this provides a unique combination of practical expertise with the latest research.  

Aalto University Executive Education’s strengths lie in its global operating model and diverse offering. In addition to Finland and Singapore, Aalto University Executive Education offers education programs in China, Estonia, Indonesia, Iran, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Vietnam and United States. As a part of Aalto University, it holds three respected business university accreditations – AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS – which places it among the top 0.5% of institutions in the world.