GSB is the only African business school in top 100

Once again, the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business (GSB) finds itself ranked among the best business schools in the world. Taking part in the Youth Incorporated, DNA, Rediff.com Global Business School ranking for the first time, the business school was ranked 44th out of 100 schools for its MBA programme.

Researchers chose 700 institutions from around the world after interviews with students, recruiters and faculty, and consulted professional organisations such as AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB. Youth Inc also studied domestic rankings in various countries to find the best institutions.

The UCT GSB is the only African business school to be featured on the ranking this year and it featured for its world-class full-time MBA offering. Factors considered were recruiter perception, diversity of students, diversity of faculty, programme innovation, innovation in teaching methodology, campus support, career service, exchange programme, and student satisfaction.

Emerging-market expertise

UCT GSB director Walter Baets said that he was pleased with the ranking especially given that this is the first year that the school has participated.

"The GSB aims to be the leading business school on the African continent in emerging-market expertise. I am elated that the school is being recognised for our ongoing efforts to build a strong African model for business schools," he added.

"The Youth Inc ranking is important mainly because it not only describes the best academic opportunities for students, but also the best academic experiences for students," said Baets. "Once again it testifies to the high quality of our programmes, the remarkable impact we have on students and the exceptional quality of our MBA."

Traditional and unique

He also said that this ranking proves that all the work that has gone into creating an MBA programme that is, at the same time, traditional and unique, is being noticed.

"Our MBA programme is unique in that it takes into account the emerging economy dynamic in business and is mindful of the growing social innovation movement," said Baets.

"For some time now our aim has been to ensure that all our programmes are relevant in the context of new global business, and in the context of new leadership."

Youth Inc also found that multi-programmed universities are starting to attract more students than business institutions that offer an MBA solely.

The UCT GSB also has the only full-time MBA programme in Africa to feature in the Financial Times' Top 100 Global MBA Ranking. In 2012, the GSB MBA was ranked for the eighth consecutive year by the FT, rising six places to reach 54th place. It is also one of just two South African business schools to have full EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development coupled with a recent AMBA accreditation - the global benchmark for MBA, DBA, and MBM programmes, representing the highest standard of achievement.