ACEM rides high in ranks of world's elite business schools

The Antai College of Economics and Management at Shanghai Jiao Tong University has improved its standing among global business schools thanks to its 34th placing in the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking 2017, which was published in late January.

ACEM's result in the annual ranking of the world's leading MBA programs represents a rise of five places on its 39th placing last year.

The annual global MBA ranking, started by the Financial Times in 1999, is renowned for its strict evaluation standards, independence and objectivity. It is considered a helpful guideline for students when they come to select MBA programs, and colleges and universities find it useful as a way of identifying potential partners.

In order to participate in the rankings, a school should be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business or the school accreditation system EQUIS; it must have a program that has been running for at least four years; and it must have graduated its first class at least three years before the publication date of the ranking.

The world's foremost business schools, including Harvard Business School, London Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business, feature in the ranking. This year's list is headed by Insead, which has campuses in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

"Flagship MBA programs from the vast majority of the world's leading business schools were evaluated in the ranking," said Zhou Lin, dean of ACEM. "The competition for MBA rankings is the most intensive among the FT's different types of ranking," he added.

This year, ACEM recorded its highest-ever scores in categories including faculty members' qualifications and scientific research-related matters. The number of papers published by ACEM's professors is also among the highest number for any Chinese business school over the past few years.

In response to its students' demands, ACEM has worked to enhance the career development support and guidance it provides, and its eforts have paid dividends in recent years.

In the latest FT ranking, ACEM ranked first for the fourth consecutive year for the employment rate of its graduates. In addition, the growth rate of their salaries has ranked second for two consecutive years. The FT's 2017 figures show that the average annual salary for alumni three years after graduation is $123,330, an increase of 11 percent from 2016 and 32 percent from 2015, despite the current global economic anemia.

The salary growth rate of its graduates is a sign that ACEM's former students are gaining increasing recognition in global talent markets, according to the college.

Life-long career support

ACEM has established a mechanism to provide lifelong services to alumni. Various programs including a start-up support fund, forums, short-term overseas tours and communication activities have been established.

Organizations including SJTU MBA Alumni Association and Institute of Chinese Enterprises Development of SJTU also maintain close ties to ensure that alumni are able to upgrade their business knowledge, share their professional experiences and explore business opportunities.

International perspective

ACEM organizes study tours to countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel every year to help students to expand their global horizons.

It has established cooperation with leading business schools, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge and Yale University, to offer its students quality exchange experiences, as well as offering the China Leaders for Global Operations program in conjunction with SJTU and many leading multinational companies. The program trains business leaders who also have technological experience.

Apart from encouraging students to study overseas, ACEM is also keen to attract more foreign students. In 2016, there were 47 overseas students enrolled in the ACEM MBA program.

The curriculum designers and course directors of the ACEM MBA program consider innovation a key factor that supports the long-term development of the course.

It introduced pre-test face-to-face interviews to assess its MBA program applicants in 2008. It is also one of the first business schools to have established a fund and service mechanism to support alumni's start-up plans.

"Our MBA support fund has nurtured 52 programs, among which nearly 40 percent have obtained angel investment and A-round investment," said Dong Ming, vice-dean of ACEM.

Looking ahead, those overseeing the ACEM MBA program will continue to promote innovation to ensure that the school can compete even more effectively with the world's leading business schools.

tangzhihao@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 02/20/2017 page11)