Earlier this week, the Financial Times released its annual ranking of executive MBA programs worldwide. The Executive MBA (EMBA) program of the University of Arizona’s WP Carey School of Business in China with partners at the Shanghai National Accounting Institute (SNAI) was ranked 12th ahead of MIT, the University of Chicago and the University of Pennsylvania.

The Financial Times ranking is based on school data and alumni surveys, and gives the greatest weighting to alumni salary and salary growth, but also incorporates a range of other factors, including gender and the international diversity of students and faculty; academic research; and carbon emissions from school operations.

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“We are incredibly proud of our new Financial Times Executive MBA rankings,” he says Ohad Kadan, Charles J. Robel Dean and WP Carey, Distinguished Chairman for Business. “Since WP Carey Business School launched its Executive MBA program in China 20 years ago, we have built a world-class program that is innovative and focused on nurturing business leadership that spans the globe. I want to thank and acknowledge our partners at SNAI, who made this two-decade long partnership so successful.”

The school’s recent emphasis on curricular innovations in data analytics, artificial intelligence, supply chains, environment, society and governance, financial technology and other areas will only enhance course content and enhance the learning experience of EMBA students. These initiatives have been bolstered by influential research conducted by WP Carey faculty, whose research productivity was ranked 20th in the world by the Financial Times this year. These efforts will continue to enhance the quality of WP Carey’s programs, including the China EMBA.

“This latest Financial Times ranking is a manifestation of the efforts of management, faculty, staff, alumni and students. I am extremely proud of the collaboration between the WP Carey School and the Shanghai National Institute of Accountancy over the past 20 years,” he says Ben Shao, associate dean for Asia Pacific Programs and Initiatives. “The recognition will only motivate us to continue raising the quality and reputation of our program. I look forward to more progress in the future.”

WP Carey’s strategic initiatives on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are also already making an impact – the school ranks 8th for ESG and 5th for carbon footprint. The rankings measure the proportion of teaching hours in core subjects devoted to ethics, social and environmental issues, and climate solutions, along with the universal goals of net zero emissions.

“In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging global events, WP Carey and SNAI are privileged to continue their partnership on this flagship EMBA,” said Kadan. “Over the past 20 years, our focus on international collaboration between students, academic institutions and businesses has led the way for US business programs in China. We will continue this tradition.”