For The Economist Executive MBA Ranking data were collected using two web-based questionnaires. One questionnaire was filled out by business schools and included more quantitative measures, such as details of students and faculty, the number of overseas assignments required and statistics on alumni. The second questionnaire was circulated to current students and alumni from schools’ last three graduating classes. Around 7,000 of these questionnaires were completed, and from them we gleaned the more quantitative measures, such as a rating of classmates, faculty, facilities and the like. Alumni also reported their pre-EMBA and current salaries, from which average increases could be calculated.

Programs are ranked on two criteria: personal development/educational experience and career development. Both categories are equally weighted. Within each category are several sub-criteria and indicators, which are detailed below.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE (50%)

Quality of students (12.5%)

Pre-MBA salary, latest graduating class; Work experience, years; Managerial work experience, years; Student rating of culture and classmates

Student diversity (12.5%)

Number of industry sectors from which students were accepted; Gender balance; Internationalism of the cohort

Quality of faculty (12.5%)

Student rating of faculty; Percentage of EMBA faculty with PhD; Ratio of faculty to EMBA students; Student rating of teaching quality

Program quality (12.5%)

Student rating of facilities; Student rating of program content; Student rating of the relevance of the program; Number of compulsory overseas assignments lasting one week or more; Student rating of the ability to keep in contact with students/faculty when off campus

CAREER DEVELOPMENT (50%)

Career progression (15%)

Rating of the extent to which the program helped alumni fulfill pre-EMBA goals; Percentage of alumni who have been promoted or grown their company since graduation

Salary (27.5%)

Percentage increase on pre-EMBA salary on graduation; Percentage increase on pre-EMBA salary after one year; Percentage increase on pre-EMBA salary after two years; Average salary of EMBA graduates, most recent graduates class

Networking (7.5%)

Number of overseas MBA alumni branches; Student rating of the helpfulness of EMBA alumni.