The University of Pretoria's Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) has once again been ranked in the top 100 executive MBA programmes globally in the latest UK Financial Times (FT) Executive MBA Ranking. GIBS also took first place in the rankings as the most gender-balanced business school in the world, and was highlighted as a global leader in sustainability, ethics and social purpose.

The FT ranking is based on an alumni survey that is only open to AACSB- or EQUIS- accredited business schools. The survey focuses on various measures including alumni career progress, the school’s research output by faculty in the top 50 recognised publications, as well as corporate social responsibility. 

GIBS ranked highly in the following areas:

• #16 for Corporate Social Responsibility – GIBS’s core MBA courses emphasise CSR, ethics, social and environmental issues. GIBS also offers additional elective courses on ethics and responsible leadership.
• 71% for student aims achieved, which measures the extent to which alumni feel they have achieved their goals or reasons for doing an EMBA.
• On salary progression - GIBS alumni score well over the average of this survey at US$225,772.

Earlier this year, GIBS was profiled on FT as one of the world’s leading business schools in the teaching of sustainable business education.

GIBS Dean Professor Nicola Kleyn said, “The GIBS MBA aims to be a transformative journey. We seek to not only ensure students comprehend advanced business concepts, but also to develop leaders who are well-equipped to handle the critical issues of the day.” 

She adds, “We appreciate the recognition once again by the Financial Times. Our focus remains on producing graduates who well versed in ethical and responsible leaders who can make a real difference to their organisations and the country.”

GIBS’s MBA programme includes a compulsory core course on Responsible and Ethical Leadership which is guided by the School’s adherence to the UN Principles of Responsible Management Education initiative (PRME). The initiative consists of a series of principles that business schools can follow to teach ethical, responsible management. On the course, students learn directly about the challenges of local businesses and communities through experiential learning, and are required to complete an Applied Business Project to tackle a societal issue from a business perspective.

FT states that the findings can be used to showcase best practices that may inspire students, academics, schools and employers alike to develop fresh initiatives and partnerships in the future.

GIBS recognises that teaching MBA students how to navigate ethical dilemmas when making key decisions that will impact many is as important as teaching them financial aspects of running businesses, thus the emphasis on sustainability, ethics and social purpose is crucial.

“We believe that ethical and socially aware decision-making deserves to be addressed as both a stand-alone course and woven through our curricula. Having our MBA programme recognised on this global platform is encouraging, as we strive to play a role in developing impactful leaders with sound ethical grounding who will lead responsibly,” Prof Kleyn said.

GIBS also convenes an Ethics & Governance Think Tank, a platform founded and led by Rabbi Gideon Pogrund, that explores and influences how South African business can follow a more ethical approach, thereby building trust and helping to secure a more successful, sustainable future for the business community and the country.

“In our quest to continually change the face of management practice through education, we continually focus on developing leaders with purpose, vision, and innovative thinking to build a sustainable future,” Prof Kleyn said.