Smurfit Executive Development leaps to 31st globally in latest Financial Times rankings
Posted 23 May, 2022
(opens in a new window)UCD Smurfit School Executive Development has been ranked 31st in the world in the (opens in a new window)2022 Financial Times Executive Education Open Enrolment listings, its highest ever placing in the prestigious rankings.
The only Irish business school included, UCD Smurfit Executive Development recorded significant gains across all criteria, including being ranked 22nd for New Skills and Learning; 26th for Aims Achieved; and 30th for both Course Design and Teaching Materials.
In addition, it ranked 14th for partner schools, which refers to programmes taught in conjunction with other Equis or AACSB accredited business schools.
Describing the ranking as a “outstanding achievement”, (opens in a new window)Helen Brophy, Director of UCD Smurfit Executive Development, said it was a testament to the depth and expertise of the faculty at UCD Smurfit Executive Development.
“These standards of excellence allow participants to immediately give back to their organisations, advancing business and team performance, as well as their own leadership skills, to lead through change.”
UCD College of Business Dean (opens in a new window)Anthony Brabazon added: “The global reputation of our executive education programmes has been developed over decades and is underpinned by high-quality participant experience and the business relevance of our programmes at UCD Smurfit School.
“As Ireland’s global business school, we seek to provide a vibrant nexus of connectivity, flow, and interaction drawing on Ireland’s location as a gateway to Europe, culminating in cutting-edge, rigorous and relevant, executive development programmes.”
Over 50% of people currently working are expected to require reskilling by 2025, according to the World Economic Forum, and emerging skills such as active learning, resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility, will be a priority.
“The pandemic accelerated these trends, and we see executives across diverse sectors coming to us to advance and hone their skills in key areas including strategy, leadership and change,” said Mrs Brophy.
“With ongoing transformation at work, hybrid working challenges and focus on sustainability, leaders are rapidly rethinking what it takes to successfully lead an organisation in the 21st century.”
As part of the UCD College of Business 2022-2026 strategic plan, the UCD Smurfit Executive Development which will see a significant expansion in its executive development offerings in the years ahead at both individual executive and organisation levels.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations (with materials from Beth Gormley, UCD College of Business)
