Online Executive MBA Ranked in Top 75 by UK Financial Times

(St. Albert, AB) — Athabasca University’s (AU) Executive MBA is included on the prestigious list of the world’s top 75 EMBA programs by the Financial Times (FT) of London, England. Launched as the world’s first online MBA in 1994, the Athabasca University program is the only fully online Executive MBA to be included in this year’s list. The FT ranking brings new international recognition to the Alberta-based business school that now offers Canada’s largest Executive MBA program.

The annual Financial Times rankings are based on responses to two questionnaires: one for the business school and the second for alumni who graduated in 2000. Many factors contribute to the overall rankings including: alumni career progression; percentage of alumni salary increases; percentage of international faculty, board members, and students; percentage of faculty with doctorate degrees, and the quality of faculty research.

“As part of our strategic mission to become the world’s best online graduate business school, we must compete with the world’s best EMBA programs, many of which are delivered in highly traditional formats,” says Dr. Peter Carr, Executive Director of Athabasca University’s Centre for Innovative Management. “Our application of technology to graduate management education has not only provided a higher level of student to student interaction, but has also given our students the flexibility to complete a rigorous, high quality program of management studies while maintaining commitments to work and family.”

Five Canadian business schools made this year’s FT list, with Athabasca University’s Centre for Innovative Management being the only Canadian business school west of Ontario to appear in this year’s rankings.

Dr. Carr notes, “We’ve achieved great success across Canada in a relatively short period of time. We must now continue our drive to improve all areas of our school — by increasing our faculty, enhancing our research, expanding our international reach and by launching a doctoral-level program. We look forward to the work ahead, knowing that the AU MBA is the world’s leading online MBA program.”

Launched in 1994 as the world’s first online MBA, Athabasca University’s Executive MBA has grown to become Canada’s largest Executive MBA with over 1100 students representing Canada’s top 20 companies, and 400 companies world-wide. AU’s online MBA works in the same interactive, collaborative environments as business today. The high level of asynchronous interaction between academic staff and students makes it possible to share ideas, insights, and skills on a daily basis across geographic and organizational boundaries. This interaction is a crucial ingredient of a graduate management education that has powerful relevance to the real world of business.

Media contacts:
Catherine Allman & Kendra Michael
hawkestone communications – public affairs
T. (416) 485-4606: Email: info@hawkestone.com

Dr. Carr is traveling in Toronto and Ottawa 20-21 October 2003 and is available for on-camera or phone interviews.