IESE, Esade, and EADA, once again among the global leaders in executive education

Once again, Barcelona business schools stand out among the best in the world for executive education. IESE, Esade, and EADA are once again among the top 20 of the global ranking that Financial Times annually compiles, in the category of open programs for executives who wish to take them, while in the category of tailor-made programs for companies, the three institutions and also UPF-Barcelona School of Management stand out, entering the ranking for the third consecutive year.

Specifically, IESE is in the third position of the world ranking for open programs, only behind London Business School and HEC Paris. Esade occupies the fifth position, after the Brazilian Fundação Dom Cabral. Both IESE and Esade have dropped positions compared to last year's classification, when both occupied the second place, behind HEC Paris. This slight decrease is part of a classification in which the exact positions fluctuate year after year, but the levels are maintained: both business schools with a presence in Barcelona have remained in the top positions uninterruptedly for the last few years.

In fact, IESE has secured a place on the podium four years in a row. "This consistent position in the world's top 3 of the ranking reflects our ability to offer a global and transformative educational experience," according to Andrea Montalvo, member of Executive Education programs on the IESE Management Board, who highlighted that their programs seek to offer a differential approach to address a constantly transforming context marked by complexity, the speed of change, and the irruption of AI.

From its fifth position, Esade stands out as number one worldwide in executive support after program completion, and as second in the acquisition of new skills, in addition to third in the excellence of its faculty, within a pedagogical approach focused on promoting the professional transformation of the student. "This recognition as the best school in the world for support after program completion and second in the acquisition of new skills confirms Esade's commitment to transformative education," defended the director of Esade Executive Education, Josep Franch, who has advocated for training connected to the real world and oriented towards the comprehensive development of professionals and executives.

For its part, EADA Business School remains in the top 20 for the third consecutive year, in this edition from position 19. "Our institution was born for executive training and today, 68 years later, we not only continue to respond to the business world, but this is a clear recognition of our trajectory," celebrated the general director of the business school, Jordi Díaz.

But business schools not only stand out in Barcelona in the category of open programs, but also in that of proposals designed to measure for companies that request them. In this sense, IESE is in seventh position worldwide, while Esade follows closely from eleventh place. For its part, EADA improves its position and enters the world top 40, at number 39.

But, in this case, the three business schools are not alone in the ranking: UPF-BSM re-enters for the third time in the classification of tailor-made training for companies, and this time it does so in 76th place. Being part of the ranking ---which covers 95 business schools--- represents for UPF-BSM "a step forward in its commitment to the internationalization of the school, and demonstrates its commitment to the highest quality in training for executives and companies," guaranteed its general director, José Manuel Martínez-Sierra.

The classification, which is based on surveys of program participants and data from business schools, takes into account factors such as course design and teaching methods and materials, as well as the quality of participants and associated institutions. The ranking, which goes further and includes criteria such as international and female participation and the characteristics and facilities of the schools, represents a confirmation of the quality and international positioning of business schools in Barcelona, which continues to consolidate itself as key in executive training at a global level.