UB's Masters of Business Administration program has been ranked one of the top 50 in the world by this year's Wall Street Journal survey. The No. 43 spot is two slots down from last year, but is still a strong showing in an increasingly competitive environment. The School of Management has consistently received praise from many independent sources, and the praise reflects on the University as a whole.
The success of the MBA program is based on several different factors. First, the program is relatively new, so there is still a lot of excitement surrounding it. The students who are involved are both driving to program to success and reaping the benefits of the recognition. By excelling both in school and after graduating, the dedicated students are creating the high scores and then using them to achieve better jobs.
The main criteria used by the Wall Street Journal is survey analysis from recruiters from MBA programs. The people who are most in touch with the programs evaluate their peers and give their insider perspective on which schools are doing the best work. The two most important items are the quality of past hires and the likelihood that a hire will continue on with the company. The quality of graduates is a direct relation to the quality of the school, and it continues to bolster the quality of the school.
After assessing the attributes of the school, the recruiters attempt to quantify the abilities of the students. Communication skills, specifically in team settings were the most valued by recruiters, while the ability to solve problems and lead teams were also strongly considered. It is always important to remember that in addition to the business skills, the students are thinking critically and working with each other.
By moving down two spots, the ranking also gives the university and the current MBA students a drive to improve themselves. Now that students are aware that their actions outside of Buffalo will change how students in the current program are looked up, they will have an increased desire to be successful. Also, students are aware of the various areas that need improvement that are seen beyond grades, and know how to raise the rankings that will make them better workers and improve the ranking of the school.
Buffalo's success is a great accomplishment, and gives students in New York State who are interested in business a clear choice for success. The program that grew here is still growing, and the improvement is an excellent example for many other programs around campus. Hopefully, the high rankings will ripple across the school and raise the quality of education in school and the worth of the degree upon graduation.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
