Sungkyunkwan University's business school ranked 35th in world, 1st in Korea

Professor Eric Shih, dean of Sungkyunkwan University Graduate School of Business / Courtesy of Sungkyunkwan University

By Jun Ji-hye

Sungkyunkwan University Graduate School of Business (SKK GSB) jumped 19 positions to 35th place in the 2021 Financial Times (FT) Global MBA Ranking, the university said Monday, noting that its ranking was seventh in Asia and first in Korea.

The FT Global MBA Ranking is an annual indicator of business schools' overall status and quality. Unlike other rankings focusing on U.S. MBA programs, the FT ranking assesses business schools from around the world.

The 35th place was the highest for the school since it began participating in the ranking assessment. SKK GSB's MBA has taken the top spot in Korea for a decade, while it has been among the top 50 worldwide since 2017.

In the FT ranking, the France-based Insead ranked first, followed by the London Business School and University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Twelve Asian business schools were included in the top 50, including China's CEIBS in seventh and the National University of Singapore Business School in 14th. HKUST Business School and HKU Business School, both based in Hong Kong, ranked 22nd and 29th, respectively.

Sungkyunkwan University said its business school received particularly high scores in the categories of career services (fifth), career progress (13th) and international faculty percentage (17th).

“We are proud of this accomplishment. It is a strong signal that SKK GSB is being recognized globally for the value we deliver and the impact we have on our students and alumni's careers,” said professor Eric Shih, dean of SKK GSB.

SKK GSB launched two new programs last year ― the AI MBA and the MS in Business Analytics ― bringing together advanced topics in artificial intelligence and big data with business education to help students acquire knowledge and skills essential for the Fourth Industrial Revolution era.

The university said these courses have attracted interest not only from individual applicants but also from companies.

In addition, SKK GSB's MBA has been gaining popularity, the university said, noting that the number of applicants for the program, carried out 100 percent in English, has increased significantly year-on-year.