The most respected and widely read university ranking agency, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Global MBA Rankings 2021, rated the American University of Beirut (AUB) Suliman S. Olayan School of Business (OSB) MBA program first in the MENA region and 79th globally. Additionally, QS Global MBA Rankings 2021 placed the OSB Master’s in Business Analytics (MSBA) first and the Master’s in Finance (MFIN) second in the MENA region.
“To us, the 2021 ranking provides additional validation regarding the excellence of our programs. It also reflects the great opportunities that await our students after graduation,” said OSB Interim Dean Yusuf Sidani. “Being ranked number one in the region provides greater incentive to continue offering a top-notch world-class educational experience.”
Out of 258 MBA programs carefully selected for QS Global MBA Rankings 2021, this curriculum was the only one in Lebanon to make the grade, marking a giant leap from its previous listing (151-200 band).
“Our MBA program has unfailingly kept a leading position in the region, ranking first in MENA. This year however, we see a significant move up in worldwide rankings to 79th position, placing it as a leading program, not only regionally, but also globally,” noted Lina Tannir, MBA programs director. “We are committed to providing world-class education, and an unparalleled learning experience to our students, be it for our MBA on-campus experience, or for our recently launched MBA Online program.”
Of the 97 programs ranked, MSBA came first in the MENA region and 43rd globally.
“The MSBA program meets the current and future needs of the MENA region for business and data analysts,” says Dr. Wissam Sammouri, MSBA program coordinator. “It is a highly selective program with a data-driven curriculum that prepares students with knowledge, tools, and skills to analyze big data, to make effective business decisions, improve performance, create shared value, and enable the digital transformation from basic to smart organizations. And what better time than the post-Covid era for that?”
Furthermore, the school is placed second regionally for its MFIN program and 62nd globally. A total of 166 top global schools were considered in this edition, and, similar to the MBA placing, AUB is the only school in Lebanon to be considered, outperforming other curricula.
Dr. Henry Azzam, MFIN program coordinator, pointed out that the MFIN program is designed for those who have a passion for finance, and want to excel in the field. “We commit to excellence in delivering courses. Our faculty members, comprising both academicians and practitioners, bring top-notch knowledge and experience to the classroom, with genuine understanding of local, regional, and international financial markets and institutions, supported by thought leadership and innovation.”
QS rankings assess global elite business programs against key indicators such as employability, thought leadership, and class and faculty diversity. The MBA rankings also weigh-in entrepreneurship and return on investment, while the Master of Finance program factor alumni outcomes and value-for-money.
In 2016, the School was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as No. 1 in overall research quality, research excellence, and research impact, despite the relatively smaller size of its faculty compared to other top-ranked schools in the Arab region. In fact, OSB has grown its diverse full-time faculty from 13 to 55 in the past ten years, and graduates more than 400 students every year.