Environmental, social, and governance integration also gained traction. IE Business School, Iese in Spain, and Edhec in France ranked highest for embedding ESG topics into core coursework. Institutions such as the University of Porto and Audencia achieved gender balance among faculty, while others still reported significant imbalances. More than half of the ranked schools enrolled over 50 percent international students, reflecting globalized classrooms.

Alumni satisfaction remained high. In a survey of 1,152 graduates conducted with partners including ZHAW School of Management and Law and Beta Gamma Sigma, 83 percent rated their MBA experience as “highly” or “very highly.” Graduates from top programs reported substantial earnings three years after completion. Harvard Business School led with $259,874 in average salary, followed by Wharton at $246,813 and MIT alumni at $245,991, figures adjusted for purchasing power and sector differences.

The Indian School of Business recorded the largest salary increase, rising 248 percent to $201,712 compared with pre-degree earnings. Schools rated best for alumni networks included Dartmouth: Tuck, Iese in Barcelona, and Cornell: Johnson. Rice University: Jones stood out for helping graduates achieve career goals, while Wharton led in research output based on publications in major academic journals.

Amid broader debate about the cost and value of advanced business degrees, the ranking arrives as job markets show uneven recovery and inflation-adjusted salaries outside the US and Canada decline over the past decade. Despite these pressures, demand for leading institutions remains strong.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management has secured the top position in the Financial Times 2026 Global MBA Ranking for the first time, surpassing rivals including Insead and Wharton. The achievement reflects Sloan’s deep integration with MIT’s engineering and technology ecosystem and its focus on using artificial intelligence “as a tool not to replace jobs but enhance them,” according to Dean Richard Locke. The school’s rise underscores the growing influence of technology-driven education in shaping future business leaders.

Related Readings:

• MIT Retains Top Spot in 2026 Global Business and Economic Rankings

• QS World University Rankings: Sub-Saharan Africa 2026 Results Released

• Wharton Professor Jerry Wind Says AI Elevates Creativity as Core Leadership Skill

The post Top Global MBA Rankings 2026 Highlight AI Focus Salary Growth Trends appeared first on The European Business Review.

South African institutions dominate the top of the table, taking the first seven spots. Their strength shows most clearly in academic standing and employer reputation. But the results don’t tell a single-country story. The University of Ghana claims eighth place, Nigeria’s University of Ibadan ranks 11th, and Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa University places 13th. Universities from Kenya and Uganda also break into the top 20.

QS adjusted its usual methodology to better reflect regional realities. It gave more weight to Employer Reputation, Sustainability and International Research Networks, and added measures such as Citations per Paper, Papers per Faculty, Web Impact and the proportion of staff with PhDs.

Research output stands out in South Africa and Nigeria, particularly in citation impact and publication volume. Ghana and Kenya also show growing research influence. Sustainability scores vary more widely, suggesting that while some universities have built strong environmental and governance frameworks, others are still developing capacity.

Because this marks the first edition, the rankings serve more as a baseline than a verdict. They offer a starting point for tracking progress and highlight the different ways institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa define and pursue excellence.

Related Readings:

• MIT Retains Top Spot in 2026 Global Business and Economic Rankings

• Brown University Shooting Probe Shifts As Police Release Person Of Interest

• University of São Paulo Tops Latin America Rankings for Second Consecutive Year

The post QS World University Rankings: Sub-Saharan Africa 2026 Results Released appeared first on The European Business Review.

“We are either constructing or renovating 90 percent of the campus,” Dean Eloïc Peyrache told Times Higher Education. The €230 million project, set to begin this year and finish in 2031, will add and refurbish 40,000 square meters of space at HEC’s Jouy-en-Josas campus. Part of the funding comes from a €300 million fundraising campaign led by the HEC Foundation.

The renovations reflect broader shifts in higher education. Artificial intelligence, geopolitical disruptions, and growing entrepreneurial ambitions are changing what students need to succeed. HEC is also seeing increased interest from US students, though Peyrache emphasized the school is “not obsessed with the US.”

Applications from American students to HEC’s MBA program rose 10–15 percent this year, while the new bachelor’s program saw 38 US applicants out of 480 in the first two rounds. Overall, US undergraduate applications are up 75 percent year-on-year, driven in part by high costs and academic freedom concerns in the US.

Campus life remains central to HEC’s approach. Unlike most European business schools, students live on-site, fostering collaboration and problem-solving. “It gives students a chance to come together, take a problem, think about it and find solutions,” Peyrache said. The renovations aim to strengthen this environment while equipping students to navigate a fast-changing global business landscape.

Related Readings:

• HEC Paris Launches €10 Million Mentorship Research Lab
   

• ESMT Berlin and HEC Paris Unite to Drive Europe’s Tech Sovereignty with Next-Gen Computing

• European Business Schools Dominate FT Global MBA Rankings as U.S. Giants Slip

The post HEC Paris Overhauls Campus as US Student Interest Rises appeared first on The European Business Review.

THE evaluated 1,000 universities across 91 countries based on teaching, research, industry partnerships, and international character. To assess the overall strength of business education at each institution, the ranking combines three disciplines; business and management, accounting and finance, and economics and econometrics.

MIT had the highest score in research quality, backed by strong citation impact and research influence. It also scored well in teaching and industry engagement, which THE measures through income from partnerships and patents.

On the other hand, Stanford University ranked second overall, followed by Tsinghua University in third, while the University of Oxford and  UC Berkeley completed the top five. Other U.S. institutions in the top 10 include Harvard University, the University of Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania.

THE based the rankings on five core pillars: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry income, and international outlook. While the rankings offer a broad view of institutional performance, critics note that the methodology prioritizes research output over student experience. THE does not include student or alumni surveys, limiting insights into classroom quality, career outcomes, and long-term satisfaction.

Rankings this year also highlighted the growing presence of Asian Universities. Tshingua University, Peking University, and National University of Singapore have earned their places in the top 10, showing higher scores across multiple evaluation pillars.

Beyond business and economics, MIT topped THE rankings in arts and humanities and social sciences, maintaining its lead beyond traditional strengths in engineering and technology. Stanford University led in education and law, while the University of Oxford stands on first place in computer science and medical and health disciplines.

Related Readings:

• MIT Sloan and IMD Launch Global Academy for Future-Ready Business Leadership

• Richard Locke Returns to MIT Sloan as Dean
   

• Bloomberg US MBA Rankings 2025: Stanford Extends Its Reign, Haas and Wharton Rise

The post MIT Retains Top Spot in 2026 Global Business and Economic Rankings appeared first on The European Business Review.

The appointment comes at a time of significant growth for ESCP in the UK, as the School strengthens its position in London and deepens its academic, industry and societal impact across the UK.

Leon Laulusa, Executive President & Dean of ESCP Business School, said: “I am delighted to see Professor Marie Taillard appointed as Dean of the ESCP London campus. A recognised expert in creativity and marketing, she played a key role in launching the MSc in Marketing & Creativity, now one of ESCP’s flagship programmes. Her diverse background and long-standing commitment to the School give her a deep understanding of ESCP’s identity and ambitions. Accountable, bold and creative, she embodies the values that will be essential to strengthening the London campus and shaping ESCP’s future.”

Lord David Gold, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at ESCP Business School London Campus, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Professor Marie Taillard as Dean of ESCP London Campus. Marie brings a wealth of academic experience, an international outlook, and a deep understanding of the School, and I have no doubt that she will build on the strong momentum of the London campus in recent years. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I wish her every success in her new role and look forward to working closely with her.”

L’Oréal Professor of Creativity Marketing and former UK Head of Faculty, Professor Taillard has played a key role in advancing ESCP’s reputation for innovative pedagogy by bridging academic insight with professional practice. Recently shortlisted for the Times Higher Education’s Most Innovative Teacher of the Year award, she brings extensive academic leadership, innovative teaching approaches and strong industry engagement to her new role, contributing additional breadth of perspective to ESCP’s senior leadership as the School advances its Bold & United strategy.

Professor Marie Taillard, Dean of ESCP Business School London Campus, said:  “I am pleased to be taking on the role of Dean of the ESCP London Campus at a time when the School is strengthening its position in the United Kingdom, both as a serious academic contender, but also as a keen contributor to economic growth. Building on what has already been achieved, I aim to further develop our programme portfolio, expand lifelong learning opportunities, and build even stronger connections between our academic work, industry and the local community. Guided by ESCP’s Bold & United strategy, my ambition is to support bold and creative leadership, accelerate human-centred transformation and promote innovative pedagogy, strengthening our impact within the UK academic and business ecosystem.”

Professor Taillard holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a PhD from the University of London. A dual citizen of France and the United States, she brings a strong international profile, with academic and professional experience across Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region, including extensive experience in the United Kingdom. Since joining ESCP’s permanent faculty in 2007, she has held several senior leadership positions, including UK Associate Dean of Executive Education, London Campus Head of Faculty, and Director of the MSc in Marketing & Creativity, a programme she founded in 2009 and which is currently ranked 3rd worldwide by QS.

Her research focuses on marketing management and consumer behaviour, with particular attention to communication between firms and consumers and the ways in which consumers contribute to value creation with brands, including through her recent book on consumer creativity. Her research also explores digital transformation, organisational change and evolving stakeholder relationships.

About ESCP Business School – London Campus

ESCP Business School London Campus welcomes over 1,900 students and executive participants each year from more than 80 nationalities across its Bachelor, Master, MBA and Executive Education programmes. Ranked 4th in Europe and 2nd in the UK by the Financial Times (2025), ESCP London offers world-class business education and holds international AACSB, EQUIS and EFMD accreditations, as well as Full Degree Awarding Powers in the UK.

Discover more about ESCP London Campus at escp.eu/london.

The post Prof Marie Taillard Appointed UK Dean of ESCP Business School appeared first on The European Business Review.

In his upcoming book Creativity in the Age of AI, set for release in October 2025, Professor Wind says AI should be viewed as a force that strengthens human imagination rather than replaces it. The book arrives nearly five decades after Professor Wind began shaping how MBA students think about markets, strategy and innovation at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

“Creativity is not just for artists. It applies to every individual and to every decision—personal, organizational, and societal,” Professor Wind said. He added that failures to address issues such as inequality, education gaps and political polarization reflect “a broader failure of imagination and creative problem-solving.”

Professor Wind, the Lauder Professor Emeritus of Marketing, spent 50 years at Wharton, where he led major initiatives including the creation of the Lauder Institute, the development of the Executive MBA program and a sweeping MBA curriculum redesign in 1990. He also founded the Wharton Fellows Program, which immersed senior executives in organizations reshaping global industries.

That experience eventually led Professor Wind to design one of Wharton’s most popular MBA electives, a course on creativity that examined how innovators across business, science, music and medicine generate new ideas and challenge entrenched thinking. The course later evolved into a global Coursera offering aimed at learners across professions and age groups.

In his new book, co-authored with Mukul Pandya and Deborah Yao, Professor Wind outlines 12 practical approaches to boosting creativity and explains how AI tools can enhance each one. Drawing on neuroscience, classroom experience and real-world experimentation, the book positions AI as a collaborative partner that expands human potential.

“AI doesn’t replace creativity, it amplifies it. The quality of the outcome reflects the creativity of the person using it,” Professor Wind said.

Professor Wind points to examples ranging from AI-assisted travel planning to poetry generation and customer service systems that outperform human agents. In creative fields such as music and design, he argues that the strongest results emerge when humans and AI work together, rather than when technology operates alone.

Professor Wind also sees implications for business education. While schools excel at analytics and quantitative rigor, he believes they lag in cultivating imagination and problem framing. Creativity, he says, offers a bridge between data driven decision making and ethical, meaningful leadership.

The book targets executives, students, educators and anyone seeking to navigate an AI-driven world more creatively. Professor Wind hopes it encourages readers to challenge assumptions, experiment boldly and pair human judgment with emerging technologies to solve complex problems.

Related Readings:

• Wharton Leads 2025 Best MBA Programs in U.S. News Rankings
   

• Wharton Launches Owner/President/CEO Program for Business Leaders

• Business School Rankings 2025: Wharton and Columbia Lead the Pack

The post Wharton Professor Jerry Wind Says AI Elevates Creativity as Core Leadership Skill appeared first on The European Business Review.

Several smaller and specialist institutions have also slipped into the red. Bournemouth University posted a £7.9 million deficit, while Birkbeck, University of London reported a £7 million shortfall. The University of the West of Scotland recorded a £5.5 million deficit and Edge Hill University ended the year £2.8 million down. Losses were also reported among arts institutions, including Trinity Laban at £1.6 million and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance at £50,000.

Heriot Watt University said it improved its financial position through what it described as “disciplined financial management,” but it remains in an underlying operating deficit of £7.9 million. The university warned that pressures extend beyond recruitment, citing global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, cyber security threats, climate risks and challenges linked to the spread of generative artificial intelligence.

The University of Hull narrowed its deficit from £17.2 million to £12.9 million in 2024 to 25, despite what it called a difficult year shaped by volatile student recruitment markets and the continued real terms erosion of home undergraduate tuition fees.

Other institutions saw their financial positions deteriorate more sharply. The University of Bedfordshire reported a consolidated deficit of £17.2 million, describing it as “carefully managed” with “long-term sustainability firmly in view.” Income fell sharply from £150.4 million to £105.7 million, largely due to a steep decline in international tuition fee revenue.

In Northern Ireland, the University of Ulster recorded an operating deficit before other gains and losses of £20.2 million, worsening from £5 million the previous year. The university attributed the result to rising costs that outpaced income growth and the absence of inflation linked increases in teaching grants.

The financial strain has reached research intensive institutions as well. The University of Sheffield became the latest member of the Russell Group to post a deficit, reporting an underlying operating shortfall of £11.5 million. That marked a reversal from a £6.2 million surplus the year before. Sheffield said its income dropped by £56 million, driven mainly by a 22 percent fall in international tuition fee income. The university described the shift as a “rebasing” of the market caused by policy changes, stronger global competition and evolving student preferences. Its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation fell to 6 percent of revenue, well below its 11 percent target. Sheffield also spent £10.9 million on compensation for loss of office affecting more than 600 staff as part of cost reduction efforts.

One of the starkest turnarounds came at De Montfort University. The institution moved from a £12.6 million surplus in 2023 to 24 to a £22.6 million deficit in the latest year. DMU pointed to rising costs and the declining real terms value of tuition fees as key factors. “Like most English universities, we are facing unprecedented financial challenges,” the university said in its 2024 to 25 accounts. It added that “a major fall in international students has disrupted both home and overseas recruitment patterns across the sector, and some higher tariff institutions have over recruited home students to make up their shortfalls.” DMU said it is responding by expanding transnational education overseas and cutting costs, including £4 million spent on a voluntary severance scheme.

Together, the results show at least a dozen UK institutions now operating in deficit, with many leaders pointing to reduced international enrolment and fiercer competition for domestic students as central causes. With more universities already warning of sizeable gaps for 2024 to 25, the latest accounts underline the scale of the financial challenge facing UK higher education and the difficult choices likely ahead.

Related Readings:

• UK Faces Graduate Surplus as Degree No Longer Guarantees Social Mobility

• UK Rejoins Erasmus Program Expanding Opportunities for Students and Apprentices

• LSE Named Best London University for 14th Year
  

The post UK Universities Face Growing Deficits As International Student Numbers Fall appeared first on The European Business Review.

Prof Shitij Kapur, vice chancellor of King’s College London, said the era when universities could confidently promise strong job prospects for graduates has ended, as nearly half of the population now enters higher education.

Kapur argued that a degree today functions more like a “visa” than a “passport” to success, reflecting weaker wage advantages for graduates and intensifying competition from artificial intelligence and overseas talent. “The competition for graduate jobs is not just all because of AI filling out forms or AI taking away jobs. It’s also because of the stalling of our economy and causing a relative surplus of graduates,” he said.

He added that the value of a degree has become increasingly conditional. “So the simple promise of a good job if you get a university degree, has now become conditional on which university you went to, which course you took.”

“The old equation of the university as a passport to social mobility, meant that if you got a degree you were almost certain to get a job as a socially mobile citizen. Now it has become a visa for social mobility – it gives you the chance to visit the arena that has graduate jobs and the related social mobility, but whether you can make it there is not a guarantee.”

The debate over the worth of higher education has intensified in recent years. In 2025, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the long standing ambition for 50 percent of young people to attend university was “not right for our times,” effectively ending a target set by Tony Blair in 1999. Two years earlier, then prime minister Rishi Sunak had described the same goal as “The false dream of 50% of children going to university … was one of the great mistakes of the last 30 years.”

Kapur said such outcomes were anticipated decades ago. He pointed to sociologist Martin Trow, who predicted that as higher education expanded from serving a small elite to a broad cross section of society, degrees would inevitably lose their exceptional status.

As participation rises, Kapur said Trow expected three consequences. “Social regard for the exceptionalism of university graduates will go down. The second thing is, the graduate premium will go down, because a degree will become something that’s not scarce at all. And from being a privilege, it [a university education] will start becoming a necessity” for engaging in advanced economies.

“I think in the UK, we are reaching that point now,” Kapur said.

Data from the Department for Education shows graduates in England still earn more and have higher employment rates than non graduates. However, real wages for younger graduates have barely moved over the past decade. Kapur noted that weak economic growth coincided with the introduction of £9,000 tuition fees and expanded student loans in 2012, calling it “the worst possible time” to shift costs onto students.

In 2022, Kapur described the state of UK higher education as a “triangle of sadness,” linking rising student debt, government policies that eroded fee values through inflation, and mounting pressure on university staff. He now says the situation has deteriorated further, with domestic tuition fees frozen at levels that fail to cover teaching costs.

Despite the challenges, Kapur said UK universities remain among the world’s best, in part because of higher fees paid by international students. Those revenues support research excellence and help institutions maintain strong global rankings, which in turn benefit domestic students through broader course offerings and access to leading academics.

However, recent restrictions on international student visas and the introduction of a levy on overseas fees risk undermining that model. Kapur said the issue deserves careful national debate.

“The role of international students in our universities is a national conversation we need to have. International students are not some sort of oddity or indulgence of our universities. They are now a fundamental feature of our system,” he said, warning that abrupt policy changes could harm universities, students and national productivity.

Looking ahead, Kapur argued that universities will play a critical role in the UK’s economic future. “The older technologies and manufacturing productivity gains have run their cycle,” he said.

“We have to invent at the cutting edge, or apply at the cutting edge so that we are the makers and not the takers of the next technological revolution – and universities will have a central role in doing that.”

Related Readings:

• UK Rejoins Erasmus Program Expanding Opportunities for Students and Apprentices

• Post-Brexit Opportunities: The Value of Studying an MBA in the UK Today

• Bridging the Gap: Sociology as a Social Science in the Contemporary World

The post UK Faces Graduate Surplus as Degree No Longer Guarantees Social Mobility appeared first on The European Business Review.

The study, which marks Pew’s first survey of teens on general AI chatbot usage, found that nearly 70 percent of US adolescents have tried a chatbot at least once. About a third use these tools daily, with 16 percent interacting “several times a day or almost constantly.”

ChatGPT emerged as the most popular AI tool, followed by Google’s Gemini, Meta AI, Microsoft’s Copilot, Character.AI and Anthropic’s Claude. Usage patterns are broadly similar between girls and boys, with 64 percent of girls and 63 percent of boys reporting experience with chatbots. Older teens, ages 15 to 17, were slightly more likely to engage with AI than those ages 13 to 14, and usage generally rises with household income. Black and Hispanic teens reported higher adoption rates, with just under 70 percent having used AI chatbots compared to 58 percent of White teens.

While some teens rely on AI for schoolwork and learning support, others use chatbots for companionship or romantic interactions. Experts have warned that even educational use could affect development, and online safety advocates like Common Sense Media recommend that minors avoid companion-like AI chatbots, citing “unacceptable risks.”

Concerns have intensified after lawsuits against OpenAI and Character.AI alleged that their chatbots contributed to teen suicides and mental health struggles. In response, OpenAI is introducing parental controls and age restrictions, while Character.AI has limited teen access to conversational features. Meta also faced scrutiny for reports that its AI engaged minors in sexual discussions, prompting policy updates and upcoming parental controls for Instagram AI characters.

At the same time, AI companies are actively integrating chatbots into educational environments. OpenAI, Microsoft and Anthropic have developed classroom tools and launched teacher training programs in partnership with educators’ unions. Microsoft CEO Mustafa Suleyman emphasized that Copilot will never permit romantic or sexual interactions with adults or children, positioning it as a safer option for parents.

The Pew survey, which involved nearly 1,500 teens aged 13 to 17 and accounted for gender, race, age and household income, illustrates the rapid adoption of AI among American youth, raising questions about safety, ethics and the future of AI in education.

Related Readings:

• Australia Bans Social Media for Children Under 16 Nationwide
  
  

• Microsoft Draws Clear Line Against Romantic AI Chatbots
   

• Multilingual Chatbots: Breaking Language Barriers In Global European Markets

The post AI Chatbots Become Daily Habit for Millions of US Teens appeared first on The European Business Review.

Under Erasmus+, UK students, apprentices, and teachers can participate in placements lasting from two days to a year across all EU member states and associated countries such as Norway, Iceland, Turkey, Serbia, Liechtenstein, and North Macedonia. Participants receive grants covering travel, accommodation, living costs, and course fees. Individuals apply through schools, colleges, youth organisations, or workplaces.

In 2018-19, over 8,000 UK trainees and nearly 10,000 university students participated in Erasmus. Ministers are emphasising vocational elements of the programme, noting its potential to provide practical experience alongside formal education.

The UK negotiated a first-year fee of £570 million, reflecting a 30% discount on expected contributions. Officials argue the discount recognises the UK’s historical share of EU participants. Universities UK research in 2020 estimated that Erasmus generated a net £243 million benefit for the UK economy after costs.

The UK left Erasmus after Brexit in 2020, despite initial assurances from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson: “There is no threat to the Erasmus scheme; we will continue to participate.” Withdrawal was later justified on financial grounds, although Northern Ireland universities continued to take part with Irish government support.

Political reactions to the re-entry have been mixed. The Liberal Democrats welcomed it as “a moment of real opportunity and a clear step towards repairing the disastrous Conservative Brexit deal.” Conservative figures criticised the cost, with shadow education secretary Laura Trott calling £570 million “nuts,” while shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel accused Labour of “dragging Britain back under the control of Brussels.”

The current Erasmus+ framework ends in 2028, at which point the UK will need to renegotiate terms. Officials plan to retain the 30% discount and evaluate the scheme’s impact on young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, before fully committing to the new framework.

Related Readings:

• LSE Named Best London University for 14th Year
   

• Post-Brexit Opportunities: The Value of Studying an MBA in the UK Today

• Refugee Entrepreneurs Thrive with Support from Warwick Business School Initiative

The post UK Rejoins Erasmus Program Expanding Opportunities for Students and Apprentices appeared first on The European Business Review.

Data from Anthropic shows workplace AI use has reached a record high. However, findings from the Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard Business School indicate that widespread deployment does not automatically translate into better outcomes. As businesses accelerate investment in AI tools, many leaders still lack clarity on where the technology genuinely improves productivity and performance.

“Nobody knows those answers, even though a lot of people are saying they do,” said Jen Stave, chief operator at the Digital Data Design Institute, known as D^3.

Recent D^3 research conducted with Procter and Gamble found that individuals equipped with AI can perform at levels comparable to traditional teams without access to the technology. The finding challenges long held views on collaboration, suggesting AI can reproduce some benefits typically generated by group work. According to the study, “AI is capable of reproducing certain benefits typically gained through human collaboration, potentially revolutionizing how organizations structure their teams and allocate resources.”

Yet the research also points to clear limits. When quality and originality are measured, strategically designed AI enabled teams deliver stronger and more innovative outcomes than individuals working alone with AI support. The tools used in the study were not designed specifically for collaboration, indicating further potential as enterprise systems evolve.

For business leaders, the implications extend beyond efficiency. “Companies that are actually thinking through the changes in roles and where we need to not just lean into it but protect human jobs and maybe even add some in that space if that’s our competitive advantage, that, to me, is a signal of a super mature mindset around AI,” Stave said.

Separate experiments conducted with Boston Consulting Group showed that AI narrows performance gaps across skill levels, delivering the largest gains to lower performing employees. Workers in the bottom half of the skill spectrum saw productivity jump by 43 percent, compared with a 17 percent increase among top performers.

While this effect can lift overall output, it also introduces long term risks. If AI handles entry level tasks too effectively, senior staff may delegate less developmental work, potentially weakening future leadership pipelines. The research also found AI use leads to more uniform outputs. “Humans have more diverse ideas, and people who use AI tend to produce more similar ideas,” Stave said, a concern for companies competing on originality and brand differentiation.

The studies also highlight a looming leadership challenge. Managing AI agents requires capabilities not covered by traditional management training. While Stave expects humans to oversee fleets of AI systems, she said organizations are not yet prepared. “You learn how to manage according to empathy and understanding, how to make the most of human potential,” she said. “I had all these AI agents that I was personally trying to build and manage. It was a fundamentally different experience.”

Some technology executives argue junior employees could become managers of AI agents, but Stave urged caution. “We want to see AI giving humans more opportunity to flourish. The challenge I have is with assuming that the junior employees are going to step in and know how to do that right away,” she said.

According to the Harvard research, the companies extracting the most value from AI are those willing to redesign processes and structures rather than simply layering tools onto existing workflows. “It’s very easy to buy a tool and implement it,” Stave said. “It’s really hard to actually do org redesign, because that’s when you get into all these internal empires and power struggles.”

For executives navigating the next phase of digital transformation, the message from Harvard is clear: AI delivers results when it strengthens teams and reshapes organizations, not when it simply replaces people.

Related Readings:

• Battle Over Schools: Trump Takes Aim at Department of Education
   

• IE University Partners with OpenAI to Equip 10,000 Students with ChatGPT Edu

• Harvard Tops Global MBA Preferences Despite Rising Costs and Controversy

The post Harvard Research Finds AI Boosts Work but Teams Still Outperform Individuals appeared first on The European Business Review.

Two students were killed and nine others wounded in the attack, which unfolded at the heart of the university and sent shockwaves through the academic community. City leaders urged residents to support one another, with Providence Mayor Brett Smiley encouraging people to come together and “shine a little bit of light.”

As the investigation progressed, authorities acknowledged a significant shift in direction. A person of interest who had been detained in connection with the shooting was released on Sunday, after evidence failed to meet the threshold for prosecution. Police Chief Oscar L. Perez, Jr. said investigators acted on a tip that led the FBI to locate the individual, but the findings did not ultimately support charges.

“That evidence was examined, and ultimately the person was released,” Perez told reporters, adding that officials had information but not enough to move forward legally.

Earlier, sources said the individual had been found at a hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, where officers recovered a revolver and a small Glock handgun. Law enforcement surrounded the property early in the morning as part of the inquiry, with media crews on site.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha confirmed the release, saying evidence “now points in a different direction.” He explained that while earlier information had raised concerns, it required further confirmation. “Over the last 24 hours, the evidence is now leading them elsewhere,” Neronha said.

He also criticized the public disclosure of the detained individual’s identity, calling it “unfortunate” and stressing that authorities would “proceed very carefully” as the case develops.

Mayor Smiley said investigators are still working to establish the shooter’s movements and warned there is no certainty the suspect remains in the state. “We are searching for additional video evidence,” he said, urging anyone with footage to contact law enforcement.

With no arrests made so far, the focus remains on gathering new leads while the Brown University community mourns and waits for clarity in an investigation that is still unfolding.

Related Readings:

• Arizona State University Integrates Sustainability into General Education

• Washington University-Fudan EMBA Tops Global Rankings as Salaries Surge

• IE University Partners with OpenAI to Equip 10,000 Students with ChatGPT Edu

The post Brown University Shooting Probe Shifts As Police Release Person Of Interest appeared first on The European Business Review.

The shift in academic mobility comes at a time of heightened anxiety on US campuses. Several leading universities have warned of multiyear budget pressures, new federal taxes that erode endowment returns and potential cuts to research programs. These constraints, combined with the administration’s campaign to pressure institutions to align with its policies, have raised concerns among faculty about the long term stability of scientific work in the United States.

One sign of the changing landscape is the decision of Canadian astrophysicist Sara Seager to leave the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and join the University of Toronto in September. “There (are) many reasons why I’m returning to Canada, and one of them is the budget cuts and also the huge uncertainty in science funding in the U.S.,” she told Reuters. Her move has encouraged colleagues to explore similar options.

MIT is facing a projected 300 million dollar annual budget shortfall, underscoring the scale of financial strain felt by US institutions. Although the university says it continues to attract top talent, researchers have reported being forced to scale back or cancel projects due to reduced funding and institutional resistance to adopting Trump administration positions in exchange for preferential treatment.

With Canadian schools now expanding recruitment capacity, the government aims to attract more than a thousand highly qualified academics over the next decade. Universities are adjusting quickly. The University of Toronto has launched 100 new postdoctoral positions in fields ranging from quantum computing to climate science. According to its president, Melanie Woodin, “It’s all part of the Canadian strategy to leverage this once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Other institutions are moving at a similar pace. The University of British Columbia said it has hired more than 100 scholars from abroad in recent years and expects federal support to boost that momentum. The University of Alberta and McMaster University also plan to grow international hiring. Western University has announced new programs aimed at strengthening PhD recruitment and expanding fellowships.

Immigration policy is emerging as a major tool in this campaign. The federal budget introduced a faster pathway for current and former US H 1B visa holders in technology, research and health care, even as overall immigration levels tighten amid cost of living concerns. Starting in 2026, master’s and doctoral candidates will be exempt from the national cap on international study permits, and visa processing for PhD applicants will be reduced to 14 days.

Industry Minister Melanie Joly said the government is “doubling down” on its commitment to academic excellence. At a briefing in Montreal she emphasised that Canada is moving in the opposite direction of countries that are “turning their backs on academic freedom and cutting research and weakening science”. She confirmed the recruitment drive is global, with a focus on French speaking experts and researchers who have already expressed interest from the United States.

Despite these advantages, Canada continues to struggle with long term retention. A joint report last year from the Institute for Canadian Citizenship and the Conference Board of Canada found that highly educated immigrants leave the country at nearly twice the rate of those with lower skills, often departing within five years due to stagnant career progression and limited salary growth.

Drew Fagan, a public policy professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs who is currently at Yale University, said Canada has long hoped for more northbound academic migration. While the latest initiatives could shift momentum, he noted that the United States still attracts many of Canada’s most accomplished scholars. “The quantity of people who move to the United States from Canada is not at historic highs by any means… but the quality of those people who move to the United States is very high,” he said.

Joly expressed confidence that the new investments and immigration reforms will reverse past trends and help Canadian institutions compete globally. She urged Canadian researchers abroad to return home. “To all the researchers around the world who are looking to move, we should be your first choice,” she said.

Related Readings:

• Canada’s Sharp Student Decline Signals Shift in Global Education Trends

• Judge Blocks Funding Threat Against University of California
   

• IE University Partners with OpenAI to Equip 10,000 Students with ChatGPT Edu

The post Canada Expands Funding to Attract Global Researchers Amid US Uncertainty appeared first on The European Business Review.

The University of Campinas stayed in second place, while the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro held sixth. The Federal University of Minas Gerais climbed from 13th to 10th, reflecting steady improvements among Brazil’s higher education institutions.

Chile’s Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile moved up to third place, and Mexico placed two universities in the top ten for the first time since 2017, with Tecnológico de Monterrey in seventh and the National Autonomous University of Mexico at ninth. Despite these gains, 20 of Mexico’s 25 ranked universities fell in the standings, highlighting ongoing issues with low participation rates and limited public funding.

Experts say financial constraints continue to challenge Latin American universities. Daniela Salgado Gutiérrez from Universidad Panamericana noted that restricted government spending “creates a substantial challenge for the public system in sustaining quality at scale,” while private institutions face pressures to provide high-quality education affordably and work collaboratively with public programs.

The University of Chile dropped out of the top ten, landing at 13th place. Meanwhile, Ecuador’s UEES Espiritu Santo University entered the top 20 for the first time, and Panama joined the rankings with the University of Panama listed in the 151+ band. Sixteen institutions made their debut in the 2026 edition.

This year’s methodology assessed universities on a global scale rather than regionally, which affected rankings across the board. Dawisson Belém Lopes, a professor at UFMG, said the results show Brazil’s universities are rebounding from years of funding cuts and underappreciation under previous administrations. He noted that nearly 90 percent of research publications in Brazil originate from public institutions, making governmental support critical to global standing.

Belém Lopes added, “There is still much work to be done, but South America, with Brazil at its center, is regaining its position in higher education.” The rankings analyzed data from 2020 to 2025, including research output, teaching quality, and international collaboration.

Related Readings:

• Northwestern Pays $75 Million to Restore Federal Research Funding
   

• Porto Business School: Cultivating Market-Ready Explorers
   

• Beyond Theory: The Deliberate Art of Practice-Based Learning

The post University of São Paulo Tops Latin America Rankings for Second Consecutive Year appeared first on The European Business Review.

Federal officials had frozen $790 million in grants, arguing that Northwestern failed to adequately address antisemitism on campus. The funding halt triggered layoffs and pushed the institution into a deeper crisis. Under the deal, the university will make the payment over three years and roll back several commitments made during a tense period of campus protest.

A key requirement forces Northwestern to revoke the Deering Meadow agreement, which it reached with pro-Palestinian demonstrators in April 2024 to end a tent encampment. Interim president Henry Bienen said the university protected its autonomy throughout the negotiations. “I would not have signed this agreement without provisions ensuring that is the case,” he said.

The settlement also compels the university to strengthen compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws and develop training materials to “socialize international students” to campus norms around open debate. It further reaffirms obligations under Title IX by “providing safe and fair opportunities for women, including single-sex housing for any woman, defined on the basis of sex, who requests such accommodations and all-female sports, locker rooms, and showering facilities”.

US education secretary Linda McMahon said the agreement codifies reforms designed to protect students and staff from harassment and discrimination. “The reforms reflect bold leadership at Northwestern and they are a roadmap for institutional leaders around the country that will help rebuild public trust in our colleges and universities,” she said.

The Trump administration has increasingly used federal research funding as leverage to pressure elite universities into policy changes, accusing them of embracing “woke” ideology. Northwestern’s penalty is the second-largest to date, following Columbia University’s $200 million settlement in July. Brown and Cornell have also reached agreements with the government after investigations tied to antisemitism.

Harvard remains locked in negotiations. The university sued after its grant money was cut, and a federal judge ruled in September that the administration had “used antisemitism as a smokescreen” to justify the funding freeze.

This fall, the White House shifted tactics, offering preferential access to federal funds for schools willing to adopt policies aligned with Trump’s agenda. Several universities rejected the proposal, warning that the compact risked undermining academic freedom.

Northwestern’s settlement marks one of the most significant outcomes yet in the administration’s pressure campaign, restoring critical research funding while forcing the university to unwind earlier concessions made during a turbulent year.

Related Readings:

• Judge Sides with Harvard in $2 Billion Funding Fight
   

• ​Top Researchers Sue Trump Administration Over Education Data Cuts
   

• Trump Administration Freezes $2.2 Billion in Harvard Grants Over Antisemitism, DEI Dispute

The post Northwestern Pays $75 Million to Restore Federal Research Funding appeared first on The European Business Review.

The Institute of International Education reported a 17 percent plunge in new foreign student enrollment for the current academic year, the steepest decline in more than a decade excluding the pandemic. The drop follows a 7.2 percent fall in 2024/25, a period split between the final months of the Biden administration and the start of Trump’s second term, when visa revocations, interview cancellations, deportations and funding cuts hit universities.

For 2025/26, 57 percent of surveyed institutions said new international enrollment declined, and 27 percent described the decrease as “substantial.” The IIE said concerns about the visa process remain the dominant issue, with 96 percent of institutions citing delays or denials as a primary factor, up from 85 percent a year earlier. Many schools also pointed to students’ worries about “feeling unwelcome in the US” and the broader “social and political environment.”

“A close read of enrollment figures from last year and this fall shows that the pipeline of global talent in the US is in a precarious position,” said Fanta Aw, chief executive of Nafsa: Association of International Educators. She warned that international students contribute $42.9 billion to the economy and support more than 355,000 jobs. She added that “other countries are creating effective incentives to capitalize on our mistakes.”

The Trump administration has long sought to reduce the foreign student population, which makes up about 6 percent of US college enrollment. In August, the White House introduced a rule limiting how long student visa holders can stay. Trump also tried to block some universities, including Harvard, from admitting foreign students, although a federal judge issued a permanent injunction.

Financial pressure has also become a central tool. Columbia University saw its $400 million in federal funding restored only after agreeing to changes following campus protests and deportation threats earlier this year.

The IIE noted that the overall number of international students in the US held steady in its fall snapshot and rose 5 percent in 2024/25 to almost 1.2 million. “The US remains the destination of choice for international students from over 200 places of origin worldwide,” said Mirka Martel, the organization’s head of research. Students from India, China and South Korea continue to comprise the largest groups.

Still, experts warn the latest figures may foreshadow deeper declines. “There are warning signs for future years, and I’m really concerned about what this portends for fall ’26 and ’27,” said Clay Harmon of the Association of International Enrollment Management.

Related Readings:

• Judge Blocks Trump Administration Ban on Harvard’s International Student Enrollment

• Top Affordable Online MBA Programs for International Students
   

• US Business Schools See Dip in International Students Amid Policy Uncertainty

The post US Colleges See Sharp Drop in International Student Enrollment in 2025 appeared first on The European Business Review.

The country is expected to issue about 80,000 study permits this year, far below the federal cap of 437,000 set for 2025. Even next year’s reduced limit of 155,000 may be difficult to reach based on current projections.

Although the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia are also tightening rules, Canada’s decline is far more severe. Lil Bremermann Richard, chief executive of Oxford International, said the shift reflects an “evolving” strategy that aligns student intake with housing and labour market constraints. She argued that governments worldwide are broadening their education ambitions, which could usher in a more dispersed set of preferred destinations.

A new survey from NAFSA, Oxford Test of English and Studyportals found that 82 per cent of Canadian universities reported drops in overseas undergraduate enrolments this year. The figure compares with 48 per cent in the US and 39 per cent in the UK. Restrictive policies were cited as the top barrier by 90 per cent of Canadian institutions, well above the share reported in other countries.

Universities are already bracing for financial strain, with 60 per cent anticipating budget cuts and half expecting staffing reductions in the year ahead.

Canada still hosted nearly one million international students when figures were released earlier this year, but rising competition is changing the landscape. Germany, which has almost 500,000 international students and continues to expand, is increasingly viewed as a future challenger.

Vincenzo Raimo, an international higher education consultant, said Canada has not withdrawn from global recruitment but the sector itself is transforming. He said the idea of a big four has become outdated as mobility within Asia accelerates and countries such as South Korea, Japan and Taiwan increase their appeal.

“Global student mobility is becoming far more distributed, as students seek value, safety, post study opportunities and predictability,” he said.

Alex Usher, president of Higher Education Strategy Associates, said many foreign students chose Canada with immigration in mind. “No other country will give them that opportunity and so no other country will benefit. That’s a market that’s just going to dry up and blow away.”

The government recently exempted master’s and PhD students at public universities from the cap, suggesting room for further flexibility. Janet Ilieva, founder of Education Insight, said that the latest budget signals a “clear shift towards attracting top talent,” citing measures aimed at doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers.

She added that restrictions in major English speaking destinations are driving a redistribution of global demand rather than an overall decline. Inward looking policies and geopolitical uncertainty are pushing many students to choose safer and closer alternatives.

Recent data also shows that Canadian universities operate just seven international branch campuses, fewer than Ireland, Germany or the Netherlands, and far behind the US and the UK.

Usher said the limited overseas footprint reflects a lack of institutional appetite for risk during years of strong inbound demand. He expects interest in global expansion to grow, but warned that “a switch like that takes time.”

Related Readings:

• Washington University-Fudan EMBA Tops Global Rankings as Salaries Surge

• Leadership Development with AI: IMD’s Updated Future-Oriented MBA Curriculum

• LinkedIn Ranks Top MBA Programs for Career Growth
   

The post Canada’s Sharp Student Decline Signals Shift in Global Education Trends appeared first on The European Business Review.

US district judge Rita Lin issued a preliminary injunction late Friday, preventing officials from seeking payments or withholding federal support based on claims that the UC system tolerated antisemitism and engaged in affirmative action. Lin wrote that plaintiffs had provided “overwhelming evidence” of a “concerted campaign to purge ‘woke,’ ‘left’ and ‘socialist’ viewpoints from our country’s leading universities”.

Her order described what she called a government “playbook of initiating civil rights investigations” to pressure institutions financially, “bringing universities to their knees and forcing them to change their ideological tune”.

The dispute intensified after the administration froze $584 million in federal funding for the University of California, Los Angeles, accusing UCLA of violating civil rights by its response to pro Palestinian demonstrations in 2024. Officials alleged the campus was “acting with deliberate indifference in creating a hostile educational environment for Jewish and Israeli students”.

In October, the administration proposed agreements to nine major universities, offering funding in exchange for sweeping policy changes that included banning consideration of race or sex in hiring and admissions and eliminating departments that “purposefully punish, belittle and even spark violence against conservative ideas”. The UC system did not receive the offer, although the University of Southern California did.

California governor Gavin Newsom warned that any institution in the state that accepted the settlement would lose state funding.

Democracy Forward, a progressive legal advocacy group, condemned the administration’s approach, calling it “strong arm tactics” and “a harmful attempt to stifle speech”. The group added that the effort was “a betrayal of the constitution and a dangerous step toward autocracy”.

Related Readings:

• Judge Sides with Harvard in $2 Billion Funding Fight
   

• Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Ban on Foreign Students at Harvard
   

• Judge Blocks Trump Administration Ban on Harvard’s International Student Enrollment

The post Judge Blocks Funding Threat Against University of California appeared first on The European Business Review.

Participants urged university leaders and lawmakers to reject President Trump’s proposed “compact,” which would grant institutions favored access to federal funding if they agree to support the administration’s conservative priorities. New College of Florida remains the only campus to sign on so far.

“Universities should be a place of learning, not propaganda machines,” said Alicia Colomer of the Campus Climate Network as rallies began.

Walkouts, teach-ins and marches unfolded from Kansas to New York. Students demanded more affordable education, commitments to protect transgender and international students, and resistance to federal pressure they view as politically motivated. Some campuses used the moment to spotlight additional causes, including support for immigrants, fair wages for campus workers and divestment from weapons manufacturers.

At Brown University, students and faculty invited passersby to add painted handprints to a banner of demands. “Trump came to our community thinking we could be bullied out of our freedom,” said sophomore Simon Aron. “He was wrong.”

In New York City, students protested outside Apollo Global Management, targeting CEO Marc Rowan, a prominent Trump donor credited with shaping the compact. Critics say his influence gives billionaires outsized power in determining what can be taught at U.S. universities.

“Billionaires should not control what can be studied in the United States,” said University of Pennsylvania professor Amy Offner.

Organizers described the demonstrations as the beginning of a long-term mobilization. “There is only one way forward,” said Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors. “Students, faculty and staff must stand united to defend higher education and democracy itself.”

Related Readings:

• Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Protests to Counter Trump’s $45M Parade
   

• Washington University-Fudan EMBA Tops Global Rankings as Salaries Surge
  

• Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Ban on Foreign Students at Harvard

The post Campus Protests Spread as Students Push Back Against Trump Higher-Ed Policies appeared first on The European Business Review.

Skepticism toward ranking systems remains strong. In 2025, U.S. News revealed that only about half of the schools included in its rankings participated in peer assessment surveys, which measure how administrators view other institutions. Despite such doubts, new research shows that business school leaders still devote considerable effort to improving their ranking performance.

Interviews with four Canadian business school deans conducted between 2021 and 2022 revealed a striking contradiction: while these leaders dismiss rankings as flawed, they continue to allocate resources toward climbing the lists. Each dean described internal processes to support ranking submissions, including staff dedicated to data collection and coordination with communications teams. One dean even acknowledged that rankings do not align with their school’s mission, yet admitted to running internal campaigns to help stakeholders understand and strategically approach ranking systems.

Their concerns are not unfounded. Major rankings such as the Financial Times Global MBA Ranking emphasize post-graduation salaries and international diversity, while the QS World University Rankings focus on “thought leadership” measured by research output and media mentions. These criteria tend to favor elite, globally oriented programs while overlooking schools serving different regions or educational goals.

One dean noted that “the faculty that understand the rankings care less,” underscoring how academic priorities often diverge from what rankings reward. Critical elements like teaching quality, mentorship, and curriculum innovation rarely appear in ranking formulas. Nor do rankings assess whether graduates become ethical or socially responsible leaders.

As the Rockefeller Institute observed, when institutions chase ranking success, they often improve their scores rather than their educational impact. Research on business schools supports this, showing that ranking systems emphasize financial outcomes while neglecting broader measures of quality and social value.

The persistence of rankings in strategic planning is largely tied to financial realities. As government funding for Canadian universities declines, international student tuition has become a vital revenue source. Between 2000 and 2021, tuition’s share of total university income rose from 14.4 percent to 25.6 percent. For MBA programs, the gap between domestic and international tuition can exceed $30,000, with international students paying much higher rates.

One dean acknowledged, “By accepting international students, we are helping domestic students from the funding cuts.” Another added that rankings matter most to prospective international students, who rely on them when comparing schools abroad.

This economic logic keeps deans engaged in a system they privately critique. Better rankings attract more international students, whose tuition helps sustain programs and support domestic peers. The result is a paradox: administrators publicly question rankings while privately investing in them.

Rankings have evolved from marketing tools into operational necessities. For prospective students, experts recommend viewing rankings as only one part of the decision-making process. Employment reports, alumni insights, and recruiter connections can provide a clearer picture of a program’s true value.

Until ranking methodologies better reflect educational quality and long-term outcomes, business school leaders will likely remain caught in this balancing act—challenging the very system that continues to define their success.

Related Readings:

• Shaping Tomorrow’s Leaders: Inside the AUB Suliman S. Olayan School of Business MBA Program

• Bloomberg US MBA Rankings 2025: Stanford Extends Its Reign, Haas and Wharton Rise

• Washington University-Fudan EMBA Tops Global Rankings as Salaries Surge

The post Business School Deans Confront Paradox of MBA Rankings appeared first on The European Business Review.

The recognition highlights the campus’s Master of Arts in Global Entertainment and Music Business program, which Billboard described as helping graduate students “gain a competitive advantage in the music industry [through] networking and experiential learning opportunities and an elective-based curriculum that empowers students to curate their own learning experience.”

Berklee Valencia’s emphasis on real-world learning is showcased through its Publishing and Music Supervision course and its collaboration with the Spanish-Speaking Music Supervision Association, where students work alongside seasoned professionals on live industry projects.

The program also draws more than 50 guest speakers each year, including influential figures such as Yvette Noel-Schure, founder of Schure Media Group and publicist for Beyoncé, and Marie-Anne Robert, head of Sony Music France. These interactions provide students with direct access to global industry expertise.

The campus will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Berklee Global Career Summit on January 13–16, 2026. The four-day event gathers leading professionals and alumni to discuss the evolving landscape of the music business and share practical insights with students.

Billboard’s list also features Berklee College of Music’s undergraduate programs—the Bachelor of Music in Music Business/Management and the Bachelor of Arts in Music Industry Leadership and Innovation—as well as BPMI Live, the Berklee Popular Music Institute’s flagship initiative. Through BPMI Live, students gain hands-on experience by scouting, developing, and touring with emerging artists at major festivals.

Earlier this year, Valencia students traveled to England with the band Park National through a collaboration with BPMI, where they gained practical skills in tour management, production, and marketing—experience that strengthened their understanding of the global live music sector.

Billboard selected schools for its 2025 ranking based on input from industry executives, alumni featured in its power lists, data from participating schools, and years of in-depth reporting on music education programs.

Beyond its acclaimed business curriculum, Berklee Valencia offers master’s programs in contemporary performance, music production, technology and innovation, and scoring for film, television, and video games. It also provides study abroad opportunities and summer programs for undergraduate students.

The campus’s International Career Center plays a vital role in connecting students with internships and job placements across the entertainment industry, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to turn their artistic ambitions into successful global careers.

Related Readings:

• Porto Business School: Cultivating Market-Ready Explorers
   

• Business Schools Rethink Purpose as Student Demands Shift
   

• Top Business Schools Unite to Boost Women’s Leadership Through Executive MBA Event

The post Berklee Valencia Named Among World’s Top Music Business Schools Again appeared first on The European Business Review.

Data from the FT ranking showed that graduates from the top 100 business schools earned an average base salary of nearly $230,000 in 2025, marking a 4.4 percent increase from the previous year. In contrast, alumni of online MBA programs reported flat earnings of around $180,000, while those with full-time MBAs saw a 3.2 percent decline to about $150,000.

The Washington University-Fudan program, taught primarily in Shanghai and jointly run with Washington University’s Olin Business School in St. Louis, overtook the China Europe International Business School (Ceibs) to secure first place. The program’s graduates reported average annual salaries of $718,662, the highest among all ranked EMBAs, along with a 134 percent salary increase compared with their pre-degree earnings.

European schools also performed strongly, with ESCP, which operates campuses across France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain, and Poland, ranking third overall and first for career progression. Other top performers included the Kellogg/HKUST Business School joint degree in Hong Kong and France’s Skema Business School.

The FT evaluated 129 Executive MBA programs worldwide, ranking 100 based on factors such as alumni earnings, career advancement, faculty research, and program diversity. Participation is voluntary, and only schools accredited by global agencies such as AACSB or Equis qualify for consideration.

Chinese institutions dominated the rankings for adjusted salary levels, with the six highest-paying programs located wholly or partly in China or Hong Kong. Michael Desiderio, executive director of the Executive MBA Council, said that demand for the qualification remains steady. “Average class sizes have stayed consistent at just over 58 students in 2025, compared with 57 over the past five years,” he said, noting that average completed applications also held steady at around 118 per program.

Despite the steady demand, the share of students receiving full employer funding continues to decline. Only 19 percent of participants now have their tuition fully covered by their companies, compared with much higher levels a decade ago. The number of students who receive no financial support has climbed to 54 percent.

Graduates rated networking opportunities as one of the top reasons for pursuing an EMBA, ranking it just behind management development and ahead of higher pay or promotion prospects. The Kellogg-HKUST program was rated highest for alumni networking, followed by Turkey’s Sabanci and France’s Edhec Business School.

In faculty research output, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business led globally, followed by Insead in France and the UK’s London Business School.

On gender representation, nine programs reported having more female than male students, led by the University of Hong Kong’s Business School with 64 percent women. Four programs achieved faculty gender parity, including Skema, Neoma, Audencia, and the University of Porto-FEP|PBS.

Environmental and social responsibility also featured prominently in this year’s assessment. ESCP led for integrating environmental, social, and governance principles into its curriculum, while Italy’s SDA Bocconi and Incae in Costa Rica topped the list for setting net-zero campus emission targets.

Skema Business School ranked highest in overall alumni satisfaction, followed by Ceibs and Edhec, reflecting growing student expectations for quality and relevance in executive education.

The latest ranking underscores the continued appeal of Executive MBA programs as a route to career advancement and higher earnings, even as corporate sponsorship wanes and global business education becomes increasingly competitive.

Related Readings:

• London Business School Launches UK’s First Campus-Wide Generative AI Gateway

• Leading Through Uncertainty: How the University of St.Gallen’s IEMBA Shapes Leaders for a Complex World

• IE University Partners with OpenAI to Equip 10,000 Students with ChatGPT Edu

The post Washington University-Fudan EMBA Tops Global Rankings as Salaries Surge appeared first on The European Business Review.

A Walmart spokesperson confirmed to CNN that the company is pausing employment offers to candidates needing the high-skilled work visa, saying the move reflects an effort to “remain thoughtful about our H-1B hiring approach.” The decision, first reported by Bloomberg, comes shortly after Trump announced a new $100,000 fee on companies seeking to hire workers under the visa program.

The H-1B visa, typically valid for three years and renewable for another three, allows U.S. companies to employ foreign professionals in specialized fields such as technology, engineering, and finance. Economists have long credited the program with helping American businesses stay globally competitive while fostering job creation at home.

Walmart, which employs more than 2,000 H-1B holders according to federal data, has relied on the program to attract top-tier technical talent for its expanding e-commerce and cloud operations. The company’s online business has grown rapidly in recent years as it competes with Amazon and other digital retail giants.

President Trump’s new visa fee, however, has introduced uncertainty for firms that depend heavily on global talent. The administration argues that the measure is aimed at curbing misuse of the H-1B system, claiming that some companies exploit it to undercut American wages. Yet industry leaders and policy experts warn that the cost could deter businesses from hiring qualified professionals from abroad and could hinder innovation.

“The new fee structure could reshape hiring decisions across the tech and retail sectors,” said an analyst familiar with labor policy. “It’s not just a cost issue — it’s a competitiveness issue.”

The impact is expected to fall hardest on workers from India, who make up the largest share of H-1B recipients each year. Many have built careers in the U.S. through the program, filling roles in software development, engineering, and data science.

Walmart emphasized that it remains committed to investing in talent while complying with U.S. immigration regulations. “Walmart is committed to hiring and investing in the best talent to serve our customers,” the spokesperson said, adding that the company continues to evaluate its workforce needs amid ongoing policy changes.

The decision signals a broader trend among major corporations reassessing their hiring strategies as Washington pushes for stricter oversight of foreign labor. Business groups have warned that the administration’s latest visa fee could have far-reaching economic consequences, potentially driving skilled workers to seek opportunities in other countries.

As the debate over high-skilled immigration intensifies, Walmart’s pause underscores the growing challenges U.S. companies face in balancing compliance with policy shifts while maintaining the talent pipelines essential to their global competitiveness.

Related Readings:

• Trump Imposes $100,000 Fee on New H-1B Visas
   

• U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
   

• Retailers Adapt as Trump Tariffs Push Costs Higher

The post Walmart Halts H-1B Hiring Amid Trump’s New Visa Fee Policy appeared first on The European Business Review.

The Trump administration sent letters to nine major universities earlier this month, offering preferential access to grants and federal partnerships in exchange for adopting a new set of ideological and administrative reforms. The compact would require universities to stop considering sex and ethnicity in admissions, cap international enrollment at 15 percent, freeze tuition for five years, and restructure programs deemed hostile to conservative viewpoints.

After a meeting at the White House on Friday, the University of Virginia formally declined the offer, saying it valued collaboration over compliance. “While there are many areas of agreement in the proposed compact, we believe that the best path toward real and durable progress lies in an open and collaborative conversation,” interim President Paul Mahoney said in a statement.

Five other universities — the University of Southern California, the University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Dartmouth College, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — have also refused to join the compact. A White House official confirmed that other schools, including Vanderbilt University and the University of Arizona, are still reviewing the proposal.

The administration described the compact as an initiative for “the proactive improvement of higher education for the betterment of the country.” It aims to create what it calls “a vibrant marketplace of ideas on campus,” free from ideological dominance. However, university leaders argue that the conditions outlined in the compact would compromise their ability to uphold academic integrity and self-governance.

Dartmouth President Sian Leah Beilock said in a statement Saturday that signing the compact “would compromise our academic freedom, our ability to govern ourselves, and the principle that federal research funds should be awarded to the best, most promising ideas.” MIT President Sally Kornbluth also warned that the agreement “would restrict freedom of expression and our independence as an institution.”

At the University of Pennsylvania, President J. Larry Jameson said the school declined the offer after consulting with faculty, trustees, and students. “Penn provided focused feedback highlighting areas of existing alignment as well as substantive concerns,” he said.

USC Interim President Beong-Soo Kim, in a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, wrote that the compact’s conditions would “undermine the same values of free inquiry and academic excellence that the Compact seeks to promote.”

The White House has framed the compact as an effort to reform universities accused of bias and mismanagement, but many institutions see it as a political intrusion into academic policy. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has already warned that his state could withhold funding from universities that accept the agreement.

The administration has also expanded the list of invited institutions to include Arizona State University, the University of Kansas, and Washington University in St. Louis. Those schools attended Friday’s White House meeting alongside Vanderbilt, Dartmouth, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Arizona, and UVA.

While a few universities remain undecided, most of the responses so far reflect a firm defense of academic autonomy. Brown University President Christina Paxson said the proposed compact “would restrict academic freedom and undermine the autonomy of Brown’s governance.”

The Trump administration has made higher education reform a priority in its second term, seeking greater oversight of universities it claims have become politically one-sided. The White House maintains that joining the compact would give universities “a competitive advantage” in securing federal grants and partnerships.

Still, with six universities already rejecting the plan, the administration faces mounting resistance from academic institutions determined to protect their independence from federal influence.

Related Readings:

• White House Orders Agencies to Terminate $100 Million in Harvard Contracts

• Judge Sides with Harvard in $2 Billion Funding Fight
   

• Harvard and Toronto Launch Backup Plan for Students Facing U.S. Visa Hurdles

The post More Universities Reject White House Higher Education Compact appeared first on The European Business Review.

The study, conducted by Oxford University Press (OUP), surveyed more than 2,000 students aged 13 to 18 about their use of AI in education. It found that over half of them said it was difficult to know if AI-generated content was true, and almost a third admitted they could not tell whether what they read from AI tools was reliable.

According to the report, eight in ten teenagers use AI for homework, essays, or revision. Many students said they often seek guidance from their teachers on how to use the technology properly. However, a third of those surveyed believed their teachers lacked confidence in using AI themselves.

Assistant headteacher Dan Williams of Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield said that AI had become a regular part of his pupils’ study routines. “Some are using it really effectively and are using it as a personal tutor and getting that help,” he said. “But many are copying and pasting from the AI. They do not yet have that bank of knowledge and experience to test whether something is correct or not.”

Williams, who also serves as the school’s AI lead, admitted that even he finds it challenging to detect AI-generated videos. His experience reflects a wider concern that students are becoming increasingly dependent on technology without developing the critical skills to question what they see or read.

Despite these concerns, the report also highlighted positive attitudes toward AI. Dr. Alexandra Tomescu from Oxford University Press said students were not entirely negative about the technology. “We hear a lot about how AI is all doom and gloom and how it’s going to make young people very dependent on it,” she said. “But when asked, actually nine out of ten students have said that they have benefitted from AI, especially in skill development.”

Dr. Tomescu added that students identified problem-solving, creative writing, and critical thinking as key skills they had improved through AI-assisted learning.

To address the growing need for responsible and informed AI use, Oxford University Press has launched a new AI and Education Site aimed at helping teachers strengthen their understanding of digital tools. The site provides resources, training materials, and best practices for integrating AI safely into classrooms.

The Department for Education has also published its own guidance, offering schools advice on how to use AI responsibly and ensure student safety.

Experts say the findings highlight a generational shift in how technology is shaping learning. While AI has the potential to enhance creativity and productivity, educators are being urged to help students develop the ability to question and verify information rather than rely on it blindly.

As schools continue to adapt to the digital age, the challenge now lies in balancing innovation with critical awareness, ensuring that students not only learn with AI but also learn about it.

Related Readings:

• Imperial Business School Pushes for Deeper Sustainability in Teaching

• London Business School Launches UK’s First Campus-Wide Generative AI Gateway

• Wharton School Launches AI Leadership Program Led by LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman

The post Most Teenagers Use AI for Schoolwork but Struggle to Spot Misinformation appeared first on The European Business Review.

Even as tuition climbs and ROI questions persist, U.S. business schools continue to deliver—especially on compensation, alumni lift, and entrepreneurial outcomes. According to Bloomberg Businessweek’s 2025–26 Best B-Schools Ranking, Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) remains the #1 MBA in the United States for the seventh consecutive year anchored by unmatched performance in networking, entrepreneurship, and post-MBA career outcomes.

Still, change is in the air.

For Bloomberg’s US MBA rankings, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania surged back into the Top 3 after several years of volatility. UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, meanwhile, has vaulted an impressive 11 places marking the biggest comeback of the year. Meanwhile, long-time stalwarts like Kellogg and Booth saw dips, signaling a possible rebalancing of strengths among America’s elite business schools. The result: a U.S. MBA landscape that is more competitive, more dynamic, and increasingly driven by data-backed outcomes.

The Top 10 U.S. MBA Programs

Stanford GSB continues to set the standard for holistic excellence. It ranked #1 in Networking and Entrepreneurship, #2 in Compensation, and #7 in Learning. Its ecosystem anchored in Silicon Valley remains unmatched for innovation and access to capital. However, Bloomberg’s data also showed that Stanford’s Inclusion score slipped to 32nd, down from 17th, highlighting diversity as a lingering challenge for top-tier U.S. programs.

Meanwhile, Wharton’s resurgence underscores how financial outcomes remain central to MBA value. Wharton produced the highest Compensation score among U.S. schools reflecting median salaries, signing bonuses, and long-term alumni earnings. Haas, however, delivered the year’s most balanced performance, ranking in the Top 10 across all five weighted metrics, a rare feat in 2025. Harvard’s modest gains (now 4th) stemmed from stronger recruiter satisfaction and improved salary metrics.

Major Movers and Surprises

Perhaps the most dramatic shifts occurred outside the top five. Cornell Johnson broke into the Top 10 for the first time in years, reflecting steady gains in compensation and recruiter satisfaction. Columbia Business School’s climb to #9 follows its move to a new Manhattanville campus, which has re-energized student life and industry partnerships.

On the other hand, Chicago Booth slipped to #7, largely due to declines in Learning and Compensation rankings. Further down, schools like MIT Sloan and Michigan Ross fell just outside the Top 10, while Carnegie Mellon Tepper dropped to 15th after ranking 9th the previous year.

What This Means For Applicants

If you’re targeting a U.S. MBA soon, the 2025–26 Bloomberg ranking reinforces that career ROI still defines the U.S. edge. Stanford, Wharton, and Haas dominate because of compensation and alumni outcomes. Schools ranking highly across multiple dimensions signal holistic development, and inclusion and adaptability are rising factors. Expect schools to place increasing emphasis on diversity, cross-disciplinary learning, and global relevance as competition from Asia and Europe intensifies.

The post Bloomberg US MBA Rankings 2025: Stanford Extends Its Reign, Haas and Wharton Rise appeared first on The European Business Review.

For the third consecutive year, more than 20% of surveyed students and alumni selected Harvard as the school they would most like to attend if admission and tuition were not barriers. Stanford Graduate School of Business, which holds the top spot in the 2025 U.S. ranking, followed with 15%, while no other program received more than 5% of the vote.

Experts say Harvard’s enduring appeal stems from a mix of its century-old prestige and its continued influence in global business. “A vast majority of grads believe they will have a great chance of getting a great job just by having Harvard on their CV,” said Andrew Crisp, partner at CarringtonCrisp, a branding and consulting firm that works with top institutions like Insead and Columbia Business School.

Despite its status, the data reveal challenges beneath the surface. According to figures from the Career Services & Employer Alliance, only 77% of recent Harvard MBA graduates secured employment within three months of finishing the program. Yet the brand remains unmatched in perceived value and opportunity.

The privilege of earning a Harvard MBA, however, comes at a steep cost. Annual tuition and fees have risen by 5.5% to $87,608, and the MBA class of 2025 faced a competitive 14% acceptance rate.

Harvard has also found itself under political pressure this year. The Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal funding over the university’s diversity and inclusion programs and alleged mishandling of antisemitism on campus. The government also attempted to restrict international students’ ability to stay in the U.S. during their studies. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that his administration is “close to finalizing a deal with Harvard,” though the university has yet to respond publicly.

“There has been an increase in trepidation and scrutiny among international applicants,” said Oren Margolis, founder of Pinetree & Palm Consulting, which specializes in MBA admissions. “Some ask, ‘Will I even be able to get to campus?’”

Despite the uncertainty, Harvard’s global draw remains strong. Among non-U.S. nationals surveyed, 75% chose an American school as their preferred MBA destination, with 31% naming Harvard. In contrast, Europe’s leading programs—Insead and London Business School—each received just over 3% of total responses.

In a statement, Rupal Gadhia, managing director of marketing, communications, and MBA admissions at HBS, said the school continues to attract a diverse global cohort. “International students represent roughly a third of the student body,” she noted, highlighting Harvard’s general management curriculum, world-class faculty, and a network of more than 90,000 alumni as enduring strengths.

Ultimately, Harvard’s name alone continues to drive interest. “Whether domestic or foreign, my clients are drawn to Harvard’s program for one main reason,” Margolis said. “Because it’s Harvard.”

Related Readings:

• Judge Sides with Harvard in $2 Billion Funding Fight
  
  

• Harvard Removes Diversity Center Sites Amid White House Pressure
  .

• Harvard and Toronto Launch Backup Plan for Students Facing U.S. Visa Hurdles

The post Harvard Tops Global MBA Preferences Despite Rising Costs and Controversy appeared first on The European Business Review.

The lab is designed to become a collaborative hub where academia and industry meet to explore how agentic AI will transform business strategy, workforce capabilities, and investment models. It will also offer students valuable access to internships and career opportunities with companies leading the AI revolution.

“By engaging directly with companies in real time and working on real problems, our students can apply and extend their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts. It’s a win for our corporate partners, but a bigger win for our students,” said Geoff Garrett, Dean of USC Marshall School of Business. “Nothing is more important than helping our students both understand and contribute to the AI revolution by working with cutting-edge companies like Thunder.”

Carter Wigell, founder and CEO of Thunder, emphasized the transformative nature of agentic AI in shaping the business landscape. “Agentic AI represents the most significant business shift of our lifetimes,” Wigell said. “By combining the academic strength of USC Marshall, the global innovation engine of Salesforce, and Thunder’s expertise in driving AI business change, we’re creating a launchpad for the next generation of business leaders to thrive in this era of transformation.”

The USC Agentic AI Research Lab will initially focus on four key sectors where artificial intelligence is making rapid advances: healthcare, corporate applications, high-tech industries, and the public sector. Research in these areas aims to uncover how AI-driven decision-making and automation can improve efficiency, innovation, and long-term growth.

Alongside the lab’s launch, the EdTech Innovation Hub Awards (ETIH) also opened entries for its 2026 program, which recognizes groundbreaking efforts in education technology, particularly in AI integration, workforce development, and digital learning.

The awards celebrate global innovators developing AI-driven assessment tools, personalized learning platforms, and digital upskilling solutions that connect education with tangible career outcomes. Submissions are open to organizations across the UK, the Americas, and internationally. Winners will be announced on January 14, 2026, during an online showcase featuring expert commentary on emerging trends and standout innovation.

All winners and finalists will also be highlighted in ETIH’s first print magazine, set to debut at BETT 2026, one of the world’s leading education technology events.

The partnership between USC Marshall and Thunder reflects a growing movement among academic institutions to align education with technological change. By fostering collaboration between students, researchers, and global companies, the USC Agentic AI Research Lab aims to prepare the next generation of leaders to navigate and shape the future of intelligent business systems.

Related Readings:

• Oxford Executive MBA: Shaping Global Business Leaders through Learning and Research

• Wharton Leads 2025 Best MBA Programs in U.S. News Rankings
   

• LinkedIn Ranks Top MBA Programs for Career Growth

The post USC, Thunder Launch Agentic AI Research Lab to Shape Future of Business appeared first on The European Business Review.

Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business tied for second place, holding their positions as two of the most sought-after MBA programs in the country. The University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business ranked fourth, while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management placed fifth, completing the top five.

Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business, Harvard Business School, and New York University’s Stern School of Business all tied for sixth place. Columbia Business School followed at ninth, and Yale University’s School of Management rounded out the top ten. These institutions continue to attract ambitious students from around the world, with placement in the top tier signaling academic rigor and strong career outcomes.

Tuition fees among these schools remain among the highest in the nation. Harvard Business School charges $76,410 annually for full-time MBA students, making it the least expensive in the top ten, while Columbia Business School has the highest tuition at $88,300 per year. Wharton, which holds the top spot, charges $84,830 annually.

Enrollment sizes also vary widely. Harvard has the largest full-time MBA class with 1,868 students, while Dartmouth’s Tuck program remains one of the most intimate with 600 students. Stanford, known for its exclusivity, enrolls 854 students in its full-time MBA program, reinforcing its reputation as one of the most selective schools in the world.

The U.S. News methodology considers several factors, including admissions selectivity, average GMAT and GRE test scores, employment rates at graduation and three months later, and peer assessments from academics and employers. These criteria are designed to measure both the quality of education and the career outcomes for graduates. Applicants can access detailed data, such as GMAT averages and post-graduate employment figures, through the U.S. News Business School Compass, a subscription-based tool for program comparison.

The release of the 2025 rankings comes as MBA programs adapt to changes in the global business landscape. Schools like MIT Sloan and Stanford have added more courses in data analytics, innovation, and entrepreneurship, while institutions such as Kellogg and Booth continue to emphasize leadership and experiential learning. At the same time, online MBA programs are becoming more popular for working professionals, but the prestige of a full-time MBA from Wharton, Harvard, or Stanford remains unmatched in terms of global recognition and alumni networks.

Related Readings:

• Business School Rankings 2025: Wharton and Columbia Lead the Pack

• Wharton Launches Owner/President/CEO Program for Business Leaders

• Wharton School Launches AI Leadership Program Led by LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman

The post Wharton Leads 2025 Best MBA Programs in U.S. News Rankings appeared first on The European Business Review.

The social network said the degree continues to carry weight across industries. Since 2010, the share of senior leaders with an MBA on LinkedIn has risen by 32 percent, while the number of entrepreneurs holding the credential has climbed by 87 percent.

LinkedIn’s annual ranking, based entirely on career outcomes, highlights schools whose alumni consistently advance in leadership roles, secure jobs after graduation, and build strong professional connections.

Stanford Graduate School of Business topped the list, followed by Harvard Business School, INSEAD, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Indian School of Business. Other institutions in the top ten include Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, MIT Sloan School of Management, Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business, Columbia Business School, and London Business School.

The analysis reviewed thousands of alumni profiles to assess job titles, skill sets, and geographic reach. Stanford alumni were most likely to become founders, CEOs, or product managers, with strengths in product strategy and deep learning. Harvard graduates frequently moved into consulting and executive positions, while INSEAD alumni excelled in private equity and stakeholder management across Europe.

Beyond the top tier, LinkedIn’s list spans 100 programs worldwide, including schools in India, Singapore, Canada, and Europe. Many institutions earned recognition for specific strengths, such as networking, leadership, job placement, or gender diversity.

LinkedIn also offered a free LinkedIn Learning path until October 15 for professionals who want to sharpen their business skills without pursuing a degree.

Related Readings:

• Top Accelerated Online MBA Programs of 2025
   

• Top 5 MBA Programs for Landing a Six-Figure Salary
   

• Top Affordable Online MBA Programs for International Students

The post LinkedIn Ranks Top MBA Programs for Career Growth appeared first on The European Business Review.

HEC Paris secured second place, with alumni reporting the highest weighted salary on the list at $141,611. Insead came in third, maintaining its reputation as one of France’s most competitive business schools. Portugal’s Nova School of Business and Economics and China’s Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management tied for fourth, while Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Antai College ranked sixth, bolstered by strong career service performance.

St Gallen distinguished itself with a weighted salary of $139,921 and a 98 percent employment rate within three months of graduation. These figures reflect its consistent ability to place graduates in high-demand roles across industries and markets.

China showed strong representation this year. Tongji University ranked eighth with an average graduate salary of $160,163, one of the highest in the rankings. India also performed strongly, with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad ranking 34th but recording the top average salary overall at $181,239. Other Indian schools including IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, and XLRI Xavier School of Management all posted 100 percent employment rates.

European institutions remained highly competitive. ESCP Business School placed seventh, London Business School tied for tenth, and Stockholm School of Economics landed in ninth place. French schools dominated in volume, with ESSEC, EDHEC, Skema, Audencia, and Neoma all earning spots in the top 30.

The ranking also highlighted rising schools outside Europe. Morocco’s Rabat Business School entered the top 20 for the first time, tying for 20th. Singapore Management University and Hult International Business School in the U.S. also made appearances in the top 65 and top 50, respectively.

Overall, the results underscore the increasing globalization of business education, with Asia, Europe, and the Middle East all making gains. Despite growing competition, St Gallen continues to set the benchmark in career support and graduate outcomes, consolidating its reputation as the world leader in management education.

Related Readings: 

• Leading Through Uncertainty: How the University of St.Gallen’s IEMBA Shapes Leaders for a Complex World

• Rethinking Leadership: Inside the IEMBA at the University of St.Gallen
   

• Switzerland Joins Finland for Nordic Business Forum 2025
   

The post St Gallen Tops Masters in Management 2025 Rankings appeared first on The European Business Review.

The rankings evaluate universities across ten categories, including entry standards, student satisfaction, research quality, research intensity, academic services spending, investment in student facilities, continuation rates, student-to-staff ratios, and graduate outcomes.

Professor Susana Mourato, LSE’s Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research), welcomed the recognition. “Our position as the top university in London, yet again, is testament to LSE’s unwavering commitment to research excellence and real-world impact. It is also a well-deserved recognition of our dedicated community of faculty, staff, students, and alumni,” she said.

“Rooted in London with a truly international outlook, LSE will continue to educate students and generate ideas that help shape the world’s political, economic and social future for the better,” Mourato added.

The Complete University Guide ranking reinforces LSE’s strong performance in other league tables. In March, it was ranked top in London and sixth globally for Social Science and Management in the 2025 QS subject rankings. Last autumn, LSE was named the top university in the UK and awarded “University of the Year 2025” by the Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide.

Related Readings:

• How LSE is Equipping C-suite Executives with the Skills to Successfully Navigate and Integrate AI into the World of Work

• London Business School Launches UK’s First Campus-Wide Generative AI Gateway

• London Business School’s MBA Rises in Global FT Ranking
   

The post LSE Named Best London University for 14th Year appeared first on The European Business Review.

The initiative responds to the unique challenges faced by founders and chief executives who must balance daily operations with long-term vision. “Too often, we get stuck fighting fires,” said Nancy Rothbard, Wharton management professor, deputy dean, and co-academic director. “We don’t stop to identify the opportunities that could shape our future. This program gives leaders that space to pause, think differently, and build a bold vision for their company and their legacy.”

Structured into three modules held in Philadelphia and San Francisco, with curated electives and executive coaching, the curriculum blends academic rigor with practical application. Participants will explore finance, innovation, succession planning, and growth strategy while building personalized five- and 10-year roadmaps for their companies.

“Many focus on predicting the future, some work on adapting to it,” said Jagmohan Raju, Wharton marketing professor and co-academic director. “OPC helps leaders create a future where they and their businesses can thrive. You learn not just to play the game but to influence the rules of the game.”

Beyond strategy, the program emphasizes personal and organizational reinvention through case studies, simulations, and peer exchange. Raju highlighted the value of this community, calling it “a pillar you can lean on for the rest of your life.”

Graduates will join Wharton’s alumni network of more than 100,000 leaders worldwide, gaining access to events, introductions, and ongoing learning opportunities. “We’re not just handing out frameworks,” Rothbard added. “We’re helping leaders think critically and creatively about their specific business and the kind of company they want to lead into the future. This is about going from excellence to eminence, from what you’ve already achieved to the broader legacy you want to build.”

Enrollment is open, with the first cohort beginning Module 1: Leadership and Finance in Philadelphia from April 27 to May 8, 2026. Module 2: Innovation will take place in San Francisco from January 24 to 28, 2027, followed by Module 3: Legacy and Growth in Philadelphia from September 20 to October 1, 2027.

Related Readings:

• Business School Rankings 2025: Wharton and Columbia Lead the Pack

• Wharton School Launches AI Leadership Program Led by LinkedIn Co-founder Reid Hoffman

• Chief Partners with Wharton’s Aresty Institute to Elevate Leadership Education for Senior Women Executives

The post Wharton Launches Owner/President/CEO Program for Business Leaders appeared first on The European Business Review.

Three faculty members and a doctoral student were recognized for their contributions to management scholarship. The honorees are Professor Richard Whittington, Professor Tom Lawrence, Professor Michelle Rogan, and doctoral candidate Jadwiga Karolina Supryn.

Professor Eric Zhao, Associate Dean for Research, praised the achievements. “These honours at the Academy of Management conference speak to the depth, breadth and global impact of research at Oxford Saïd,” he said. “From shaping foundational theories in strategic management to advancing understanding of technology, inclusion and ethics, our colleagues are making enduring contributions that influence both scholarship and practice worldwide.”

Whittington was elected as an AOM Fellow, the Academy’s highest distinction. The Fellows Group recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to management research and education. Reflecting on the honor, he said: “It’s a real honour to be elected an Academy of Management Fellow and to be joining my Oxford Saïd colleague Professor Eero Vaara in the Fellowship… It should encourage all those pursuing new lines of work.”

Lawrence was part of the team that won the Organization and Management Theory (OMT) Best Paper Published in 2024 Award for the article Constructing Envelopes: How Institutional Custodians Can Tame Disruptive Algorithms. “This paper addresses an increasingly important issue—how societal actors can respond to the potentially harmful effects of algorithms,” he said.

Doctoral candidate Jadwiga Karolina Supryn received multiple accolades for her dissertation research on financial inclusion in Ghana. She won the SAP Best Student Paper Award at the AOM Annual Meeting 2025, was a finalist for the William H Newman Award, and was named Emerging Scholar at the Society for Business Ethics Annual Meeting 2025. “I am deeply honoured to have my solo work on how technology affords inclusive innovation recognised with these awards,” Supryn said.

Meanwhile, Professor Michelle Rogan was appointed Deputy Editor of Organization Science, a leading journal in the field.

Together, these recognitions highlight Oxford Saïd’s growing influence in shaping global conversations on management, strategy, and ethics.

Related Readings:

• Porto Business School: Cultivating Market-Ready Explorers
   

• Oxford Saïd Ranks 15th Globally in LinkedIn’s First MBA Rankings
   

• LEORON and Oxford Saïd Launch GCC Professional Training Programs

The post Oxford Saïd Scholars Win Top Global Research Honors appeared first on The European Business Review.

US District Judge Allison Burroughs rejected the administration’s claim that the cuts were tied to antisemitism on campus, calling it a pretext for a political attack.

“A review of the administrative record makes it difficult to conclude anything other than that defendants used antisemitism as a smokescreen for a targeted, ideologically-motivated assault on this country’s premier universities,” Burroughs wrote in her opinion.

She added that the freeze jeopardized vital scientific work and undermined constitutional protections. Among the halted projects were research on suicide prevention for veterans, studies on Lou Gehrig’s Disease, NASA technology to measure astronaut radiation, and government-backed work on emerging biological threats. “There is no obvious link between the affected projects and antisemitism,” Burroughs noted.

The ruling immediately lifted an April “Freeze Order” and barred the government from withholding additional funds in retaliation for Harvard’s speech or on discrimination grounds without following federal law. While Burroughs stressed that fighting antisemitism is essential, she ruled that “combatting antisemitism cannot be accomplished on the back of the First Amendment.”

Harvard President Alan Garber welcomed the outcome, saying the decision “validates our arguments in defense of the University’s academic freedom, critical scientific research, and the core principles of American higher education.” He cautioned, however, that the school would monitor legal developments as the White House appeals.

Trump officials vowed to continue the fight. “This activist Obama-appointed judge was always going to rule in Harvard’s favor, regardless of the facts,” White House spokesperson Liz Huston said, arguing the school failed to protect students from harassment.

The standoff marks the most direct challenge by a university to the administration’s broader crackdown on elite schools. While Harvard chose litigation, other institutions have pursued settlements. Columbia University agreed to a $200 million deal in July, and Brown University committed $50 million to local workforce programs. The White House is still in talks with Cornell, Northwestern, and UCLA, with the latter facing a potential $1 billion demand.

Trump has also urged his Cabinet to find new ways to pressure Harvard, including targeting its patents. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently described those efforts as coordinated across agencies.

The ruling ensures Harvard’s funding for now, but with an appeal looming, the legal and political battle over federal money for research and higher education is far from over.

Related Readings:

• Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Ban on Foreign Students at Harvard
   

• Harvard Removes Diversity Center Sites Amid White House Pressure
   

• Harvard and Toronto Launch Backup Plan for Students Facing U.S. Visa Hurdles

The post Judge Sides with Harvard in $2 Billion Funding Fight appeared first on The European Business Review.

At the heart of the initiative is a commitment to foster entrepreneurial activity and bring together business leaders, researchers and policymakers. The program will include curated exchanges, targeted initiatives for tech founders, and opportunities for startups to collaborate directly with industry.

“We want to place the entrepreneurial relevance of technological security solutions at the heart of the discussion and bring fresh thinking into executive suites. Cybersecurity must no longer be seen as a cost factor, but as a key driver of modern value creation,” said Thorsten Lambertus, Managing Director at DEEP.

The collaboration builds on DEEP’s work with startups from leading research institutions that are developing specialized security technologies. Merck’s involvement is expected to expand the scale of this approach and connect it more closely to industrial practice.

Matthias Geselle, SVP and Head of IT Infrastructure at Merck, said Europe’s digital sovereignty depends on alliances between research, startups and industry. “Through our collaboration with DEEP, we gain early access to frontier security innovations that can be rapidly tested and implemented in real-world industrial environments,” he noted, citing secure supply chains and operational technology resilience as key areas of focus.

The partners plan to create a Europe-wide innovation network that supports cybersecurity breakthroughs and accelerates their deployment in practical applications. By 2030, they aim to establish a hub that not only drives innovation but also ensures market opportunities while reinforcing Europe’s long-term digital independence.

Related Readings:

• ESMT Berlin and HEC Paris Unite to Drive Europe’s Tech Sovereignty with Next-Gen Computing

• ESMT Launches Scholarships to Promote Diversity in Business Leadership

• Innovative Minds Unite: Highlights from ESMT Berlin’s Annual Demo Day

The post ESMT Berlin and Merck Launch European Cybersecurity Hub appeared first on The European Business Review.

The event, themed “Moving Forward: Foresight, Growth, Strategy,” will bring together more than 7,000 top executives and business owners, alongside a livestream audience of 25,000. Organizers said the partnership reflects the two nations’ shared reputation for quality, innovation and reliability, as well as their global influence in business and education.

This year’s lineup of speakers includes music producer Rick Rubin, former Apple executive Angela Ahrendts, author Simon Sinek, marketing professor Jonah Berger, futurist April Rinne, INSEAD professor Gianpiero Petriglieri, Vinted co-founder Milda Mitkute, IMD professor Howard Yu, entrepreneur Diana Kander, digital thinker Peter Hinssen and former Nokia chairman Risto Siilasmaa.

In the weeks leading up to the forum, the University of St. Gallen said it would release insights into its partnership, highlighting the significance of the collaboration.

The Nordic Business Forum has become one of Europe’s largest leadership events, offering a platform for global executives to explore new strategies for growth and innovation.

Related Readings:

• Redefining the MBA: Copenhagen Business School’s One-Year Global Programme

• Leading Through Uncertainty: How the University of St.Gallen’s IEMBA Shapes Leaders for a Complex World

• Rethinking Leadership: Inside the IEMBA at the University of St.Gallen

The post Switzerland Joins Finland for Nordic Business Forum 2025 appeared first on The European Business Review.

A 2019 Bates/Gallup poll found that 80% of college graduates seek purpose in their work. A 2023 survey showed that half of Gen Z and millennial employees in the U.K. and U.S. have quit jobs over misaligned values. These sentiments are now influencing business school classrooms, where students want course content to reflect pressing social issues, from sustainability to equity.

The Financial Times reports that “there may never have been a more demanding cohort,” yet business schools have been slower to respond compared with other disciplines. Critics have called for reform, with some even suggesting dismantling current models altogether.

Historically, research has linked business school applicants to higher levels of narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism. Studies show these traits can be reinforced during MBA programs and persist after graduation. One large-scale analysis of U.S. firms found no performance gap between companies run by business school graduates and those led by non-graduates. However, firms managed by graduates cut wages by 6% over five years, while non-MBA leaders shared profits with employees.

Despite skepticism about the MBA’s value, some schools are experimenting with new approaches. Instead of treating ethics courses as stand-alone requirements, they are working to integrate moral formation into both curriculum and campus culture. This includes character-focused programming, faculty mentorship and experiential learning aimed at fostering judgment and wisdom alongside technical skills.

Experts like Stanford scholar Bill Damon advocate for faculty to create conditions where students can find meaning themselves. Such relational teaching, proponents argue, inspires as well as informs — a process artificial intelligence cannot replicate.

Several institutions are leading the way, including Notre Dame’s Institute for Social Concerns, Bates College’s Center for Purposeful Work, Stanford’s Designing Your Life course and the University of Michigan’s Management as a Calling. These programs challenge students to define the kind of leaders they want to become and the legacy they hope to leave.

Supporters say this marks a return to the early mission of business education, which Harvard sociologist Rakesh Khurana describes as training managers to pursue the “higher aims of commerce in service to society.” The challenge now is whether more schools will embrace that vision.

Related Readings:

• MBA vs MiM: Key Differences Explained
  .

• UVA Darden Tops Princeton Review for Professors and MBA Management

• Leading Through Complexity: Inside the Executive MBA at SDA Bocconi

The post Business Schools Rethink Purpose as Student Demands Shift appeared first on The European Business Review.

Darden achieved its highest performance to date, landing in the top five in nine categories and the top 10 in 10 areas, more than any other business school in the past three years.

“These Top 10 rankings affirm what our students experience every day: world-class professors, a dynamic case method-driven classroom with multiple viewpoints, and preparation that leads to top career outcomes and lifelong leadership and management success,” said Dean Scott Beardsley.

The rankings are based on over 22,000 student and administrator surveys across 244 institutions. Students praised Darden’s faculty access, with one noting, “The access to professors is unparalleled.”

The results add to Darden’s recent honors, including being named the No. 1 public business school by U.S. News & World Report and earning top spots from Financial Times and Poets & Quants.

Related Readings:

• From Château to Corporate: The Unique Culture of French Business Schools

• Top Business Schools Unite to Boost Women’s Leadership Through Executive MBA Event

• Imperial Business School Pushes for Deeper Sustainability in Teaching

The post UVA Darden Tops Princeton Review for Professors and MBA Management appeared first on The European Business Review.

The partnership will roll out online programs in Advanced Leadership, AI in Finance, Digital Transformation Strategy and Business Operations. Developed exclusively for this initiative, the courses combine Oxford Saïd’s academic depth with interactive, classroom-style learning.

“This partnership reflects a strategic move to redefine how professional learning is delivered, moving beyond traditional online and classroom formats,” said Mariana Ignatov, VP Certified Programs at LEORON.

Caroline Williams, Executive Director of Oxford Saïd Online, called the collaboration “a natural and strategic fit,” noting the GCC’s role as a major economic hub. The program is designed to equip professionals across sectors with critical skills to navigate complex industries and make informed decisions.

Related Readings:

• Oxford Saïd Ranks 15th Globally in LinkedIn’s First MBA Rankings
  .

• Porto Business School: Cultivating Market-Ready Explorers
  .

• ESCP Business School Unveils Bold & United: A Strategic Plan to Lead Management Education into the Future

The post LEORON and Oxford Saïd Launch GCC Professional Training Programs appeared first on The European Business Review.

It offers two distinct formats, both built around flexibility, international perspective, and real-time applicability:

• The Weekend format, offered in Milan and Rome, is a bilingual option (Italian and English) that combines continuity with flexibility. Sessions take place on weekends, making it ideal for those balancing demanding roles and personal commitments.
• The Modular format, held in Milan, fully international, is conducted entirely in English and structured around intensive training weeks. It is designed for professionals seeking an immersive, global experience while remaining active in their careers.

Though different in structure, both formats share the same DNA: a rigorous learning environment, a truly diverse community of professionals, and a strong international outlook — all within a single, integrated network. And at the center of it all, the distinctive approach of SDA Bocconi, the leading Italian business school and a global player in higher education.

DISCOVER THE EXECUTIVE MBA

The post Embark on a Transformative Journey – Choose SDA Bocconi Executive MBA appeared first on The European Business Review.

The programme combines online and in-person sessions, offering participants direct access to Cambridge faculty, industry experts and an international cohort of peers. It focuses on real-world applications, digital transformation, ethical governance and decision-making using AI.

“AI is a transformative force reshaping business strategy, decision-making and leadership,” said Professor David Stillwell, Co-Academic Programme Director. “Senior executives must not only understand AI but also use it to drive business goals, efficiency and new revenue opportunities.”

Emeritus President Mike Malefakis said the partnership enables participants to “leverage AI tools and strategies for business optimisation and growth,” while managing innovation and risk.

With 68% of employers viewing AI as essential to future success, according to Forbes, the programme seeks to close the gap between emerging technologies and leadership. It targets executives aiming to foster innovation, boost resilience and position their firms for long-term success.

Vesselin Popov, also a Co-Academic Programme Director, added that the initiative “empowers decision-makers to harness AI in ways that align with their organisation’s goals and prepare for the future.” Enrollment is now open.

Related Readings:

• Porto Business School: Cultivating Market-Ready Explorers
  .

• How LSE is Equipping C-suite Executives with the Skills to Successfully Navigate and Integrate AI into the World of Work

• Why Germany is Ideal for MBAs with a Tech Focus
  .

The post Cambridge Launches AI Leadership Programme for Senior Executives appeared first on The European Business Review.

The removed sites — including those for the Harvard College Women’s Center, the Office for BGLTQ Student Life, and the Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations — now redirect users to a new page for the Office of Culture and Community. That new entity was formally introduced the same day as a replacement for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ outgoing diversity office.

The White House welcomed the change. One official called it “good news” in a statement Thursday.

Meanwhile, the alumni group Crimson Courage urged Harvard President Alan Garber to reverse the shift. In a letter, the group criticized “the dismantling of diversity efforts at Harvard College and the FAS,” and warned that it posed a threat to academic freedom. “It’s time for courage not capitulation,” the group wrote.

The latest developments come as Harvard grapples with the threat of losing its federal accreditation. The Departments of Education and Health and Human Services informed the New England Commission of Higher Education that Harvard may be “in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws,” referencing a June 30 finding by a White House task force that accused the school of breaching the Civil Rights Act.

Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi Hoekstra said the new office aims to “break down silos” and create more connection within the Harvard community. A university spokesperson emphasized that Harvard remains fully accredited and is taking steps to combat hate and bias on campus.

The dispute marks another chapter in the standoff between Harvard and the Trump administration, which has frozen billions in funding and pushed the university to scale back diversity programs it views as discriminatory. In April, Harvard rebranded its main equity office and released reports on both antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias on campus.

A court hearing on Harvard’s lawsuit to recover federal funds is set for July 21. A separate ruling has paused the government’s attempt to block the university from enrolling international students.

Related Readings:

• Harvard and Toronto Launch Backup Plan for Students Facing U.S. Visa Hurdles

• Harvard Tops Global Ranking in Digital Education and Tech Leadership

• Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Ban on Foreign Students at Harvard

The post Harvard Removes Diversity Center Sites Amid White House Pressure appeared first on The European Business Review.

The initiative, revealed this week, comes in response to mounting visa challenges and recent federal actions targeting Harvard’s ability to enroll international students. A judge temporarily blocked the U.S. government’s move to revoke that authority last month, but concerns remain over future policy shifts.

The backup option applies to students at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government who have completed at least one year of study on the Cambridge campus. If visa issues prevent their return, they will have the chance to enroll in a visiting student program at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

Courses would be co-taught by faculty from both schools, offering a blended academic experience. In a joint statement, the deans said the program will only be activated if enough students are affected.

“With these contingency plans in place, HKS will be able to continue to provide a world-class public policy education to all of our students, even if they cannot make it to our campus this year,” said Harvard Kennedy School Dean Jeremy Weinstein.

The move marks the first cross-border academic safety net announced in the wake of increased scrutiny from the Trump administration, which has accused Harvard of violating federal rules and collaborating with foreign governments, including China. The White House has also threatened to slash federal research funds for the university.

International students make up a significant portion of Harvard Kennedy School’s population, with 52 percent of its current cohort coming from abroad. The school enrolls over 700 students from nearly 100 countries.

While the contingency program offers reassurance for now, broader questions remain about the long-term outlook for foreign students and academic freedom under tightening U.S. immigration policies.

Related Readings:

• White House Orders Agencies to Terminate $100 Million in Harvard Contracts

• Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Ban on Foreign Students at Harvard

• UC Berkeley Launches Executive Program to Shape Future Strategy Leaders

The post Harvard and Toronto Launch Backup Plan for Students Facing U.S. Visa Hurdles appeared first on The European Business Review.

Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the U.S. and China had reached a deal that includes access to rare earth materials and the continuation of Chinese student enrollment in American universities. “We are getting a total of 55% tariffs, China is getting 10%. Relationship is excellent!” Trump wrote, adding that the deal awaits final approval from Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The announcement follows recent remarks from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had said the administration would “aggressively” revoke visas for students linked to China’s Communist Party or enrolled in sensitive research fields.

It remains unclear whether Rubio’s directive remains in place. However, the president’s latest comments come amid efforts to ease tensions over export controls and student access, both of which have become flashpoints in U.S.-China relations.

China’s government has strongly criticized American policies restricting academic and technological exchanges, calling them discriminatory and damaging to U.S. credibility. The Chinese Foreign Ministry recently warned students to be cautious when considering certain U.S. states due to rising scrutiny and security concerns.

Recent arrests of Chinese nationals for allegedly smuggling biological materials have further strained relations. At the same time, state-level legislation in Ohio, Texas, and Florida has banned financial and research partnerships between public colleges and Chinese institutions.

Despite growing barriers, Chinese nationals remain one of the largest international student groups in the U.S., numbering around 277,000. Some have already begun exploring education options in other countries such as the UK and Australia, where policies are seen as more stable.

Though Trump’s comments may signal a thaw in one area of bilateral tension, visa applicants still face tightened screening, including expanded reviews of digital activity and security backgrounds.

Related Readings:

• Judge Blocks Trump Administration Ban on Harvard’s International Student Enrollment

• Harvard Tops Global Ranking in Digital Education and Tech Leadership

• Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Protests to Counter Trump’s $45M Parade

The post Trump Says Chinese Students Can Stay in U.S. Under New Deal with Beijing appeared first on The European Business Review.

The collaboration between Henley Business School and the University of Exeter Business School follows a deep investigation into how boards function as cohesive decision-making bodies. The research, led by Professor Ruth Sealy and company secretary and researcher Loretto Leavy, found that while governance structures have modernised, many organisations still struggle with the behavioural side of board performance.

“Boards are evolving, but gaps in understanding how they operate as a unit are holding them back,” said Sealy. “This Handbook provides the tools to support a more effective and adaptive approach.”

Based on a review of over 50 FTSE board reports and input from more than 600 stakeholders, the guide sets out a new framework for improving interactions, relationships, and group decision-making processes in the boardroom.

The Handbook was unveiled at the Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland’s Annual Conference. Developed in partnership with the Institute, it offers practical tools and process maps for Chairs, Directors, Company Secretaries, and governance advisors.

Leavy highlighted the handbook’s grounding in real-world insight. “We’ve worked closely with practitioners to address the lack of transparency around current practices. This resource reflects that collective effort.”

The model within the guide outlines six behavioural processes across three levels of maturity, offering boards a structured approach to assess and improve their internal dynamics. It also emphasizes the strategic role of governance professionals in shaping board effectiveness.

Peter Swabey, Policy and Research Director at the Institute, welcomed the publication. “This is a vital resource that recognises the Company Secretary’s central role in enabling high-performing boards.”

The open-access guide will continue to evolve with market input. Researchers plan to engage board leaders further in the coming months to build on the framework and explore its application across sectors.

To explore the full research findings or download the Board Behavioural Dynamics Handbook, visit the dedicated website here.

Related Readings:

• The DEI Crossroads: How European Organisations Can Navigate Change

• Profit Over People: What will Define the Future Legacy of Today’s Leaders?

• The Better Boards Podcast Series: The Boardroom Awakening – Can Corporate Governance Survive the Sustainability Reckoning?

The post New Handbook Aims to Improve Boardroom Behaviour and Decision-Making appeared first on The European Business Review.

The list, which evaluated universities based on their strengths in fields such as business analytics, computer science, and digital entrepreneurship, placed Harvard (including its Business School) at the top, ahead of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Cambridge.

Institutions from the United States dominated the top 10, with Columbia University and Stanford University also making the list. The United Kingdom claimed strong positions as well, with both Oxford and Cambridge earning high marks, particularly for integrating digital skills into traditional business programs.

Canadian, Australian, and Asian universities also featured prominently. The University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia represented Canada, while the National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay stood out for their focus on innovation and tech entrepreneurship.

The ranking adopted a new naming standard to reflect each school’s contribution to its university’s overall performance. When a business school or technology department played a central role, the institution was listed accordingly.

Analysts say the results reflect the growing demand for digital expertise in higher education as students seek out programs that blend technology with leadership and strategy.

Related Readings:

• Top Researchers Sue Trump Administration Over Education Data Cuts

• Trump Administration Freezes $2.2 Billion in Harvard Grants Over Antisemitism, DEI Dispute

• White House Orders Agencies to Terminate $100 Million in Harvard Contracts

The post Harvard Tops Global Ranking in Digital Education and Tech Leadership appeared first on The European Business Review.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a preliminary injunction that blocks the enforcement of a proclamation signed by Donald Trump earlier this month. The order, which cited national security concerns, sought to prevent international students from enrolling at Harvard or joining its exchange programs for at least six months.

Burroughs’ decision extends an earlier temporary freeze she issued on June 5, a day after Trump unveiled the directive. The move also suspends Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s attempt to strip Harvard of its ability to host foreign scholars, a decision she justified by accusing the university of “fostering violence” and maintaining ties with the Chinese government—claims she did not support with evidence.

Harvard, where roughly 6,800 international students make up more than a quarter of the student body, has pushed back in court, alleging political retaliation. The university argues that Trump’s actions violate its First Amendment rights, particularly in response to its refusal to comply with demands related to governance, curriculum, and ideological direction.

The administration had already frozen $2.5 billion in federal funds to the university, questioned its tax-exempt status, and launched multiple investigations. Despite these moves, Trump recently hinted at a possible settlement with Harvard within the coming weeks.

Amid growing campus unrest over the Gaza conflict, the former president also accused the school of failing to protect Jewish students. However, rights groups have criticized the administration’s lack of action on anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination, which has also spiked.

Harvard’s internal task forces on antisemitism and Islamophobia released findings in April showing widespread fear and hostility among students, further complicating the campus climate.

For now, Judge Burroughs’ ruling preserves the university’s ability to welcome foreign students as legal battles over academic freedom and executive authority continue.

Related Readings:

• Harvard MBA Students Launch $1 Million Fund to Back Classmate Startups

• Judge Blocks Trump Administration Ban on Harvard’s International Student Enrollment

• How to Strengthen Your MBA Profile

The post Federal Judge Halts Trump’s Ban on Foreign Students at Harvard appeared first on The European Business Review.

The plan centres on a simple but urgent truth: success in today’s disrupted world requires more than business acumen. It demands hybrid skills that cross boundaries between disciplines, cultures and sectors. It also marks a decisive step in ESCP’s evolution—from the world’s first business school to the first European University of Management—reaffirming its academic ambition, social mission and global reach.

Preparing hybrid leaders for a D.I.S.R.U.P.T.E.D. world

From digitalisation and geopolitics to sustainability and social inclusion, today’s leaders face interconnected challenges that require agility, critical thinking and a deep understanding of multiple domains. This D.I.S.R.U.P.T.E.D. environment (Digitalised, Inclusive, Sustainable, Rapid, Unpredictable, Polarised, Tangled, Empowered, Dynamic) requires a response with purpose and bold action.

“In an age of profound transformation, where agility, inclusion and responsibility are no longer optional but imperative, ESCP stands as a bold and united force in management education. Our 2026–2030 strategic plan is not just a roadmap—it is a collective manifesto shaped by the voices of thousands across our community. This is our commitment: to nurture leaders who shape society with empathy, ethics and excellence,” said Léon Laulusa, Executive President & Dean of ESCP Business School.

A new academic architecture to match a new reality 

To deliver on this vision, by 2030 ESCP Business School will be strengthened by two new schools: the ESCP School of Technology and the ESCP School of Governance, becoming a European University of Management, anchored in its historical and academic DNA.

• ESCP Business School, the historic core, will continue to deliver academic excellence through its flagship degrees and programmes in management, finance, marketing, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
• ESCP School of Technology (2027) will address the growing need for leaders who are fluent in digital transformation, AI, data analysis, and emerging technologies.
• ESCP School of Governance (2029) will focus on geopolitics, public affairs, international law, and strategy, training a new generation of leaders to navigate complexity and global shifts with foresight and accountability.

These schools will work together to deliver hybrid skills, ethical leadership, and inclusive learning experiences that align with ESCP’s humanistic values and respond directly to the demands of employers, societal challenges and student aspirations. This new university of management will be rooted in academic excellence and enriched by the diversity of its disciplines, campuses and community.

“At ESCP, we don’t just teach leadership—we live it, in how we listen, innovate, and empower our entire community. This plan reflects our identity and our ambition to lead the future of business education with integrity and impact,” said Francesco Rattalino, EVP and Dean of Academic Affairs.

Ambitious goals, measurable impacts

The Bold & United plan also reflects ESCP’s long-standing humanist values: Inclusion, Diversity, Excellence, and Merit. These principles underpin every aspect of the strategy, from expanding scholarships and flexible learning to embedding sustainability across curricula and research.

Within this model, ESCP Business School remains the academic heart of the institution and its principal engine for excellence and international recognition. The “Bold & United” plan sets measurable ambitions specific to the Business school’s growth trajectory:

By 2030, ESCP aims to:

• Enrol over 12,000 students representing 150+ nationalities
• Employ 300 professors from 50 countries and achieve full gender parity
• Reach €300M in revenue with sustainable operations
• Continue to rank in the Top 5 of the Financial Times European Business School ranking

To support these goals, ESCP will invest in new programmes, such as a Global Master in Management (in partnership with CEIBS), and launch at least four new MSc degrees including one in Business in the Space Industry. 

Expanding with purpose & inclusion

By 2030, ESCP will enhance campus life and community engagement across Europe, foster a more inclusive and sustainable global footprint, and strengthen its social impact by expanding scholarships and equal opportunity initiatives.

At ESCP, we believe talent and ambition should enable access to excellence. That’s why we’re growing our €9M scholarship fund (approximately 5% of the School’s revenue) to open more doors in the years ahead. By 2030, ESCP will also expand its Extension School for accessible and flexible lifelong learning.

ESCP is expanding its international footprint while reaffirming its European roots. The school is increasing recruitment efforts in the Global South and building new academic partnerships in innovation and entrepreneurship with top institutions.

This expansion will be supported by an investment of €320 million to transform ESCP’s campuses into future-ready ecosystems. At the heart of this ambition lies the powerful synergy of ESCP alumni, Foundation, and School—a united community essential to driving sustained growth and innovation. Building on this momentum, the ESCP Foundation recently announced the launch of a €100 million fundraising campaign to empower the School to expand its mission and impact. The motto is clear: When ESCP rises, we all rise.

Leadership that serves society

Research and technology will continue to play a central role, guided by ESCP’s five interdisciplinary research institutes (LIGhTS) on topics from sustainability to geopolitics, and enhanced by the School’s pioneering use of AI—including the integration of ChatGPT Edu licenses across all levels of the school.

ESCP is also deepening its commitment to social and environmental impact, with a new Sustainability Advisory Council, carbon footprint tracking, and growing its scholarship fund.

“At ESCP, research, technology, and inclusion are not separate priorities—they are interconnected levers for societal progress. We’re embedding purpose into every part of our academic ecosystem from our full-time programmes to Executive Education,” said Véronique Tran, EVP of Executive Education & Corporate Relations.

With Bold & United, ESCP charts a new course guided by collective intelligence, built on shared values, and driven by a mission to lead not only with excellence but with meaning.

To learn more, visit escp.eu.

Press Contacts:

• ESCP
• Sera Royal
• sroyal@escp.eu
• +33 (1) 49 23 27 66

About ESCP Business School

ESCP Business School was founded in 1819, making it the world’s oldest business school. Throughout its 200-year history, ESCP has remained committed to educating accountable, bold and creative leaders who launch trends, bring new solutions and initiate the codes of tomorrow.

ESCP’s six campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw are the stepping stones that allow students to experience ESCP’s European approach to management grounded in multiculturalism.

Every year, ESCP welcomes 11,000+ students and 6,000 managers from 136 different nationalities. Its strength lies in its many business training programmes, both general and specialised (Bachelor, Master, MBA, Executive MBA, PhD and Executive Education), all of which include a multi-campus experience.

With innovation as our cornerstone, we are accelerating academic research and business education to forge new pathways for a better future for all.

It all starts here.

• Website: www.escp.eu
• Follow us on LinkedIn: @ESCP Business School

The post ESCP Business School Unveils Bold & United: A Strategic Plan to Lead Management Education into the Future appeared first on The European Business Review.

The launch reflects LBS’ commitment to scaling responsible and equitable AI access across its entire campus. The platform allows users to build custom AI agents for tasks ranging from teaching support to operational efficiency, with no complex onboarding required.

LBS Chief Digital and Information Officer Danny Attias led the initiative, following a recommendation from UCLA Anderson School of Management. After a live demo at the London campus, Attias and the LBS team moved swiftly from pilot to full deployment.

“Security and privacy were non-negotiable,” said Attias. “nebulaONE gave us institution-level control and confidence, unlike public tools.”

Professor Nicos Savva of LBS praised Cloudforce for tailoring the solution to the school’s learning and innovation needs. Since its launch, the platform has received strong engagement, including an oversubscribed Promptathon training session hosted by Cloudforce in April.

LBS is now part of a growing network of institutions adopting nebulaONE to integrate generative AI in higher education. As a development partner, the school will play an active role in shaping future features and best practices.

The initiative is supported by Microsoft’s UK education team and was featured in a recent AI Innovation Guide co-authored by Microsoft and Cloudforce.

Related Readings:

• London Business School’s MBA Rises in Global FT Ranking
  .

• Why Switzerland is a Hidden Gem for High-Impact MBA Careers
  .

• Rethinking Leadership: Inside the IEMBA at the University of St.Gallen

The post London Business School Launches UK’s First Campus-Wide Generative AI Gateway appeared first on The European Business Review.