October 14, 2024. Shanghai – The CEIBS Global EMBA (GEMBA) programme has been named #1 in the world in the Financial Times 2024 EMBA Ranking, marking its first ever appearance at the top of the authoritative list. Announced in the same year that CEIBS celebrates the 30th anniversary of its founding, this remarkable achievement marks CEIBS as the first business school on the Chinese mainland to reach the top spot in the FT’s international rankings. It also caps off years of sustained progress. Prior to this year, the CEIBS GEMBA programme spent four consecutive years at #2; before that, it had spent two consecutive years in the top five. This consistent performance and steady improvement highlight not only the exceptional quality of the programme, but also its unwavering commitment to excellence.

This accomplishment comes despite a difficult period for global management education. The GEMBA programme places an international experience and a global mindset at its core, characteristics that were severely hampered during recent years of restricted international travel. Our climb to the top of international rankings despite these challenges highlights the fundamental strengths of the school’s faculty, curricula, and alumni.

The GEMBA alumni community exemplifies CEIBS' mission to bridge China with the world, nurturing a robust network of over 2,300 esteemed leaders and entrepreneurs within CEIBS' wider extensive alumni network of over 30,000 members. Equipped with "China Depth, Global Breadth," these alumni represent nearly 50 countries and regions, driving global economic and commercial exchange and enhancing CEIBS' international footprint. Supported by numerous vibrant student clubs, including the new Going-Global Club aimed at constructing a platform to assist CEIBS students and alumni in globalizing their businesses, the GEMBA alumni network offers more than just short-term educational benefits. It provides a comprehensive platform for lifelong learning. Collectively, these alumni contribute to a vibrant GEMBA community that nurtures tight bonds across industries and cultures.

This year’s exceptional performance is notably driven by improvement and continued high performance in metrics related to the quality of GEMBA students and the career progress offered to them by the programme. Beyond our exceptional faculty and alumni, this ranking also reflects the fundamentally international and forward-thinking character of our institution. Once again, CEIBS has held the #1 position worldwide in terms of both International Board and Women on Board, highlighting the school's commitment to internationalisation and diversity.

After a difficult period for business schools around the world, the CEIBS Global EMBA’s newly cemented position at the top of international rankings places it in good stead to continue excelling into the future. The programme can once again offer 20 current global module destinations to participants and act as a vital bridge between China and the world, enhancing mutual understanding between business cultures. It is also perfectly placed to offer solutions to the key challenges and trends of today. As many more Chinese companies “go global” and venture into the global market, the CEIBS Global EMBA is positioned to provide international skills and a global mindset. Equally, as multinationals face new challenges in leveraging the Chinese market, CEIBS’ peerless China expertise provides the on-the-ground knowledge that they need to succeed.

The fact that the CEIBS Global EMBA programme is now ranked #1 in the world represents the culmination of years of dedication, excellence, and accomplishment; that it comes in the year of our 30th anniversary makes this achievement all the more momentous. As we look to the future, we are confident that CEIBS’ alumni, faculty and staff will continue to drive the development of the business world and achieve even greater success.

GEMBA Alumni Thoughts

About CEIBS Global EMBA (GEMBA)

CEIBS Global EMBA, is a part-time, English-language Executive MBA programme that balances China Depth and Global Breadth and develops responsible global business leaders. The programme is a transformational self-development journey, allowing each student to step outside their everyday work environment and see business challenges from a whole new perspective. With modules available in more than 20 destinations worldwide, a diverse student body from over 20 countries and regions, and two integrated tracks running between China, Europe and Africa, CEIBS Global EMBA provides unparalleled opportunities for participants to expand their global network, while plugging into China’s largest business school alumni network and to take their career and personal development to the next level. Learn more here.

About CEIBS

China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) was co-founded by the Chinese government and European Union (EU) in 1994 and has campuses in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Accra (Ghana), and Zurich (Switzerland).

CEIBS is committed to educating responsible leaders versed in “China Depth, Global Breadth” and serves as an important platform for exchange and co-operation between China, Europe and the world.

The school offers MBA, Finance MBA, EMBA, Global EMBA, Hospitality EMBA, DBA (Switzerland), PhD, and Executive Education programmes. It has placed in the top tier of the Financial Times’ ranking of global MBA programmes for eight consecutive years; the Global EMBA is ranked first in its global ranking of EMBA programmes. 

CEIBS has more than 30,000 alumni from over 90 countries and regions around the world and has provided management training for more than 260,000 executives worldwide.