The BI-Fudan MBA program is ranked as number 39 on Financial Times’ list of the 100 best Executive MBA programs in the world. On the same prestigious list, the BI EMBA program moves up five places.

- It is very gratifying to see that both our Executive MBA programs take a leap on Financial Times' (FT) prestigious list. The ranking includes the most influential business schools in the world and shows that BI is recognized as a top international school, says President of BI Norwegian Business School, Inge Jan Henjesand.

The BI-Fudan MBA is ranked on the FT ranking of the best Executive MBA programs for the fourth consecutive year, climbing a total of nine places on this year's ranking. The BI Executive Masters of Business Administration (BI EMBA) moves up five places.

- Knowledge has become an arena of international competition and collaboration. With our partnership with School of Management Fudan University in Shanghai, we are doing what the best ranked EMBA programs also do: combine the strengths of two schools and two cultures, says Henjesand.

International Perspective

Both the two programs target experienced business leaders who need state of the art academic input. The programs are module based, which makes it possible to combine studies and a career. In order to give participants more international exposure, modules are held in several countries in cooperation with other top business schools.

- In an increasingly knowledge-focused, competitive and global world, life-long learning is the rule. Managers need to be able to perform in an international context, says Henjesand.

This year marks the 20^th anniversary of BI and Fudan University School of Management's partnership - one of the oldest partnerships between a Western business school and a Chinese university. Over 2,000 Chinese managers currently have an MBA from BI.

- As this FT ranking clearly shows, top ranked schools are collaborating with other schools to develop the best international programs. Our strategic partnership with School of Management Fudan University is important to give our candidates the expertise which is required in today's global business society, says Henjesand.

About the ranking:

• BI-Fudan MBA program is at 39^th place (up nine places from last year).
• BI EMBA is at 93^rd place (five places up from last year). The program is the only EMBA-program on the list offered by a Norwegian school/university.
• Ranking of part-time MBA programs is partly based on students' career development and salary, and the school's academic profile. FT also considers the number of international and female students and faculty, in addition to the international reach of the program. A research rank based on publications in a defined set of journals is also part of this ranking.

Facts:

• BI was among the first batch of educational institutions in the world that received approval to start an MBA program in China.
• FT has five separate rankings and BI participates in four of these. The fifth is for schools with full-time MBA programs which BI does not have.