MGSM has slipped in the Financial Times 2019 rankings to 97th place – down from 74th place in 2018, and 49th in 2017. One hundred and fifty schools took part in the rankings.
The MGSM Alumni Association agrees with Executive Dean Professor Brammer that it is pleasing that MGSM remains in the top 100 business schools internationally, but we are concerned about this downward trend in ranking. We are also concerned that the disruption in recent years resulting from the takeover of MGSM by Macquarie Business School will risk seeing MGSM slip out of the top 100 in next year’s rankings, or perhaps out of the rankings completely
The MGSM Alumni Association offers our support to Professor Brammer in actions that fulfil his promise in the 2018 White Paper to protect the MGSM brand. In this paper, he promised staff, alumni and students that “I am fully committed to ensuring the MGSM and MAFC brands are developed and nurtured in the program space, ensuring the value of these brands is maintained” (Realising Our Shared Future, FBE Strategy White Paper, January 2018).
The MGSM Alumni Association is ready to assist the MQBS alumni team in developing alumni strategies to support and improve the Financial Times and other rankings so that our MBA is once again represented in the global top 50 MBA programs.
The Financial Times’ ranking has 20 different criteria of which 8 are derived from alumni responses to the survey and 11 are calculated from school data, with the remaining criterion evaluating the research rank. Alumni-informed criteria are based on data collected over three years. Responses from the 2019 survey carry 50 per cent of total weight, with those from 2018 and 2017 carrying 25% each.
Although some will argue about the relevance and methodology of the ranking, the FT rankings are a global 3rd party endorsement which impacts student recruitment and is critical in attracting international students, most of whom will make up the full-time cohort surveyed by the Financial Times. Importantly, the ranking also indicates to employers the status of the institution that awards the MBA and the quality of its program.
The significant changes of the past year – and the rebranding of MGSM to Macquarie Business School – has the potential to see MGSM drop out of the top 100. Last year MGSM was fully incorporated into Macquarie Business School and now MGSM barely exists in any tangible way. For example, MGSM building signage and all livery have been replaced with Macquarie Business School branding, and faculty have been relocated to the other side of campus.
The 2020 Academic year also sees the MGSM initials in course unit codes replaced with MMBA, and staff have been told that they are to not use MGSM in any communications. In addition, changes to timetabling, teaching approach, student support and the imposition of an extra Amenities fee has created discontent among students, many of whom will be asked to participate in future ranking surveys.
The MGSM Alumni Association was formed to protect and advance the reputation of MGSM and to promote the excellence of its over 16,000 graduates. This year we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the commencement of MGSM, and we encourage all MGSM alumni to register to hear about the 50th anniversary and other news, events and alumni services here.
To become a Foundation Member of the MGSM Alumni Association please click here.
- Rebecca Murray
Chairman, MGSMAA