HEC Executive Education Programs Top FT Ranking 2022

For the first time in its history, HEC Paris took top spot in the F.T. Custom, Open-enrolment and Combined classifications, published today. After being ranked in the top 10 schools consistently over the past half-dozen years, HEC has anchored itself firmly among the world’s best Executive Education establishments. This triple ranking as number one is also a first since the F.T. introduced the classification in 1999.

(© HEC Paris)

“We are grateful for this year’s ranking, which validates what we strive for: a customer-centric world-class executive education platform, that is both impactful and provides meaningful learning journeys,” said Anne-Valérie Corboz, the HEC Paris Executive Education Associate Dean on hearing the news. “For years, HEC has been partnering with organisations to support their transformations, accompany the drive for purpose and meaning, deliver on high performance, all powered by a global footprint.”

Clémence Desse Mézières is one of the latest graduates from the Master MUST (Management, Marketing, Finances, Entrepreneurship and Leadership). She embarked on the Open program in January 2021:“This Executive Education experience was a unique experience, almost initiatory,” said the Director of a hospital department in Orleans. “The program derives its strength from the quality of its teaching by well-known specialists who are actors themselves in their respective field.” 2020 graduate of the Custom program, François Bourvic shared this praise for the teachers and insisted on the quality and diversity of his fellow-alumni: “What a wonderful spirit in my promotion! The HEC program opened my horizons onto a world that must be built around durable solutions as we confront the economic, social and environmental challenges to this planet,” noted the Director General of construction company SPL Marne-au-Bois. Added Mézières “I enjoyed the fabulous corporate solidarity of my group and the pertinence of the tailor-made training program.” “There was a collective goodwill among the participants I worked with, which only galvanized us further in positive directions.”

Anne-Valérie Corboz, who has a long career in top business schools, consulting and industry, insists that the rankings reinforce the leadership role institutions like HEC must take in the future: “Business schools have an obligation to take a seat at the table of the challenges facing our world, today and tomorrow. HEC has always had impact at the heart of its raison-d’être. Today more than ever, we partner with society to build a more responsible and inclusive world.”

Background

The three rankings feature the world’s top 85 business schools, internationally accredited by either AACSB or Equis. The customized table focuses on programs tailored to the needs of organizations, who consult with business schools to address strategic imperatives. The Open-enrolment table focuses on programs open to participants from different organizations and at different stages in their careers, around topics ranging from cryptocurrency to entrepreneurial mindset. A third ranking combines the two tables to bring the 50 best business schools. This is calculated “according to an equal weighting of the total scores achieved in both rankings, rather than an average of ranking position,” states the F.T.

The classification in the 14 categories of each ranking is principally based on evaluations by the school’s entrepreneurship clients (for Customs) and its participants (for Open). 20% of the ranking is also calculated from the school criteria on international clients, growth, faculty diversity, overseas programs and partner schools.

In terms of client and participant feedback, HEC - which administers executive programs in both its Jouy-en-Josas and Qatar bases - topped the rankings in the following categories: Preparation, Quality of participants, Teaching methods & material, Faculty, New skills & learning, Follow-up, Aims achieved and Value for money. It also figures in the Top 2 in Program design, Future use and Faculty diversity. As crucial for the school and its drive towards gender parity in female leadership, HEC has almost reached parity amongst its male-female executive education figures.

In 2021, the Financial Times was forced to cancel its 23rd Global executive rankings in response to the crippling impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.