Alumni could determine ranking for NHH
Answers from NHH's alumni on how quickly they obtained relevant jobs, their career development, and salary in the first three years are a substantial part of the basis for NHH’s position in the Financial Times' (FT) annual ranking of European business schools.
FT Ranking and Alumni
- Those receiving questionnaires from FT have completed their education three years earlier.
- FT requires a significant proportion of alumni to respond to the survey.
- FT has adjusted its rankings over time. For example, in recent years, carbon footprint, teaching hours about ESG, how to achieve zero emissions goals, and the importance of the alumni network have been included.
- International accreditations are also increasingly important quality indicators. NHH holds the so-called Triple Crown, which consists of the three accreditations EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA.
Income and career development of graduates are important aspects of the comparison. Insights from alumni are therefore invaluable.
What happens when candidates enter the workforce after graduation? How quickly do they find relevant work, and what has been their salary and career development during the first three years? How many candidates secure international jobs? How strong is the correlation between salary, the length of education, and possible tuition fees?
These are the questions where alumni responses directly influence the ranking of the respective school. All the best business schools in Europe are included in the survey.
Additionally, the institution's social responsibility and global impact play an important role.
What Does the Ranking Mean?
Improving the ranking with FT is very important for NHH. Particularly among international students, the ranking is significant when choosing a place to study.
We asked one of NHH's international students, Finnish Rasmus Koivisto, if he was aware of NHH's ranking when he applied, and what the ranking meant for his decision.
- Yes, I was aware of NHH's high ranking in the Financial Times and the school's strong reputation in the Nordic region when I applied for the master's program, he says. The ranking played a large role in his decision, he further explains.
- These factors reassured me of the school's excellent international standing. Additionally, I had consistantly heard positive things about NHH from friends I met during my exchange and at joint events during my bachelor's studies, concludes Rasmus Koivisto.
Master’s Program Most Important
The FT ranking consists of several sub-rankings, and NHH is usually evaluated in four sub-rankings, which are then combined into an overall ranking. The ranking for NHH's full-time master's program in economics and management is the most important for the school as it is considered the flagship among the various study programs at NHH.
NHH's rector, Øystein Thøgersen, says that a strong position for NHH in this ranking is important to attract ambitious and highly qualified students.
- FT also requires a significant proportion of alumni to respond to the survey. This makes the impressions from NHH's alumni particularly important, emphasizes Thøgersen.