Explore UCD

UCD Home >

UCD Smurfit School gets top marks in FT world rankings

Posted 6th June, 2019

A new global survey has ranked one of University College Dublin’s business schools among the best in the world. 

(opens in a new window)UCD Smurfit Executive Development has been ranked 24th in Europe, and 43rd in the world, for its Open Enrolment programmes, according to the 2019 Financial Times ‘Executive Education Rankings’.

For a third year in a row, the school has featured in the global top 50, and its new ranking puts it five places ahead of its previous slot in 2018.

By securing the new top marks, the (opens in a new window)UCD Smurfit Executive Development is now one of only 10 business schools in the UK and Ireland, including London Business School, Cambridge and Oxford, to be featured in the top 25 for Europe.

Key metrics of the Financial Times include course quality, faculty and diversity. The new facilities at the Blackrock campus were ranked highly, contributing to the advance in position. 

(opens in a new window)Professor Anthony Brabazon, Dean, UCD College of Business said the ranking demonstrated that UCD Smurfit Executive Development deserved its listing alongside an elite group of business institutions that are among the most recognised in the world.

“Attaining this recognition from highly regarded international rankings such as the Financial Times is a key benchmark of our offering against the very best in the world,” he added.

“As the standard-bearer in the delivery of executive and graduate business education in Ireland, we continue to be competitive and advance on a global scale. ”

UCD Smurfit Executive Development ranked in the top 50 across multiple categories including Aims Achieved (33rd) and News Skills and Learning (44th).

A position of 46th was achieved for Quality of Executives which are largely comprised of mid to senior level executives.

(opens in a new window)Helen Brophy, Director at UCD Smurfit Executive Development said: “Our leadership position in Ireland demands that we set the pace and that we consistently deliver programmes of the highest distinction.

“To maintain this elite status for our Open Enrolment programmes, sustained and strategic investment in high-calibre faculty, growth of elite global alliances and maintenance of prestigious accreditations is required. 

“Leadership and forward thinking from our corporate partners, as well as Irish and North American Boards, has been instrumental in attaining this prestigious ranking.”

By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations