GMAC recent survey revealed Executive MBA hit worldwide

Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), which conducts the GMAT has recently conducted a survey which revealed that aspirants form India and China are still opting for full-time MBA programme globally and the number is on rise.

Michelle Sparkman Renz, director of research communications for GMAC, said, “There was a noticeable increase in programmes where India was the greatest source of talent (24% programmes) compared to last year's survey results (14%).” In 2008 and 2009, early in the Great Recession, there was remarkable growth in the share of full-time MBA programme which indicated increase in applications. Lawrence Rudner, GMAC vice-president, research and development, said, “In 2010 and 2011, there was a decline, but full-time programmes began to rebound in 2012 and look sturdier today.”

Of all forms, executive MBA-which promises a climb up the corporate ladder-had the low year, with every second college reporting a fall in the application count. The uncertainty of the times, growing work demands, depleting saving and fears of the next round of layoffs-all dictated this fall.

GMAC released this survey recently, which also showed that lesser number of professionals thinking to invest time and energy in further education.

A decrease in the number of international students once again kept the growth of European business schools at lower pace with just 38% of full-time one-year MBA programmes noticed an increase in application. Nearly, 54% of European programme reported a decline in their foreign candidate pool.

Besides, there is decline in domestic applications led to a fewer number of application in Asia-Pacific region. Only 46% of two-year full-time programmes in the region noticed rice in the overall number of applications in 2013 compared with 79% in 2012. Similarly, just 53% of one-year full time programmes had increased application in 2013 compared with 77% in 2012.

The survey report said, “The current slowdown in applications for full-time two-year MBA programmes in the Asia-Pacific region is occurring at the same time when the rate of economic growth in the region is slowing down, most notably in China.”

However, the master’s programmes in management continued their positive cumulative growth, with maximum of them (61%) reporting increased application. The story of master’s programmes in accounting and finance was quite different.