INSEAD Singapore, Melbourne and NUS are the only three Asian business schools to score more than 40 employer votes in 2008, demonstrating that despite their growing prominence, most Asian schools have yet to appeal to employers beyond their regional remit. Yet these three schools can now claim to match the international appeal of many of their North American and European counterparts.

The cluster of Asia-Pacific schools scoring over 20 employer votes also includes: AGSM, CEIBS, IIMs in Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Calcutta, Indian School of Business, Macquarie, HKUST, Monash, Nanyang, UT Sydney, Tsinghua, and Asian Institute of Management. The third cluster of between 11 and 20 employer votes is headed by Hong Kong University and followed by Australian National, Guanghua, SP Jain Institute, Delhi, Brisbane, Bond, Western Asutralia, Adelaide and IUJ.

Australia is seeing the emergence of ever more international class business schools. Hard on the heels of the excellent performance of many Australian universities in the THES – QS World University Rankings (see topuniversities.com), Australian business schools continue to do well with employers. On the cusp of both West and East, due to its long European heritage and its location, Australia “is uniquely placed”, according to Professor John Seybolt, Dean of Melbourne Business School. “It is a bridge between both cultures, perfect for students seeking exposure to the emerging Asia-Pacific markets in the comfort of an international English speaking country.” The 13 Australian business schools in the top 200 include: Melbourne, Australian Graduate School of Management, Monash, Macquarie, UTS, Bond (risen significantly in 2008), Australian National University, Western Australia (risen significantly in 2008), La Trobe, Adelaide, Queensland University of Technology, Wollongong and Simon Fraser.

Business schools in India are becoming a major focus for employers as the country’s economy demands ever more professional managers. The IIMs in Calcutta and Ahmendabad have joined the Bangalore school within the schools scoring over 20 employer votes and all three now feature within the top 10 Asia-Pacific business schools, as does the Indian School of Business and SP Jain Institute (a big riser in 2008). The University of Delhi features in the next cluster for the first time.

China and Hong Kong have also emerged as major players in management education. In 2008 they have eight schools in the top 200, which include; HKUST, CEIBS, Tsinghua, Hong Kong University, Guanghua, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Fudan and Cheung Kong.

Japan and Korea are under-represented by business schools given the size of their economies, but this may change as both economies are investing significant resources in their business education sectors. At present only four business schools feature in the top 200 from these countries: International University of Japan, Waseda, Seoul National University and Ritsumeikan.

By contrast, Singapore with its much smaller population and economy also features five business schools in the top 200: INSEAD Singapore, NUS, Nanyang, Cornell-Nanyang Institute for Hospitality Management and SMU.

Employers' top 10 preferred schools in the Asia Pacific region are: INSEAD Singapore, Melbourne Business School, NUS, AGSM, CEIBS, IIM Bangalore, Macquarie, HKUST, Monash and Nanyang.

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