Each year, the Financial Times surveys a number of people who undertook a management training or development programme at a business school during the previous year. The information gathered is used to create an annual ranking of “open enrolment” executive education programmes.

Business schools are not ranked on every executive education course they offer: the range is huge, courses can be very specialised, and there would be a danger of comparing oranges with tree frogs. Instead, schools are asked to nominate two generalist and non-degree awarding programmes. One aimed at mid-level managers, and the other an advanced programme designed for more senior employees. Respectively, these programmes should last for at least three and five days.