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Financial Times Launches Review Of Research Measure In MBA & EMBA Rankings
The Financial Times has begun a review of the research component in its influential MBA and EMBA rankings, sending a survey to business schools worldwide that could pave the way for significant changes to how academic output is measured.
At the heart of the review is the so-called FT50, a list of journals that the FT uses to calculate the research rank in its business school tables. That metric accounts for 10% of the methodology and has long been a driver of faculty publishing behavior and dean-level strategy.
The list has not undergone a major revision since 2016 and has drawn criticism for being too narrow, heavily U.S.-centric, and tilted toward traditional economics and finance outlets.
WHAT’S AT STAKE FOR SCHOOLS
The new survey invites feedback on whether the FT50 should be broadened to include more interdisciplinary, global, and applied journals. It also asks schools to weigh in on whether the methodology should go beyond journal placement, potentially factoring in citations, societal impact, or alternative measures of scholarly influence.
One sample question asks schools: “Should the FT continue to rely exclusively on a fixed list of journals, or should the measure be expanded to incorporate additional indicators such as citation counts or societal impact?” Other questions probe whether the list should be updated regularly, and if so, how often.
Any change to the research ranking would have immediate consequences for schools competing for positions in the FT’s influential tables. Schools often use FT50 publications as a benchmark for faculty tenure and promotion, creating what some see as a distorting incentive structure. A rebalanced or expanded list could loosen that grip and recognize a wider range of scholarship, while a more exclusive approach could further entrench the hierarchy of elite journals.
Though the FT has not set a timeline for completing its review, the launch of the survey signals that changes may arrive before the next ranking cycle. For business schools, that means the global conversation about what constitutes “impactful” research is now very much in motion.
Click the link below to see the full survey.
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