SINGAPORE - The National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School's Asia-Pacific Executive Master of Business Administration programme now ranks 17th globally in the Financial Times Executive MBA (EMBA) rankings, announced on Monday (Oct 17). The programme moved up eight spots from its ranking last year.

Assessment criteria include career progress of alumni, diversity of faculty and students, and faculty-related idea generation, based on data compiled from surveys with alumni who graduated three years ago as well as those provided by the business school.

The alumni surveyed commanded an average annual salary of more than S$380,000 (US$273,000) three years after graduating, with a salary increase of 48 per cent.

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)-NUS EMBA programme, the only double-degree programme to be offered by a Singapore university, was ranked sixth globally.

UCLA-NUS EMBA alumni have an average annual salary of S$372,671 (US$267,600) three years after graduation.

They also enjoy a post-graduation salary increase of 57 per cent, one of the highest among business schools here.

Professor Bernard Yeung, NUS Business School dean said that it was heartening to see the EMBA's "consistent strong performance" in the Financial Times rankings, noting that next year (2017) will mark the programme's 20th anniversary.

"While we strive to take a holistic view of education to develop future-ready leaders, these rankings validate that we remain competitive in global business education," said Prof Yeung, the Stephen Riady Distinguished Professor at the school.

Two other local universities also made the rankings.

The EMBA offered by the Nanyang Business School, under the Nanyang Technological University is ranked at number 18.

First set up five years ago, the Singapore Management University's Lee Kong Chian School of Business EMBA programme is ranked at 32, up four places from last year.