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Business School Applications Surge Proves Not a Fad, Sustaining 2020 Growth

RESTON, Va., Nov. 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a global association of leading graduate business schools, today released its anticipated annual 2021 Application Trends Survey. The survey of nearly a thousand MBA and business master's programs found that in 2021, the volume of applications for graduate business school programs grew 0.4 percent from the year before, sustaining the elevated demand since the onset of a global pandemic in 2020 when business schools worldwide saw unusually high volume of applications due to the economic uncertainty.

"Candidates looked for alternative career options during the COVID induced recession and business schools introduced more flexible admissions policies, resulting in soaring application volumes last year," said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. "The question was whether this was a fleeting event caused by the pandemic or the start of a new uptick in applications. In this context, the 2021 application cycle indicates that the surging demand for graduate business education is not a passing fad but has staying power beyond 2020."

Key Findings

International candidates rebound in top–ranked business schools

After years of unwelcoming immigration policies in parts of the world and months of global travel restrictions due to COVID–19, pent–up demand from international students for graduate business schools was evident in this year's data. Weighted absolute year–on–year change in application volumes from international candidates " the applicants whose citizenship differs from that of the country where the program is located " shows an increase of 4.1 percent compared to a decline of 3.8 percent from domestic candidates, the applicants who are citizens of the country where a program is located. More programs in Europe, the U.S., and the U.K reported decline in applications from domestic candidates when compared across regions.

This difference between international and domestic application volume is especially apparent for full–time MBA programs among leading business schools. The share of full–time two–year MBA programs showing growth in applications from international candidates has doubled from 28 percent in 2019 to 57 percent in 2021. Furthermore, twice as many U.S. programs ranked in the top 50 according to the US News & World Report saw an increase in applications from international candidates (73%) as domestic candidates (36%).

"Business school learning is experiential and relies heavily on interactions, discussions and cohort and alumni networks. This is impossible without a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds," said Katy Montgomery, Associate Dean of Degree Programmes at INSEAD and a GMAC board member. "As student mobility gradually returns, the diversity it brings to a classroom will only benefit and enrich campus life."

Women, U.S. underrepresented minorities return to in–person, full time MBA programs

Full–time MBA programs continued gaining traction in 2021. Half of full–time one–year (52%) and two–year (56%) MBA programs report an increase in applications in 2021, above all programs averaged at 41 percent. On the contrary, professional MBA programs such as part–time MBA, executive MBA, and online MBA programs " those geared toward the needs of working professionals " saw their share in those reporting application growth at the lowest level since 2017.

This year's application data also indicates that globally, women candidates emerging from the shadow of the pandemic refocused on their career ambitions, with three in five (60%) full–time two–year MBA programs reporting an increase in applications from female candidates compared to two in five (43%) programs reporting growth from male candidates. In comparison, a much smaller share of online MBA programs (42%) reported growth in applications from female candidates, indicating women's preference to return to in–person, full time learning.

In the U.S., women and underrepresented minorities (URM) reported similar desire to study on campus. More full–time two–year MBA programs reported growth in URM applications in 2021 (56%) compared to pre–pandemic 2019 (37%) or the online program (30%). Even more notably, female URM candidates demonstrated an impressive 22 percent increase between 2019 (38%) to 2021 (60%) in their share of applications for full–time two–year MBA programs.

About the Report

The annual GMAC Application Trends Survey focuses on global demand for graduate management education and analyzes differences by programs and regions for the 2020–2021 admissions season (incoming class of 2021). This survey data was collected between July 8 and August 23, 2021, and garnered responses from 967 programs at 269 business schools worldwide. This is the 23rd year the survey has been conducted, contributing to the greater understanding of the value of graduate business degrees and global and regional trends. More details of the full report, and other research series produced by GMAC, are available on gmac.com/research.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission–driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC creates solutions and experiences that enable business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate, and connect with each other.

GMAC provides world–class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as tools, resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment.

More than 12 million prospective students a year trust GMAC's websites, including mba.com, to learn about MBA and business master's programs, connect with schools around the world, prepare and register for exams and get advice on successfully applying to MBA and business master's programs. BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com

Media Contact:

Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
202–390–4180 (mobile)
thsu@gmac.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8394516)

First-Ever Global Study of Diversity in Graduate Management Education Sheds Light on Gaps in Race and Gender

RESTON, Va., Oct. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a global association of leading graduate business schools, today released a special report, "The Global Diversity of Talent "" Attainment and Representation," a first reference guide of its kind to better understand representation for graduate management education (GME) degree attainment worldwide. Understanding that education systems across the globe experienced disruption due to the pandemic, GMAC turned to its leading research capability as universities sought to adapt with a renewed attention to issues of student access and equity, as well as diversity and representation in tertiary educational attainment. The report provides a global overview, seven regional outlooks, and separate reports for 69 locations or countries with an estimated 25,000 or more people in the student–aged population of 20 to 34 who have attained a master's degree in the subject of business, administration, or law. In addition to a separate appendix that reviews data on 111 other countries, it also examines the representation of women globally and underrepresented groups in the United States.

"At GMAC, we recognize that a diverse student body in gender, race and background lifts us all as it creates a richer student experience and increases sensitivity to the issues that affect others," said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. "This report "" the first global state of the industry view about diversity in graduate management education "" is intended not only to serve as an informative guide, but also as a base to target outreach and advocate for the value of graduate business degrees to underrepresented populations around the globe."

Key Findings

Women struggle to be represented at the graduate business level, falling behind the most in Europe

Globally, more women than men choose their undergraduate study in the fields of business, administration, and law. 26.4 percent of bachelor's degrees earned by females are in these fields, slightly higher than for men (24.6%). At the master's level, however, men (33.7%) are more likely to study in business, administration, and law than women (29.4%). Data suggests that women have shown broader interest when pursuing a master's degree, with education and health and welfare two other popular disciplines besides business or law schools.

Furthermore, women in Europe are estimated to hold only 38.4 percent of graduate business degrees in the region, notably lower than the global average (44.8%) and behind East Asia and the Pacific where women are a majority (51.7%) of the region's graduate business degree–holders. When compared across all regions, Europe has the largest share of those aged 30–34 in the GME pipeline at 41.8% but the smallest share of the GME pipeline aged 20–24 at only 19.8 %, suggesting that many women in Europe choose to return to business school later in life.

African American graduates outpace their white counterparts, driven by their overrepresentation in U.S. for–profit programs

The proportions of graduate management degree–holders relative to the student–aged population, or the GME participation rate, differs among the seven U.S. race/ethnicity groups studied in the report: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian American, Black or African American, Hispanic American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, Other/Two or more races, and Whites. Although a common perception is that African Americans are underrepresented in GME programs, they demonstrate a 3.0% GME participation rate, outranking their white counterparts at 2.5%.

"African Americans are interestingly overrepresented in graduate management education relative to their population size when compared with other groups, albeit slightly," said Sabrina White, vice president of school and industry engagement at GMAC. "According to a previous GMAC study, African Americans accounted for 37 percent of for–profit GME degrees conferred in 2015–2016. Their enrollment in for–profit institutions outpacing that in traditional universities may have contributed to their overrepresentation in GME."

Most business degree holders come from Asia while Latin America enjoys highest business concentration among graduate degrees

Among the seven regions studied, the largest pool of student aged graduate business talent falls in East Asia and the Pacific, which is also the largest source of bachelor's degree–holders in the fields of business, administration, and law. While China and India, the two "Asian giants," contribute the most to both the graduate and undergraduate levels of business school students, the U.S. impresses with its substantial share at third in both categories. Pakistan and Turkey are two other notable inclusions in the top 10 sources, with business graduates accounting for 28 percent and 40 percent respectively of the country's total bachelor's degree–holders.

Globally, of the more than 61 million people understood to have attained a master's degree, approximately 24 percent have earned GME degrees. By region, the highest business concentration among all master's degree–holders is seen in Latin America (33.1%), the Middle East (27.6%), and East Asia and the Pacific (26.6%). In addition, two countries in the Latin America region have greater than 60 percent females within the student–age population of 20 to 34 who are assumed to have attained a master's degree in the subject of business, administration, or law: Colombia (65.6%) and Dominican Republic (64.5%).

About the Report

To establish the foundation of this groundbreaking effort, GMAC leveraged the latest global data resources from the 2018 dataset of U.S. Census Bureau International Database, The World Bank, UNESCO, UNECE, and OECD, to provide baseline for studying the state of diversity within graduate management education today. Supplemental material of country and regional descriptions as well as available 2020/2021 international rankings indices were included for present context. More details of the full report, and other research series produced by GMAC, are available on gmac.com.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission–driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC creates solutions and experiences that enable business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate, and connect with each other.

GMAC provides world–class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as tools, resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment. GMAC also owns and administers the NMAT by GMAC (NMAT) exam and the Executive Assessment (EA).

More than 12 million prospective students a year trust GMAC's websites, including mba.com, to learn about MBA and business master's programs, connect with schools around the world, prepare and register for exams and get advice on successfully applying to MBA and business master's programs. BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com

Media Contact:

Teresa Hsu
Senior Manager, Media Relations
202–390–4180 (mobile)
thsu@gmac.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8379813)

MINTIE Provides Proven Worldwide COVID Surge Capacity Solution as International Infection Prevention Week Highlights Tireless Efforts and Bravery of Worldwide Infection Control Community

AZUSA, Calif., Oct. 18, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With the worldwide healthcare industry commemorating International Infection Prevention Week, October 17–23, MINTIE LLC, a third–generation healthcare product innovator and an Alliance Environmental Group company, continues its efforts at infection prevention in the fight against COVID–19 and the Delta Variant. The company introduced its first line of Environmental Containment Units (ECUs) in 2003 to control the spread of harmful airborne particles during construction or maintenance activities. Since then, MINTIE has continued to push the innovation process forward and now, its ECU4 mobile environmental containment units are currently being used to support surge requirements for airborne isolation in the continued fight against the transmission of COVID–19. https://youtu.be/O0sS1–LpDvc

Since January 2021, over 1,500 ECU4s have been deployed in 400+ Japanese healthcare facilities to provide temporary airborne isolation support as part of Japan's effort to control the spread of COVID–19. The MINTIE ECU4 also played a critical role during the Tokyo Summer Olympics "" supporting 20 Olympic designated healthcare facilities with additional airborne isolation capabilities.

According to Tsuneki (Neki) Kusaba, President & CEO, Moraine Corporation, MINTIE's exclusive Japanese distributor, "The main purpose of the ECU4 is to create zoning to distinguish between risk and safety areas in hospitals where regular medical care must be continued to accommodate an ever–growing number of patients. We needed as many ECU4s as possible to handle this emergency, so we have made unreasonable demands on MINTIE. However, MINTIE has definitely supplied the ECU4 in response to our request."

"We are delighted with the success of the ECU4 business, however more than that, we are proud to have saved the lives of many Japanese healthcare workers and patients. The ECU4 provides a safe and secure medical system for many healthcare workers, and we have received messages of gratitude from many customers," Mr. Kusaba added.

According to Toshihiro Mitsuda, Ph. D CICD, Director and Associate Professor, Yokohama City University Hospital, “Without the MINTIE product, zoning couldn't be achieved in healthcare facilities in Japan. It wouldn't be exaggerating to say that HAI didn't trigger collapse of the Japanese medical system because Moraine supplied MINTIE products all over the country. MINTIE and Moraine supported the Japanese government at a critical time and saved many lives."

The adoption of MINTIE's ECU4s in hundreds of hospitals has drawn the attention of a number of Asian media outlets, including Japan's News 8 and TVK news station as well as in South Korea on MBN TV News, Money Today, MBC News, KBS News and JIBS News. In the US, MINTIE has been named a finalist in the Los Angeles Business Journal's inaugural 2021 International Business Forum & Awards in the Global Trade Leader of the Year and Private Company "" Medium Sized Business categories.

The MINTIE ECU4 is a product that provides a variety of airborne containment solutions. The ECU4 is patented and has been clinically evaluated and rigorously tested for efficacy of particle containment, ventilation, and stability in healthcare environments where ICRA containment requirement sits in levels 1 to 4. If a hospital is a step away from reaching ICU capacity for COVID–19 patients, ECU4s can be set up with negative air machines to provide temporary, total isolation rooms.

The ECU4's simple, yet advanced design makes it user–friendly from setup to tear down and because of their portability, can be setup virtually anywhere. This allows hospitals to create as many isolations rooms as space allows. "Sometimes setting up multiple ECU4s might not be enough "" maybe a whole section of a hospital needs to be isolated. The MINTIE ECU4 corridor flange enables an ECU4 to function as a portable anteroom. The corridor flange is used to seal off the entryway of a hallway, creating a larger isolated space," according to Kyle Hourraney, Director of Facilities at Orange County Global Medical Center, Santa Ana, CA.

MINTIE's product portfolio also includes multi–use negative air machines, when combined with an ECU4 to create an anteroom, a negative air machine is the "engine" that pulls air out of the anteroom space. As the air passes through the negative air machine's 99.97% HEPA filter, it creates the negative pressure air lock to protect the general patient population and caregivers. MINTIE's ECU4s are utilized in all 50 U.S. states. MINTIE is also currently partners with distribution channels in Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other countries.

About MINTIE LLC

Founded in 1940, MINTIE LLC began as specialty maintenance service company and has grown into a company with an international reputation for excellent service and innovative indoor environmental systems. MINTIE provides indoor air quality management, preventative maintenance solutions and portable containment products for airborne particulates, infection control, and bio–security. MINTIE has focused on leading the industry with innovative products and the highest quality services to provide clients with safer, healthier, and more productive environments with minimal disruption and highest levels of satisfaction and effectiveness. The company serves a diverse mix of companies, ranging from market leaders to entrepreneurial start–ups within healthcare, biotechnology, entertainment, aerospace, manufacturing, and commercial real estate. MINTIE is an Alliance Environmental Group Company. For more information, visit https://www.mintie.com/.

History of IIPW

Established in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan, International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) focuses attention on the importance of infection prevention in saving lives and healthcare dollars. APIC has spearheaded this annual effort to highlight the significance of infection prevention among healthcare professionals, administrators, legislators, and consumers.

Over the years, this week of recognition has vastly expanded to every corner of the globe, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. As the reach of IIPW widens, more patients benefit from safer healthcare practices and reduced threat of healthcare–associated infections.

Contact Details:

Vinay Panday
Director of Marketing
Alliance Environmental Group
626–633–3514
vinaypanday@alliance–enviro.com
Source: Mintie, LLC

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a22272e–0abd–40ba–8f90–c670892e992c

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/21576409–3f90–40a7–8d8a–4ffb6876c20f


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8375339)

Majid Al Futtaim Launches AI Powered Carrefour City+; The Region’s First Check-Out Free Store

  • Carrefour City+ offers customers a fast, seamless and contactless shopping experience
  • From start to finish, the new store explores a holistic approach to Artificial Intelligence
  • Customers simply pick their products and walk–out with no staff interaction or checkout

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Majid Al Futtaim "" the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia "" is setting new precedents for retail with the launch of the region's first check–out free store, Carrefour City+. Opened today in Mall of the Emirates, the new convenience store provides a fast, seamless and contactless experience using cutting–edge, artificial intelligence technology. Customers use their phones to access the store, pick their desired items and simply walk out without having to queue and pay at the cash register.

Carrefour City+ was inaugurated by H.E Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications along with Alain Bejjani, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Holding and Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Retail.

Store access and shopping payment is enabled via the current MAF Carrefour App. Once inside Carrefour City+, every item picked up by customers will then be automatically added to a digital shopping basket and the purchase will be completed by simply walking out. Not only is the shopping journey faster, but also completely contactless, with no store staff interaction necessary.

"Carrefour City+ has been designed to make life easier by using technology to remove friction and enhance the retail experience," revealed Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Retail. "The store represents a huge leap forwards for retail in the UAE and region as Carrefour continues to innovate to meet the needs of the present whilst anticipating future shopping trends."

A first for Carrefour worldwide, City+ deploys artificial intelligence and state of the art technology to identify thousands of products with pinpoint accuracy, improving inventory management and simplifying shopping for customers. Carrefour City+ stocks over 1,300 items including snacks, beverages, packaged food and food–to–go meals as well as basic essentials. It can easily be found near the entrance of the Mall of the Emirates Metro Station link for anyone wishing to try the world's most advanced, "simply walk out' shopping technology.

Carrefour City+ is a prime example of the role of the private sector in supporting the UAE's Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy to become a leading global hub and an open lab for the Fourth Industrial revolution's application. It is also in line with the UAE Artificial Intelligence Strategy that aims to make the UAE the first in the field of AI investments and applications in various sectors. Having established a reputation for innovation, modernity and technology, this retail revelation from Majid Al Futtaim contributes to the UAE's transformation into an international technology hub as the government takes concrete steps towards establishing a strong, digitally enabled economy.

Media Contact:

Mina Kiwan "" Media Relations
E: mina.kiwan@ogilvy.com
D."+971 (0) 4 305 0325
M. +971 (0) 55 2426806

Raed Matarbazi "" Communications Manager
Carrefour UAE
E: RMatarbazi@mafcarrefour.com
M. M +971 (0) 56 417 9771

About Carrefour

Carrefour was launched in the region in 1995 by UAE–based Majid Al Futtaim, which is the exclusive franchisee to operate Carrefour in over 30 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and fully owns the operations in the region. Today, Majid Al Futtaim operates over 375 Carrefour stores in 17 countries, serving more than 750,000 customers daily and employing over 37,000 colleagues.

Carrefour operates different store formats, as well as multiple online offerings to meet the growing needs of its diversified customer base. In line with the brand's commitment to provide the widest range of quality products and value for money, Carrefour offers an unrivalled choice of more than 500,000 food and non–food products, and a locally inspired exemplary customer experience to create great moments for everyone every day. Across Carrefour's stores, Majid Al Futtaim sources over 80% of the products offered from the region, making it a key enabler in supporting local producers, suppliers, families and economies.

About Majid Al Futtaim

Founded in 1992, Majid Al Futtaim is the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

A remarkable business success story, Majid Al Futtaim started from one man's vision to transform the face of shopping, entertainment and leisure to "create great moments for everyone, every day'. It has since grown into one of the United Arab Emirates' most respected and successful businesses spanning 17 international markets, employing more than 43,000 people, and obtaining the highest credit rating (BBB) among privately–held corporates in the region.

Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates 28 shopping malls, 13 hotels and four mixed–use communities, with further developments underway in the region. The shopping malls portfolio includes Mall of the Emirates, Mall of Egypt, City Centre malls, My City Centre neighbourhood centres, and five community malls which are in joint venture with the Government of Sharjah. The Company is the exclusive franchisee for Carrefour in over 30 markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, operating a portfolio of more than 375 outlets and an online store.

Majid Al Futtaim operates more than 500 VOX Cinemas screens as well as a portfolio of world–class leisure and entertainment experiences across the region including Ski Dubai, Ski Egypt, Dreamscape, Magic Planet, Little Explorers and iFLY Dubai. The Company is parent to a Fashion, Home and Specialty retail business representing international brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, AllSaints, lululemon athletica, Crate & Barrel, Maisons du Monde, LEGO and THAT, a Majid Al Futtaim fashion concept store and app. In addition, Majid Al Futtaim operates Enova, a facility and energy management company, through a joint venture operation with Veolia, a global leader in optimised environment resource management.

www.majidalfuttaim.com

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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8321459)

Don’t miss Australia’s largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visual art event

DARWIN, Australia, Aug. 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) will open Friday 6 August via its cutting–edge digital platform, connecting audiences around the world with Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives.

Presented by Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation (DAAFF), now in its 15th year, the DAAF program will run from 6–11 August. The program features a highly anticipated digital art fair and an online Public Program that includes artist masterclasses and artists talks.

DAAFF will also showcase two First Nations fashion events including the annual National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) and the winner announcement will be live streamed across NITV's social media channels on 3 August, direct from the Darwin Convention Centre, Australia. The vibrant Country to Couture runway will also be presented on 4 August.

DAAF is internationally celebrated as a world–class program and pays homage to the world's oldest living culture. It is the only event of its kind that connects artists, performers and Art Centres from Australia's most remote regions with domestic and international audiences, eager to snap up stunning and authentic works.

DAAFF Executive Director, Claire Summers says the program generates significant flow–on benefits for Australia's Indigenous communities, where 100 per cent of the sales from each artwork is returned to Art Centres, the artists and their communities.

"We are honoured to be able to profile over 70 Indigenous owned Art Centres and open up the rich storytelling, culture, and history behind these works of art," says Ms Summers.

Commenting on the decision to pivot from a physical event to an online strategy, Ms Summers adds, "We've already had overwhelming interest in our Public Program, with many of the workshops at capacity. Last year we welcomed the largest global audience we have ever seen thanks to our digital offering."

DAAF connects Indigenous and non–Indigenous art and culture audiences through its unique event to celebrate the vibrant heritage of Australian First Nations Peoples, providing an important meeting place for artists and designers to share stories and traditions through their chosen medium.

The DAAF program includes:

  • Tuesday 3 August |National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA)
  • Wednesday 4 August | Country to Couture
  • 6–11 August | 15th Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF)

For access to the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, register daaf.com.au/art–fair–2021


tiffanye@bastionagency.com
+61 404 303 308

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GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8301507)

Survey Projects Demand for Business School Graduates to Rebound in Post-Pandemic Era

RESTON, Va., June 30, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a global association of leading graduate business schools, today released its annual 2021 Corporate Recruiters Survey. The report found that corporate recruiters project a robust demand for business school graduates, with nine in ten of them expecting it to increase or remain stable in the next five years. In addition, a higher proportion of recruiters in 2021 (37%) expect the demand to increase than that in the previous year (30%), with more than half of the European recruiters (54%) sharing such a view compared to their Asian (32%) and American (34%) counterparts.

"In a little more than a decade, the proportion of surveyed recruiters planning to hire MBA graduates has grown significantly, a trend especially notable in Europe, where the percentage jumped from 44 percent in 2010 to nearly twice as much (86%) in 2021, and in the United States, where it grew from 56 percent to 94 percent, a 68 percent increase," said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. "As corporations recover from the pandemic and rebuild their workforces, it is no surprise that business school graduates " with their leadership and managerial skills in high demand " are specially strengthened in their value proposition as an employee and uniquely positioned to meet today's economic challenges."

Key Findings

MBA salary and hiring are expected to return to pre–pandemic levels

In 2020, the projected MBA median salary reached an all–time high of $115,000 before COVID–19 severely disrupted the global economy and caused it to drop down to $105,000 three months into the pandemic. However, the median MBA salary for 2021 is projected to recover to its pre–pandemic 2020 level of $115,000. At this rate, the median salary of MBA graduates is 77 percent more than those with a bachelor's degree ($65,000) and 53 percent higher as compared to those hired directly from industry ($75,000). This salary premium shows that investing in an MBA credential continues to pay off over the time, helping an MBA graduate earn $3 million more in his or her lifetime than someone holding only a bachelor's degree. GMAC's own mba.com offers a helpful tool to calculate the return of investment (ROI) for business school graduates.

Before the pandemic, 92 percent of recruiters indicated they were planning to hire MBA graduates in 2020. However, the disruptions caused by COVID–19 adversely affected those plans, and hence the actual hiring of MBA graduates (80%) was lower than 2020 projections. Looking ahead, the proportion of recruiters planning to hire MBAs in 2021 (91%) returns to the same level as pre–pandemic 2020 (92%). The MBA hiring projections exhibit strength across key regions and industries. Specifically, 95 percent of the recruiters in the consulting sector, an industry in most demand by MBA graduates, are projecting to hire them""a reversal from the 2020 actual hiring of 76%.

Technology sector embraces MBA graduates for hiring and promotion

According to survey respondents, demand for MBA graduates by the technology industry is anticipated to increase by 10 percentage points in 2021 compared to pre–pandemic 2020. In fact, with 96 percent of tech recruiters projecting to hire MBA graduates in 2021, the demand for MBA talents tops the previous three years. The data also show that two in three (68%) recruiters in the technology sector agree that leaders in their organizations tend to have a graduate business school education""an increase of 11 percentage points from 2020 (57%).

"Technology companies are placing a high value on leaders who are not just technically skilled, but also have strong strategic, interpersonal, communication and decision–making skills, as well as an understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion and sustainability in their organizations – these will be critical to driving organizational growth and innovation,” said Peter Johnson, Assistant Dean of UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. “These core skills represent the signature business schools are imbuing in graduates from their MBA and business master's programs."

Perceptions of online programs are mixed depending on region, sector

Online programs have been gaining traction in recent years. According to GMAC data, 50 more online MBA programs accepted GMAT scores in the testing year (TY) 2020 as compared to five years earlier in TY 2016. In addition, 84 percent of online MBA programs reported an increase in applications in GMAC's 2020 Application Trends Survey.

However, when corporate recruiters were asked about their level of agreement with the statement "My organization values graduates of online and in–person programs equally," only one–third (34%) of them agreed. In terms of industries, recruiters from the finance and accounting industry (41%) are more likely to view graduates of online programs as equal to their on–campus peers, compared to their recruiting counterparts in consulting (25%) or technology (28%). As online programs are clearly a fast–growing area of graduate management education, the sustainability of demand will require a higher level of acceptance by employers, particularly when GMAC's latest candidate research suggests a similar disparity in terms of perception of online versus in–person programs.

"As business schools continue to evolve modalities and more candidates are able to access MBA and business master's programs through online delivery, this presents the graduate management education community with an opportunity to align expectations and outcomes for graduates and corporate recruiters," said Chowfla.

About the Survey

GMAC has been conducting the Corporate Recruiter Survey on behalf of the graduate management education community since 2001. This year's survey, administered in partnership with the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance (MBA CSEA), and career services offices at participating graduate business schools worldwide, received 529 responses between February 25 – March 31, 2021. More details of the full report, and other research series produced by GMAC, are available on gmac.com.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission–driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC creates solutions and experiences that enable business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate, and connect with each other.

GMAC provides world–class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as tools, resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment.

GMAC also owns and administers the NMAT by GMAC (NMAT) exam and the Executive Assessment (EA). More than 7 million candidates on their business master's or MBA journey visited GMAC's mba.com last year to explore business school options, prepare and register for exams, and get advice on the admissions process. BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com

Media Contact:

Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
202–390–4180 (mobile)
thsu@gmac.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8272612)

Graduate Management Admission Council Welcomes New Members to the Board

RESTON, Va., June 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), a global association of leading graduate business schools, today announced the addition of four new members to its board of directors. Katy Montgomery, Associate Dean, Degree Programmes, INSEAD; Franois Ortalo–Magn, Dean, London Business School; and Giuseppe Soda, Dean, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Bocconi University, will begin their terms on July 1. In addition, Yuan Ding, Vice President and Dean of China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), was appointed as a board director in January this year to fill the seat vacated by Enase Okonedo of the Pan–Atlantic University.

"GMAC's new board of directors represent leading business schools with campuses located in 10 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East," said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. "As student mobility returns and regains in the post–pandemic world, I look forward to working alongside this diverse group of leaders " and the rest of the GMAC board " to continue to advance GMAC's vision to ensure that all talented individuals can benefit from the best business education for them."

New GMAC Board Members

Yuan Ding, Vice President and Dean, Cathay Capital Chair in Accounting, CEIBS

Yuan Ding is Vice President and Dean and the Cathay Capital Chair Professor in Accounting at CEIBS, where he has been honored three times with the CEIBS Teaching Excellence Award. Prior to joining CEIBS, he was a tenured faculty member of the HEC School of Management, Paris, France. He is a member of the European Accounting Association, French Accounting Association and American Accounting Association. He holds a PhD in Accounting from the Institute of Enterprises Administration at the University Montesquieu Bordeaux IV, France, as well as a Master's in Enterprises Administration from the University of Poitiers, France. Ding is the author of multiple books on financial reporting and his research appears in leading academic journals.

Katy Montgomery, Associate Dean, Degree Programmes, INSEAD

As the INSEAD Associate Dean of Degree Programmes, Montgomery is responsible for the commercial leadership of the INSEAD Degree Programme portfolio across four campuses: Fontainebleau, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and San Francisco. Her functional responsibilities include strategy, marketing, sales, admissions, financial aid and scholarships, programme operations, student life, psychological services, and career services. Prior to joining INSEAD, she served as Associate Dean of Student Development at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Montgomery holds a degree in Political Science from Loyola University New Orleans and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Franois Ortalo–Magn, Dean, London Business School

Franois Ortalo–Magn is the ninth Dean of London Business School (LBS), a position he has held since August 2017. He is leading a strategy focused on (1) academic research and its impact, (2) learning innovations and alumni engagement and (3) inclusion, striving for gender parity and greater socio–economic and ethnic diversity. Since taking up the role, Ortalo–Magn has led the relaunch of the LBS brand, the growth of degree programmes and a significant increase in philanthropic support for scholarships. His research on the economics of land and housing markets has been published in leading academic journals. He has built on his research and leadership experiences to advise a broad range of private, governmental and multi–lateral organisations and share his insights in leading media outlets and at conferences around the world. Prior to his appointment, Ortalo–Magn was the Albert O. Nicholas Dean and Robert E. Wangard Professor of Real Estate at the Wisconsin School of Business. His first academic appointment was at the London School of Economics.

Giuseppe Soda, Dean, SDA Bocconi School of Management, Bocconi University

Giuseppe "Beppe" Soda is the Dean of SDA Bocconi School of Management and Full Professor of Organization Theory and Network Analysis at Bocconi University. Before becoming Dean in 2016, his roles have included serving as the Associate Dean for Research (2007–2013), Director of the Department of Management and Technology (2013–2016) and Head of Organization and HRM Department (2001–2006). He is also serving EFMD as member of the EQUIS Accreditation Board. Soda's research investigates the performance consequences of the interplay between organizational architectures and organizational networks and his work has been published in top academic management journals.

Besides the aforementioned newly elected board members, Martin Boehm, Professor of Marketing and former Dean of IE Business School and soon the new Rector of EBS Universitt fr Wirtschaft und Recht, and Themin Suwardy, Dean of Postgraduate Professional Programmes, Singapore Management University, were re–elected for a second term.

GMAC also recognizes its outgoing board members, Leila Guerra, Vice Dean (Education) of Imperial College Business School, and Peter Tufano, Peter Moores Dean and Professor of Finance of Sad Business School, University of Oxford. GMAC thanks them for their service in the past nearly four years to our organization and contributions to the graduate management education community.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission–driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC creates solutions and experiences that enable business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate, and connect with each other.

GMAC provides world–class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as tools, resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment.

GMAC also owns and administers the NMAT by GMAC (NMAT) exam and the Executive Assessment (EA). More than 7 million candidates on their business master's or MBA journey visited GMAC's mba.com last year to explore business school options, prepare and register for exams, and get advice on the admissions process. BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com.

Media Contact:

Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
202–390–4180 (mobile)
thsu@gmac.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8259398)

GMAC Welcomes Top Latin American Business School as Its Newest Member

RESTON, Va., May 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) today announced that EGADE Business School at Tecnolgico de Monterrey has become the Council's latest member. Located in Mexico, the EGADE Business School is selected for its world–class programs and international recognition in and beyond Latin America, adding great representation of the region to the global association that constitutes 229 top business schools around the world.

"EGADE Business School at Tecnolgico de Monterrey has built a globally recognized reputation as the leading Latin American business education institution, committed to empowering entrepreneurial leaders who create shared value and transform society," said Dr. Osmar Zavaleta, interim dean of EGADE Business School. "EGADE is committed to the exchange of ideas and best practices with our global peers and GMAC membership provides a valuable platform for enhancing that exchange other GMAC member schools".

"The pandemic has taught us to be innovative and adaptive in a disruptive environment of an interconnected world," said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. "We value the global vision and holistic approach that EGADE Business School brings and look forward to their contributions to the advancement of graduate management education."

EGADE Business Schools is among a select group of institutions internationally to hold the "triple–crown" of excellence from the three leading global accreditation systems for business education quality assessment and continuous improvement: Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Association of MBAs (AMBA), and EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS). For the fourth consecutive year in 2021, EGADE Business School topped the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking in Mexico and Latin America for its Full–Time MBA in Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Master in Finance programs and appears for the first time as the regional leader for its recently introduced Masters in Management.

To be considered for membership in GMAC, a school must maintain a selective admissions process; offer a master's program in business administration, management subjects or equivalent; and demonstrate support of GMAC's mission through the use of its products and services.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission–driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC creates solutions and experiences that enable business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate, and connect with each other.

GMAC provides world–class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as tools, resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment.

GMAC also owns and administers the NMAT by GMAC (NMAT) exam and the Executive Assessment (EA). More than 7 million candidates on their business master's or MBA journey visited GMAC's mba.com last year to explore business school options, prepare and register for exams, and get advice on the admissions process. BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com

Media Contact:

Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
202–390–4180 (mobile)
thsu@gmac.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8243682)

GMAC Launches Official GMAT™ Exam Chinese Microsite

RESTON, Va., May 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the leading global association of business schools and administrator of the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), today announced the launch of the official GMATTM exam Chinese website, GMAT.com.cn. As the most widely used exam for graduate business school admissions and accepted by more than 7,000 graduate business programs worldwide, GMAT has been a leading assessment tool among the vast pool of talents in the greater China region for more than six decades.

Recognizing the growing interest in graduate management education (GME), GMAC established the microsite for prospective students from the region to access accurate, comprehensive, and authoritative information about the GMAT and GME in their native language more readily and comfortably. Through the localized and targeted content, the GMAT Chinese website, along with GMAT's official WeChat account that went live earlier this year, provide the critical digital platforms to create and strengthen the connection between Chinese–speaking talents and the world's leading business schools in the region and beyond, and filling an information gap in the market.

"China has over the years grown into the second largest region for GMAT, after only the United States," said Sangeet Chowfla, president and CEO of GMAC. "As vaccines become more widely available and hope for economic recovery begins to take root, we expect to see more mobility and look forward to more Chinese students starting and returning to their journey of graduate business education in their own country or abroad, benefiting from the new Chinese–language platforms we are offering today."

According to GMAC's 2021 mba.com Prospective Students Survey Report published in March, the level of concern about the impact of COVID–19 has been declining over time. Specifically, the proportion of Chinese respondents reporting that they are extremely or very concerned has dropped from 71 percent in July 2020 to 48 percent in November last year. The report also found that the Chinese respondents planning to pursue an MBA outside their country are not changing their original plans despite the pandemic, with 89 percent planning to pursue their MBA in the United States and 55 percent in the United Kingdom, making these two countries their top destinations of consideration.

"The interest in and desire of Chinese business talents to pursue graduate management studies have not declined but only been put on hold," said Yuan Ding, vice president and dean of CEIBS and a board director of GMAC. "The official GMAT Chinese website will help connect Chinese business talents all over the world with global business schools and leave no talents undiscovered."

More than seven million candidates on their business master's or MBA journey visited mba.com " GMAC's flagship graduate education resource and information portal " to explore business school options, prepare and register for exams, and get advice on the admissions process. GMAC is committed to supporting the goals of Chinese prospective students who wish to prepare and register for the GMAT exam.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) is a mission–driven association of leading graduate business schools worldwide. Founded in 1953, GMAC creates solutions and experiences that enable business schools and candidates to better discover, evaluate, and connect with each other.

GMAC provides world–class research, industry conferences, recruiting tools, and assessments for the graduate management education industry, as well as tools, resources, events, and services that help guide candidates through their higher education journey. Owned and administered by GMAC, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam is the most widely used graduate business school assessment. GMAC also owns and administers the NMAT by GMAC (NMAT) exam and the Executive Assessment (EA). BusinessBecause and The MBA Tour are subsidiaries of GMAC, a global organization with offices in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To learn more about our work, please visit www.gmac.com

Media Contact:
Teresa Hsu
Sr. Manager, Media Relations
202–390–4180 (mobile)
thsu@gmac.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8242904)

JobDiva Makes Hiring More Efficient by Integrating with Jobs on Facebook

NEW YORK, April 27, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — JobDiva is proud to announce an integration with Jobs on Facebook""one of the first integrations of its kind.

Jobs on Facebook makes it simple for employers and recruiters to post jobs, manage applications and communicate with candidates more easily. By synchronizing job openings, JobDiva's integration with Jobs on Facebook empowers businesses to reach candidates where they are spending significant amounts of time.

"At JobDiva, we are focused on reducing unemployment during these uncertain times, as well as matching the workforce with their desired opportunities by maximizing our clients' capabilities""and doing so quickly, in the interest of the public at large," said Gus Samra, JobDiva's Chief Revenue Officer. "JobDiva's integration with Jobs on Facebook is a signal example of our commitment to talent and client success, and we're ecstatic to offer this integration."

About JobDiva: JobDiva, the leading global ATS, is delivered to clients via the cloud. JobDiva stands as the top–tier ATS, defining the path of innovation in staffing technology.

Contact:
Bella Chen
Head of Marketing, JobDiva
Bella.chen@jobdiva.com
+1 212–384–6566

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/65890c74–c25d–4a3c–a1a1–b11802201711


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8223999)