Gibs ranks among top global executive education schools

The University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) has secured a prominent spot as a top African business school in the newly released 2026 UK Financial Times Executive Education Rankings.

The globally recognised ranking system serves as a premier international benchmark for institutional excellence, evaluating business schools through a rigorous process that blends institutional data with direct corporate client feedback.

In the 2026 results, Gibs recorded major global gains, placing 39th out of 90 schools worldwide for open-enrolment programmes and 51st out of 100 schools globally for customised executive education.

The co-creation and practical value formula

The school’s upward trajectory on the global stage comes on the back of top marks across key client-centric quality indicators.

For its customised corporate offerings – co-created alongside companies to tackle specific organisational friction points – it scored highly in programme preparation, instructional design, faculty quality, new skills and learning, and achievement of learning objectives.

The school mirrored this performance across its open-enrolment tracks, which consist of short, non-degree courses open to individual business professionals.

According to institutional data, the open programmes achieved standout scores in overall participant experience, learning impact, and peer quality, bridging the gap between academic theory and immediately deployable workplace capabilities.

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Commenting on the global recognition, Praveshen Pillay, Gibs managing executive for corporate education, emphasised the broader continental implications of the ranking.

“This recognition affirms Gibs’ role in advancing Africa’s contribution to global business and leadership. It reflects the strength of African academia, the growing influence of African organisations, and the calibre of leaders shaping the continent’s future.”

The Financial Times methodology highlights Gibs’ dual capability to meet international quality standards while tailoring its curricula directly to the unique operational realities of the African market.

“Through deep co-creation with our partners, we remain committed to delivering learning that creates tangible value, enabling organisations and their leaders to compete, grow, and lead on the global stage,” said Pillay.

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