The funny thing about Rankings...

...is that when you're not doing well, then you claim that they are meaningless, but the minute you're doing well, they are fantastic.

We are doing well.


So well in fact that it was anounced today that we have moved up 5 places to 20th in the world. Quite an achievement for a school that is barely 9 years old. Check out the FT 2005 Rankings that came out today (if you can - it's proving to be a very busy site at the moment).

The rankings are testament to the high quality of our MBA programme in terms of recruitment,content and teaching, course administration and the successful career outcomes for our students. As a School which was formed in 1996, it is a major achievement.

Anthony Hopwood, Dean of the Saïd Business School

What do I think? Well, naturally I am very happy as it increases my chances of getting a very interesting job with a wopping big salary which will help me to pay off my student debt when I leave here.

At the same time, it's necessary to keep remembering that it is only a ranking, only a business school, only an MBA. In and of itself, none of that makes me a great person. My reactions when something happens, the choices I make, the friendships I keep - those are the things that decide whether or not someone is great. The sermon at church last night was on pride and I confess that I am as guilty of thinking myself greater than I am as the next person. Especially when the FT provides "proof" of it.

So, I think that rankings are good, they have encourage schools to strive towards higher standards and give potential students a framework to decide where to apply. But they should not be used to decide whether or not a person from that school is or will become great. Let every person speak for themself.