And the GMAC surveys say: 91 percent of MBA grads and 98 percent of employers are satisfied, respectively, that their degree is a good to outstanding value and with the quality of their MBA employees.
The following graphic highlights data from the 2009 Global Management Education Graduate and Corporate Recruiters Surveys: Both shine light on the skills that students and employers say they want and need. At first glance, the broad advantages that a business education can provide MBA graduates may appear unrelated to the specific traits that employers are looking for in their MBA hires. But it’s not a big stretch to imagine that the skills employers seek are among the very proficiencies that MBA grads developed in school—and that give them their competitive edge in the job market, for instance.
Other data from the survey of graduates support the notion: Eighty-three percent of respondents were extremely or very satisfied that their graduate business degree increased their long-term potential through the development of skills and abilities. What drove this satisfaction? Improvements in these top three areas:
- Ability to manage strategy and innovation
- General business knowledge
- Strategic and systems skills
