At Porto Business School (PBS), we continue to advance our mission to improve the quality of management in society by helping individuals and organisations to develop skills and competences for the future and to “make change happen”. During 2017, PBS overall has continued to grow, with some key programs enjoying a record number of participants. The School made major investments in marketing, communication, and information systems. The most visible and ambitious project was the creation of a new brand image more aligned with the School’s positioning. The new image represents more vividly what is different about PBS: innovation, dynamism, and courage coupled with rigor and pragmatism; helping our clients turn knowledge into action (making “change happen”).
In terms of quality and international recognition, PBS obtained the EPAS re-accreditation by the EFMD (European Foundation for Management Development) for its MBA programs, and the School has continued to work towards AACSB accreditation together with FEP (The School of Economics at the University of Porto). In 2017, PBS was once again positioned among the best business schools in Europe. For the 6th consecutive year, the Financial Times has included PBS in the 2017 “European Business Schools Ranking”, which ranks a select group of nearly 100 eligible business schools in Europe. Compared to last year, PBS has climbed 3 positions in the ranking (from 62 to 59) and was the only Portuguese school to improve its position. It is undoubtedly a great satisfaction for us to be included and be already well positioned in this prestigious ranking. It shows that our programmes are valued and recognized internationally.
During the past year, PBS has also extended its international outreach, exploring and developing new international partnerships with top-ranked institutions, including London Business School (International Week for Post-Graduate Programmes) and Instituto de Empresa (International Week for MBAs). We have also initiated the creation of an International Advisory Board (IAB), composed of international senior leaders and influencers from the business and academic worlds. The meetings of the IAB will provide an opportunity to advise PBS on the School’s strategy, and to support PBS in its quest for greater international impact and recognition.
Our biggest asset continues to be our Alumni community. PBS is recognized for having one of the largest and most influential Alumni networks in Portugal. A network that empowers synergies between individuals and businesses and where professional and personal contacts that last long make a difference. Recognizing the importance of its alumni network and to foster a closer relationship with it, PBS has created in 2017 a dedicated Alumni Unit which has launched a number of engaging initiatives (both for networking and continuous learning) including: special seminars and events, MBA class reunions, the PBS Alumni Award, and an online networking platform. Thanks to a large number of Alumni initiatives that have been deployed throughout the year, the PBS Alumni Network continued to grow in 2017, and it is now more diverse and globally connected.
With a challenging 2017 behind us, we are optimistic about 2018. Our core programs continue to grow and we have exciting, new projects ahead. We also note that 2018 is the year of our 30th anniversary and are looking forward to celebrating it with all our stakeholders. It will be a moment of reflection and acknowledgment for those who made the first three decades of PBS a successful journey. But, at the same time, it will be a challenging opportunity to look into the future, assess the emerging trends, strategize and set the basis for the next 30 years. A challenge that we, at PBS, welcome and are ready to embrace wholeheartedly!
