The Competitive (Dis)Advantages of European Business Schools

Although the US business school model has come to dominate the business school landscape, European schools have developed their own identities, styles and approaches to management education. In particular, they focus on reflective, integrative and action-based learning, public sector management and public policy issues and offer a greater sensitivity to international relations. This paper explains the evolution of business schools on both sides of the Atlantic and using evidence from rankings published annually by the Financial Times, addresses the key features of European business schools. It then maps the competitive characteristics and the relative strengths and advantages of European schools over their US counterparts.