Financial Times Open Programmes 2026 Rankings: EDHEC Executive Education’s short and certificate programmes ranked 6th worldwide

Satisfied alumni

This year, EDHEC has risen two places to reach 6^th position worldwide in the Executive Education open-enrolment programmes ranking. This achievement reflects the satisfaction of both participants and companies that place their trust in the school to develop the knowledge and skills of their managers, executives and leaders. EDHEC ranks joint 3^rd in the world for overall satisfaction, with a score of 9.88 out of 10 awarded by participants. EDHEC Executive Education’s short and certificate programmes stand out particularly strongly, for the “follow-up” criterion, ranking 5^th in the world. This criterion assesses the level of support provided once participants return to their professional environment, as well as the networking opportunities offered among participants.

The programmes also rank 6^th worldwide for the criteria “new skills and learning” and “teaching methods and materials”. These indicators measure the relevance of the skills acquired for the professional environment, the ease with which they can be implemented, and the extent to which the programme encouraged new ways of thinking, adaptability, and the updating of teaching methods and learning materials, alongside academic rigour and practical application.
Disneyland Paris Purchasing Director, Nicolas Lépycouché, a participant in a recent EDHEC short programme, commented: “The AI and Data programme was one of the very few training courses in my career to exceed my expectations. The quality of the speakers was outstanding: experts who combine technical depth, hands-on experience and great accessibility. I particularly appreciated the ‘Data first’ approach, which provides a highly structured framework and places AI within a concrete business context. The programme is intensive, pragmatic and immediately applicable. It gave me a genuine methodology and a practical operational toolkit. Today, in my new role, I feel fully legitimate in structuring an ambitious and responsible AI strategy.”

“Our open-enrolment programmes have a clear ambition: to provide concrete answers to the major challenges faced by executives and senior leaders,” explains Maïlys Vicaire-Toulemonde, Director of EDHEC the Advanced Leadership Programme and portfolio of executive certificates. “At the start of the programme, participants often express a strong expectation for tools and methodologies. Naturally, we provide frameworks, approaches and practical solutions. However, what truly creates transformation goes far beyond this: it is the ability to step back, question one’s leadership posture, and reflect on the impact of ongoing transformations on both organisations and teams. The richness of our programmes lies in demanding and distinctive learning experiences that encourage broad reflection: for oneself, for one’s team and for one’s organisation. It also stems from the diversity and quality of our learner groups, where the sharing of peer experiences becomes a powerful driver of collective progress.”

EDHEC’s custom programmes have also maintained their 20^th position worldwide for the second consecutive year.