MBA in Asia

Japan

Being the third largest Economy in the World, Japan has many universites offering MBA programs. The quality of universities and higher education in Japan is internationally recognized. Many Japanese Business schools offer full time MBA programs, part time MBA programs, and E-Business Management.

Japan has about three million students enrolled in 1,200 universities and junior colleges and is consequently the second largest higher educational system in the developed world. Japan also has one of the largest systems of private higher education in the world. The 710 odd universities in Japan can be separated into 3 categories: highly competitive, mildly competitive and non-competitive (the schools that are first-tier being the most infamously difficult ones to enter).

MBA in Public universities are generally more prestigious than their private counterparts with only 25 percent of all university-bound students being admitted to public universities. The Public universities such as Nagoya University, University of Tsukuba, Kyushu University, Kyoto University offer Management studies and Business Administration and are the oldest and most prestigious universities in Japan.

India

There are 1600 business schools in India offering two year MBA programs. The students are a mix of fresh graduates without any work experience and people with significant work experience. Among those schools, the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) are the oldest institutions for management education in India. Admission to any of the IIM schools requires passing Common Admission Test (CAT), however other business schools require passing either CAT, XAT, GMAT, JMET, MAT or others. Apart from these entrance tests there are few business schools which conduct aptitude tests individually for admission to that particular business school. The IIM and other autonomous business schools offer a post-graduate diploma in management (PGDM) or Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGPM) which is recognized in India as equivalent to an MBA degree. Government accreditation bodies such as AICTE established that autonomous business schools can offer only the PGDM or PGPM, whereas a full post-graduate degree can be awarded only by a university, in two-year full-time program. The curriculum of the PGDM or PGPM and MBA degrees are equivalent, although the MBA degree is examination oriented and concentrates on theoretical aspects of management whereas the PGDM or PGPM is industry-oriented. PGDM and PGPM usually utilize the case method of instruction, and mainly focus on building soft skills. However, a PGDM or PGPM holder cannot pursue PhD since they are not full post-graduates, but can pursue Fellowship programs instead from many B-Schools. Non-government accredited, one-year fast-track programs have proliferated in India, especially for candidates with work experience. Such programs are commonly known as Post Graduate Programme for Executives (PGPX or ExPGP) in Business Management.

Pakistan

The IBA was the first instiute in Pakistan, set up in 1955 in collaboration with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is the first business school in South Asia set up on the US MBA model. Now in Pakistan, 16 Universities that are recognized by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan are the only ones that offer MBAs.

Other Asian countries

International MBA programs are acquiring brand value in Asia. For example, while a foreign MBA is still preferred in the Philippines, many students are now studying at one of many "Global MBA" English language programs being offered. English-only MBA programs are also offered in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand. For international students who want a different experience, many Asian programs offer scholarships and discounted tuition to encourage an international environment in the classroom.

Rankings have been done for Asia Pacific schools by the magazine Asia Inc. which is a regional business magazine with distribution worldwide. The importance of MBA education in China has risen, too.