ISEG Executive Education has once again established itself among the best executive education schools in the world by being included in the Financial Times Executive Education 2026 international ranking, consolidating its global presence through a distinctive proposal centred on innovation, personalisation and the creation of value for organisations.
In the 2026 edition, ISEG Executive Education reaches 48th place worldwide in Custom Programmes, and stays in the Global top 50 of the best tailor-made executive education schools for companies. ISEG is once again represented in the ranking of Open Programmes, occupying the 70th place in the world.
In the Custom Programmes ranking, ISEG stands out particularly for its performance in the “Partner Schools” indicator, where it came 9th in the world. This recognition highlights the School's ability to develop solid and transformative collaborative relationships with companies and institutional partners, designing training solutions tailored to their strategic challenges.
The ranking also highlights the very significant growth of ISEG Executive Education's activity in the area of customized programs, reflecting the growing confidence of companies in the school's ability to design highly specialized learning experiences that are relevant and aligned with real business contexts.
This sustained growth also reflects the consolidation of a training model balanced between the traditional offer of postgraduate programmes and open training, and an increasingly strong commitment to tailor-made programmes, with innovative methodologies and pedagogical approaches focused on organizational transformation and the concrete impact on teams and leaders.
For Joana Santos Silva, CEO of ISEG Executive Education: “This recognition from the Financial Times confirms the path we have been building: a school deeply connected to companies, capable of co-creating relevant, innovative and transformative solutions. The growth in our activity demonstrates not only the trust organizations have in ISEG Executive Education, but also our team's ability to deliver truly differentiating learning experiences with a real impact on people and businesses.”
João Duque, Dean of ISEG, He emphasizes: “Rankings are not an end in themselves, but they are an important indicator of how schools' work is recognized internationally. In the case of ISEG, these results once again show consistency, ambition and the ability to compete in a very demanding global space, as we have demonstrated in recent years.”
It has been confirmed that CWUR ranking of Financial Times evaluates the performance of schools worldwide, taking into account teaching methodologies, the qualifications of teaching staff, the contribution to new skills and learning, and the return on investment for participants. The results now achieved reinforce ISEG Executive Education's international positioning as a strategic partner for organizations, maintaining a path of sustained growth based on quality, pedagogical innovation and proximity to the business community.
See the Executive Education 2026 ranking of Financial Times here
It has been confirmed that ISEG Lisbon School of Economics & Management announces a new management structure for its MBA program, reinforcing its positioning as a program geared towards decision-making in complex and ever-changing contexts.
From 1 May 2026, the coordination of the ISEG MBA will be carried out by a new team, made up of Professor José Veríssimo, who takes on the role of Executive Director, and Professor Sofia Lourenco, responsible for the scientific direction of the programme.
An Associate Professor in the area of Management, and currently Vice-Dean of ISEG, José Veríssimo has developed his activity in the areas of marketing, consumer behaviour and strategy, combining academic research with a strong connection to business contexts. His collaboration in the last 24 MBA editions, as a lecturer and active participant in the programme's activity, gives him an in-depth knowledge of its challenges and a vision geared towards its continuous evolution.
As for Sofia Lourenco, an Associate Professor with tenure at ISEG, has a well-established academic and scientific track record, with a focus on the areas of decision-making and management. Her experience as a lecturer and researcher ensures the scientific rigour of the programme, as well as its permanent updating in the face of the demands of a changing global context.
This evolution comes after a cycle of four editions led by Joana Santos Silva, whose contribution was decisive for the development of the programme, particularly in terms of its organisation and the redesign of the training offer. Over the last 18 months, she has also taken on the role of CEO of ISEG Executive Education, significantly expanding its scope of action.
The new management structure reflects a clear commitment to a more focused, agile and dedicated leadership model, capable of keeping up with the growing demands of the programme and enhancing a truly transformative experience for its participants.
More than transmitting knowledge, the ISEG MBA, which is currently open for applications for its 43rd edition, takes on the mission of developing the ability to think critically, decide with confidence and act with impact, essential skills in an environment where the difference is not in access to information, but in how you decide. “In a world where information is abundant, the difference lies in the ability to decide. That's what we want to develop at the ISEG MBA" says José Veríssimo, Executive Director of ISEG MBA and Vice-Dean of ISEG.
With this change, ISEG reinforces its ambition to offer a distinctive MBA experience, aligned with market demands and prepared to train leaders capable of responding to and anticipating the challenges of the future.
ISEG's Executive MBA was featured in CEO Magazine's most recent ranking, achieving the 8th place globally and 6th place in Europe in the 2026 edition.
This result reinforces the program's international recognition, highlighting its academic excellence, its strong links with the business world and its ability to train leaders prepared to face complex challenges in a global context.
ISEG's presence among the best MBAs in the world confirms its ongoing commitment to quality, pedagogical innovation and impact on the careers of its participants.
ISEG-Lisbon School of Economics and Management has been recognized, for the 4th consecutive year, in the prestigious Financial Times European Business Schools Ranking, ISEG's ranking has risen three places to the top 70. This distinction keeps ISEG in the select group of the 100 best business schools in Europe, and reflects the School's consistent commitment to excellent training, recognized by leaders, companies and communities. This year also marks a critical milestone: ISEG's MiM enters the European Rank, achieving its first formal presence in this table.
João Duque, Dean of ISEG, comments: “The rise in the European ranking of the Financial Times and the entry of our Master in Management in the European Rank are results that reflect the serious, consistent and rigorous work that ISEG has been developing, in both advanced training and links with companies and society.
This recognition confirms that our strategy is on the right track: strengthen quality, internationalize, attract talent and consolidate our Executive Education offer, This is where we perform very well. ISEG will therefore continue to strive for higher positions in this ranking in order to fully reflect the capacity, impact and value it actually delivers to society.”
This Financial Times ranking identifies the best Business Schools The Financial Times ranking of the best European business schools continues to include four Lisbon schools, proving that the country's capital has a European-level executive education offer. The Financial Times ranking of the best European business schools includes a total of 100 higher education institutions based on the overall scores that each school obtained in each ranking of programs in which it participates, namely in the MBA, Executive Education, Masters in Management and Executive MBA rankings.
ISEG stood out particularly in the areas of international clients, growth of programmes, partnerships with other international schools and diversity of its faculty, strategic elements that reflect the School's ongoing commitment to innovation and internationalisation.
Portugal continues to feature in one of the world's most prestigious rankings, with five schools showing the quality of their Executive Training, which attracts students from various countries.
It's worth noting that Lisbon and Paris are the only European cities with four schools represented in the Financial Times Executive Education rankings -- a feat that neither London, nor Madrid nor Milan have managed to achieve. This recognition reinforces Lisbon's position as a hub of European excellence in advanced management training
Given these results, Joana Santos Silva, CEO of ISEG Executive Education , says: "It is with a sense of pride and commitment that we note that the Financial Times Executive Education 2025 ranking once again places ISEG Executive Education among the global elite in executive education. We continue to be considered one of the best business schools in the world -- a truly exclusive group where only a minority has a place. This presence reinforces the solidity of our project, the quality of our faculty, the impact of our programmes and the growing confidence of those who choose us to transform their career path.
The strengthening of international partnerships is a fundamental pillar in the consolidation of Portugal as a hub of excellence in advanced management training, and projects the country as a credible and attractive destination for developing talent and leadership on a global scale. In an increasingly competitive environment, we don't underestimate the work ahead of us, but we can't help but celebrate the path that has brought us this far", she concludes.
This is a distinction that comes after a particularly remarkable year, in which ISEG achieved Triple Crown Accreditation, an international distinction held by only 1% of Business Schools, and recently received the FCT's 'Excellent' evaluation for the quality of our scientific research. It should also be remembered that the ISEG MBA was recognised as Tier 1 in CEO Magazine's global ranking and ISEG was highlighted as a Portuguese Top School in the prestigious SCImago ranking.
João Duque, Dean of ISEG, comments: "At ISEG, we don't work for rankings, but this recognition from the Financial Times is an incentive for us to continue working with ambition, consistency and passion, always at the service of our mission to develop conscientious leaders, prepared to create value in organisations and society. We are also very pleased that five Portuguese schools are part of this ranking, as it attests to the quality of the Executive Education offer that Portugal has to offer, and reinforces our country's ability to attract - and eventually retain - the leaders of the future."
It has been confirmed that CWUR ranking of Financial Times evaluates the performance of business schools worldwide, taking into account teaching methodologies, faculty qualifications, the contribution to new skills and learning, and the return on investment for participants.
See the Executive Education 2025 ranking of Financial Times here.
ISEG Executive Education is an official partner of Financial Times' Business of Luxury Summit 2025, which returns this year for another edition, from May 18th to 20th, at the Hotel Arts Barcelona.
Every year, this benchmark event brings together leaders of the biggest brands and industry experts, to debate the trends and challenges shaping the future of the luxury market. With exclusive panels, in-depth interviews and unique moments of networking, including a champagne reception and gala dinner, the Business of Luxury Summit is an unmissable opportunity for those who want to be at the forefront of the industry.
As a partner of the event, ISEG Executive Education offers special conditions to its community, with a 20% reduction on registration, using the code ISEG.
Further information on this link.
Registration available HERE.
Yesterday, ISEG hosted a Strategic Leadership Program ISEG + Columbia Alumni Eventwith the special participation of Admiral Gouveia e Meloin an inspiring session on "Leading Selflessly.
The event brought together alumni of the program, providing a moment of sharing and networking between top leaders. During the session, Admiral Gouveia e Melo framed the challenges of leadership in a changing world and presented his own experiences. 10 Golden Rules for Effective Leadership.
Another remarkable moment was the inauguration of the screen "The Faces of Leadership, a work developed by the program's participants and which, from now on, is part of the ISEG Campussymbolizing the values and vision of strategic leadership.
The opening session featured a speech by Professor João Duque, Dean of ISEGand Joana Santos Silva, CEO of ISEG Executive Education and Director of the Strategic Leadership Program, who presented the session "The Power of Yes, reinforcing the impact of decision-making on leadership.
As a symbol of the journey of leadership and innovation, all participants in the event received an exclusive pair of the ISEG Sanjo tennis, the result of a partnership between ISEG and the iconic Portuguese brand Sanjo. This collaboration represents the fusion of tradition and modernity, reflecting the values of excellence, resilience and future vision that characterize the leaders trained at ISEG.
The 4th edition of the Strategic Leadership Program, which runs between Lisbon and New York, kicks off on September 2025 and is designed to senior managers and members of boards of directors who seek to increase their strategic leadership capacity.
This program offers a unique learning experiencecombining international immersion, exchange of experiences with leaders of reference and a transformative contentpreparing participants for leading with impact and purpose in an ever-changing world.
Learn more about the Strategic Leadership Program HERE.
With enrolment now open for the 6th Edition of the Executive Programme in eCommerce Management of ISEG Executive Education, the Coordinators, Carolina Afonso (CEO of Gato Preto and an ISEG Professor) and Sandra Alvarez (Managing Director of PHD Media, Omnicom Media Group), are launching a book on the 4th November, from 18.00 to 19.30, which compiles the contributions of various experts in the field and of the programme's faculty, entitled 'eCommerce - How to sell online successfully'.
The launch event will take place on the ISEG Campus and will be preceded by a talk with the authors of the book on the topic of 'eCommerce & AI - How to use Artificial Intelligence to sell more', moderated by Carolina Afonso and Sandra Alvarez. Through practical examples shared by experts, participants will be able to understand some of the impacts that this transformative technology is having on sales and on optimising each stage of the purchasing process. Free admission, subject to the available capacity. Those interested can register here.
"We have been witnessing a transformation of the business world driven by the digital transition. At a time when companies of all sizes have migrated to e-commerce, it is important to realize that the success of this migration results from an effective combination of factors, which must be articulated in an integrated manner" says Francisco Velez Roxo, CEO of ISEG Executive Education.
"The success of our eCommerce Management programme, which is now in 6th Edition, is proof of the relevance of the subject for managers in Portugal. That's also why we believe that the launch of this book comes at the right time, when experienced professionals and the programme's faculty share their knowledge and experience, demonstrating how companies, with the right tools, can innovate, grow and achieve sustainable success, taking advantage of the opportunities that e-commerce offers.", he concludes.
On the 4th November, members of the public will be able to attend a series of debates with the authors of the book on "How to scale an online business using AI", between Alexandre Nilo da Fonseca (President of ACEPI) and André Marquet (CEO of Productized); "How to personalize the customer experience through AI", between Alberto Pimenta (CTT eCommerce Director), Inês Condeço (Marketing and Communications Director at FNAC) and Márcio Miranda (eCommerce Manager at Delta); and "How to make data-driven decisions using AI", with Mafalda Franco Frazão (Head of Ecosystem at Google) and Tiago Branco (Managing Director Portugal & Director Global Accounts EMEA at TRKKN). Not present at the debates will be the authors of the book Gaspar D'Orey (CEO of Mamaland) and Pedro Santos (eCommerce Director at Sonae MC). All of the authors are members of faculty of the next edition of ISEG Executive Education's eCommerce Management programme, which will take place online (except for the last day), from the 6th March to the 3rd April, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 18.15 to 21.15. They will be joined by Inês Mendes da Silva (CEO of Notable) and Fábio Rodrigues (CEO of Ongagement) for two complementary seminars.
ISEG is pleased to announce that its Postgraduation in Real Estate Management and Valuation has been reaccredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) until 2029.
The RICS is the world's highest rated reference for professional standards in land management, real estate and construction. Therefore this distinction reaffirms our commitment to the highest standards of quality and excellence in the real estate sector. We remain the only postgraduation in Portugal with RICS accreditation.
We continue to educate professionals with a global vision and specialised knowledge, who are prepared to face the challenges and opportunities of the real estate market.
ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management is once again at the top of the CWUR ranking of the Financial Times , in both Open Programmes and Custom Programmes. These results represent an entry into the world's Top 40 in the Custom Programmes ranking and the only increase recorded among the Portuguese universities represented in the Top 60 in the Open Programmes ranking.
In the Custom Programmes (customised solutions for companies) ranking, ISEG recorded a notable rise in the CWUR ranking, with an increase rise of 13 positions and re-entry into the Top 3 Portuguese universities. With its entry into the Top 40, ISEG joins the group of universities in this ranking classified as Level II, out of a total of 90 universities that were evaluated.
Of the four Portuguese universities ranked in the top 60 in the Open Programmes ranking (postgraduations and executive education programmes), ISEG was the only university to register an increase compared to the previous year of 2023.
Francisco Velez Roxo, CEO of ISEG Executive Education: “Our increase in the Financial Times ranking is a reflection of ISEG's commitment to academic excellence and innovation in executive education. We are committed to providing programmes that respond to the needs of our students and the demands of the global market.
In a context of growing economic and social challenges and in a world undergoing accelerated transformation, ISEG Executive Education is proud to once again be among the most prestigious Business Schools in Europe and the world, thanks to its enthusiasm, technical, scientific and behavioural rigor, for the continuous acquisition of new skills, and the enhancement of talents, as part of the annual evaluation of Open and Custom programmes in the prestigious Financial Times ranking.
With the overarching aim of working with and for Organisations (business and non-profit) and individual Participants, in dozens of courses and programmes of varying levels of demand and sophistication, the motto of "Develop and Transform, to Build the Future" within the framework of our slogans "Open Minds /Grab the future" and "We Try Harder" remains ever present.
And we're getting recognition for our work. With great pride. With our eyes set on the future and aware of the 113-year history of a prestigious school which is recognised both in Portugal and internationally.."
João Duque, Dean of ISEG: “This achievement reinforces our commitment to continue offering high quality education in strategic areas, preparing our executives to lead and innovate in the organisations where they work. This recognition is also a stimulus for us to remain attentive to the needs of companies and to continue designing education that is adapted to those needs."
It has been confirmed that CWUR ranking of Financial Times evaluates the performance of business schools worldwide, taking into account teaching methodologies, faculty qualifications, the contribution to new skills and learning, and the return on investment for participants.
See the Executive Education 2024 ranking of Financial Times here.