The Princeton Review ranks John Molson among the top schools worldwide for entrepreneurship studies
Ehsan Derayati, Director, National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business with panelists at the "Innovate to Decarbonize" event held on November 29, 2023.
Concordia’s John Molson School of Business has been ranked number 40 in the world for entrepreneurship. The accolade comes from The Princeton Review’s Top 50 Entrepreneurship: Grad rankings.
The John Molson School was tapped for its graduate entrepreneurship studies offerings. The ranking indicates a steady climb for the School since it was first listed at number 50 on the 2021 list.
Rankings are based on surveys of administrators at institutions offering courses or degrees in entrepreneurship. And the John Molson School is the only Canadian institution — one of only two schools from outside the US — to be included in the Princeton Review’s list.
The Princeton Review is an American tutoring, test preparation and college admission services company. Entrepreneur magazine, The Princeton Review’s reporting partner on this project, will publish the results in its December issue.
The publication’s 18th annual survey included nearly 300 schools internationally. Areas of consideration include academics and requirements, students and faculty, alumni entrepreneurship ventures, experiential learning and more.
Entrepreneurship as core curriculum
The John Molson School of Business prioritizes entrepreneurship through its course offerings, research and experiential learning opportunities outside the classroom. It also offers a Minor in Entrepreneurship for undergrads.
“In addition to the graduate studies offerings, entrepreneurship is offered as a core course at the undergraduate level,” says Alexandra Dawson. Dawson is a professor in the Department of Management and holds the CIBC Distinguished Professorship in Entrepreneurship and Family Business.
“After graduation, students are prepared to grow an existing business, take over a family business or start their own.”
“This curriculum is essential when we consider that startups are a key driver of economic growth. Moreover, around 70 per cent of all businesses in Canada are family owned.”
Dawson also notes that individuals who study entrepreneurship are three to four times more likely to start a business. They also earn 20 per cent to 30 per cent more than students studying in other fields.
Panelist Sofia Quilico, Regional Vice-President, Wealth Management Solutions, at National Bank Financial Wealth Management, and Professor Alexandra Dawson at the National Bank Women in Leadership Speaker Series event, "How employers can support women's career progression" on October 18, 2023.
Fueling learning through diverse offerings
The John Molson School’s Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) program includes an experiential learning component, the Concordia Small Business Consulting Bureau.
Students in the Bureau provide consulting expertise to aspiring and current entrepreneurs and business owners through feasibility studies, marketing or business plans and strategic advice.
The School is also home to the National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business. The initiative supports research projects dedicated to knowledge creation in entrepreneurship and family businesses. It seeks to provide support to graduate and undergraduate students with an interest in these areas.
Additionally, the John Molson Case Publications initiative supports the development of business case studies, including many studies in the area of entrepreneurship. The initiative is a partnership with Ivey Publishing.
“Faculty-led initiatives like the National Bank Initiative embody our dedication to cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset,” says Ehsan Derayati, the National Bank Initiative’s director.
Derayati is the John Molson School’s senior advisor of innovation and strategic research impact as well as an adjunct professor in the Department of Management.
“By integrating cutting-edge research, innovative teaching methodologies and practical applications, we're shaping a dynamic environment that fuels entrepreneurship in its diverse forms,” he adds.
The John Molson School also boasts active student involvement, including the John Molson Entrepreneurship Club and Enactus.
Learn more about the John Molson School research cluster in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Concordia.