From EdTech To Big Data: Our Most Popular MBA Stories Of 2016

The MBA world is constantly changing. And the past 12 months have seen more change than most.

MBA students are snubbing traditional career paths for jobs at sharing economy giants like Uber and Airbnb. Virtual reality is taking its first steps into business schools. For MBA employers, big data analytics skills are more important than ever before.

Now, the MBA itself is under threat from alternative professional qualifications like the CFA and shorter specialist master’s programs.

These themes and more make up BusinessBecause’s top-10 ranking stories of 2016.

1. Here's Why CFA Could Become The New MBA

For finance professionals, the CFA could represent a cheaper, more flexible alternative to an MBA. But it’s just as tricky. Just 43% of the 52,315 professionals who took the Level I exam in December 2015 passed it.

2. Future Of Big Data: MBAs’ Cloud Computing Start-Ups Are Taking On Salesforce, Amazon S3

The big data revolution is opening up new opportunities for MBA entrepreneurs. MIT Sloan MBA Frederic Kerrest left Salesforce to co-found his cloud computing business in 2009. Now, it’s valued at $1.2 billion.

3. EDTECH: Artificial Intelligence And Big Data Are Transforming Online Learning

New technologies mean teaching can be tailored to match individual students’ needs.

4. MBA Students Warm To Sizzling Hot Sharing Economy, FinTech Firms

MBA grads are snubbing traditional industries to work for disruptive sharing economy firms like Uber and Airbnb.

5. Rankings: The Best Business Analytics Masters Programs Of 2016

Specialist degrees in data analytics have exploded in recent years.

6. 50 Reasons Why You Should Get An MBA

We spoke to MBA students, grads, professors, admissions staff, bloggers and entrepreneurs — and asked them all the same simple question: Why should I get an MBA?

7. EdTech: These Four B-Schools Are Exploring Virtual Reality With Oculus, Google, Samsung

More business schools are partnering with top tech firms and experimenting with virtual reality.

8. Why Business Analytics Is A Must For MBAs, As McKinsey, Bain Demand Big Data Skills

There’s a data science skills gap in management consulting. In February, experts revealed that students without data analytics skills are at a disadvantage in the MBA jobs market.