The 2011 Financial Times ranking of schools offering customised executive education programmes marks the 12th anniversary of the classification.

While Duke Corporate Education retains the number one position for the ninth consecutive year, and HEC Paris remains in second place. Brazil’s Funda??o Dom Cabral makes an impressive jump from eighth place in 2010 to finish third.

FDC’s ascent into the top three of the league of 65 is the culmination of steady progress over eight years. The school, located in the state of Minas Gerais in the south-east of Brazil, first entered the customised programme ranking in 2004, at number 39. About 50 schools were ranked that year. Having consolidated its position in 2005, it broke through into the top 20 in 2009, when it was ranked 16th.