Rhodes University's Investec Business School has been ranked the best business school in the Eastern Cape and falls within the top six in the country.

According to Eduniversal Worldwide Business School's ranking for 2010, the Grahamstown business school, also known as Ribs, is an "excellent" institution and was awarded three palmes - one of its top honours. Eduniversal is considered to be the barometer of the best business schools worldwide.

Ribs director Prof Owen Skae said he was delighted with the ranking. "It's a peer ranking done by deans around the world." He said the deans were asked one simple question: ‘What is your business school of choice?'

Deans and directors of the 1000 best academic institutions are asked to participate in the survey of business schools in 153 countries.

Skae said: "It confirms that our stature and standing in business and the academic community are growing. It is a real compliment to all those who are working so hard to make Ribs the thought leader in the area of leadership for sustainability."

Everyone at the business school worked hard at upholding Rhodes' ethos of being the place "where leaders learn", he said.

"I believe it is the dedicated staff, the support of the university's management and the school's corporate clients which set us apart. We try very hard to understand what our clients want."

The results of the annual survey were disclosed in Prague in October at the third Eduniversal World Convention. According to the Eduniversal website, Ribs ranked first in the Eastern Cape and sixth in the country, following the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, University of Stellenbosch's school of business, the Wits School of Business, the Gordon Institute of Business Science and the Graduate School of Business Leadership.