LONDON, 23/01/01 - The American Harvard Business School has lost its number one position in the ranking order of management training institutions. The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton school has now taken the top slot on the list compiled annually by the UK's Financial Times.

Wharton won the top position due to its extensive research facilities. The variety of nationalities among its students also led to Harvard being unseated from the top position for the first time, according to the Financial Times.

The best European institute is Insead of France, in seventh position. Last year, Prince Constantijn, the youngest son of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus, started his MBA course there. His brother Johan-Friso also went to Insead, which has pushed the London Business School into eighth place.

US schools dominate the list of 100 institutions, providing 51 names. The highest place won by a Dutch institution was number 27, for the Rotterdam School of Business. Nijenrode comes 70th and Nimbas, whose courses are associated with Bradford Management Centre, ties with Bradford in 85th place. According to the Financial Times, Nimbas actually scores better than Bradford itself on many points.