We are pleased to announce that UPF-Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM), Spain, has successfully completed the Business School Impact System (BSIS) assessment process and has been granted the BSIS label.

The assessment team highlighted several aspects of UPF-BSM’s positive impact dimensions, including its strong intellectual and societal impact, increased research output, strategic partnerships, and innovative approach to measuring social value, alongside its integration of sustainability and corporate responsibility.

Addressing the school for this achievement, BSIS Director François Bonvalet remarked:

“Congratulations to UPF Barcelona School of Management on renewing the BSIS label for positive impact. UPF has made an impressive path in its impact journey with an exceptional alignment of research and strategic goals, social innovation, and impact measures. On this last point, the way the school measures its social impact has to be underlined as unique and comprehensive. The impactful contributions to both local and global communities of UPF Barcelona School of Business is a good example of how BSIS can support the school’s endeavours.”

UPF-Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM)

UPF Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM), the management school of Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), one of the top universities in Spain and Europe, is a double accredited business school by AMBA and EQUIS, two of the three most prestigious accolades in the field of higher education. UPF-BSM is also accredited by BGA, making it the first school in Spain to gain this distinction, as well as featuring in rankings such as Financial Times, QS and Positive Impact Rating, among others.

UPF-BSM’s mission is to prepare leaders capable of managing companies, institutions, and projects while promoting innovation, social transformation, and a commitment to culture and planetary well-being. The school embraces a firm commitment to academic quality and research as the driving forces for social transformation, based on fundamental values such as rigour and ethics, which enable UPF-BSM to generate knowledge and economic and social impact thanks to an active, customised and interdisciplinary learning model.

The school’s culture is rooted in core values: a creative, transformative, and critical vision aligned with international best practices, a focus on generating knowledge with economic and social impact, and an ethical approach grounded in social responsibility, sustainability, diversity, humanism, and culture.

Located in Barcelona, UPF-BSM offers a wide range of programs in management, business, law, and creative industries, designed to equip students with critical thinking and leadership skills. With a diverse faculty of industry experts and academics and a commitment to continuous improvement and academic rigour, UPF-BSM connects theory with real-world practice, preparing students for success in an evolving global market. The School has a network of over 500 partner companies and a community of more than 30,000 alumni.

Enhancing local and global impact through research and partnerships

In its peer review, the BSIS team highlighted several positive conclusions regarding the impact of UPF-Barcelona School of Management (UPF-BSM), including the significant progress in aligning the school’s research plan with its strategy and mission.

The school has seen a remarkable increase in the quantity and quality of its scientific production, particularly in publications aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The team also praised UPF-BSM’s implementation of effective research organisation, including observatories and chairs, which has contributed to fostering its intellectual impact both nationally and internationally.

The review team emphasised UPF-BSM’s societal contributions, particularly in its integration of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable development into its activities. The appointment of a Vice Dean for social impact reflects the school’s commitment to driving societal change.

The school’s innovative approach to measuring social impact, including the application of key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess its contribution to planetary wellbeing, was highlighted as a role model within the sector. Additionally, UPF-BSM’s collaborative projects, such as the ESG management program in Nepal, further demonstrated its global influence.

The team also commended UPF-BSM’s role in the local community, particularly through its public lectures and events that engage the regional ecosystem. With 46 events attracting over 1,400 participants, the school has established itself as a key intellectual and cultural hub in the region. The school’s proactive approach to forming partnerships with public and private organisations also underscores its commitment to fostering regional economic development and social value creation.

José M. Martínez-Sierra, Director General of the UPF Barcelona School of Management, commented:

“We are proud to continue belonging to the BSIS community, which we joined in 2021 after successfully completing the advising process. Joining the BSIS community has been a transformative journey that has empowered us to tell our story more compellingly, demonstrating how UPF Barcelona School of Management stands as a catalyst for sustainable growth, ethical practices, and positive change within the vibrant ecosystem of Barcelona and the global community. This renewed clarity strengthens our mission to continue delivering excellence in education while contributing to a better future with initiatives such as our particular Social Value study, an innovative methodology which aims to provide an initial assessment of the social value of Business Schools.”

About BSIS

The Business School Impact System (BSIS) is the first comprehensive impact assessment tool for business schools, covering more than 130 indicators across seven dimensions of impact. It provides a tailor-made data collection system for monitoring, assessing, and developing the impact of business schools.

The BSIS process involves the definition of the impact zone and institutional scope, data collection, impact assessment, and the report with recommendations for future development. Demonstrating the school’s impact on internal and external stakeholders, the system serves as a communication and negotiation tool externally and fosters an impact culture within the school. Schools that undergo BSIS are awarded the BSIS label for a three-year period.

• There are currently more than 80 schools across 20 countries that have received the BSIS label.
• To learn more about the impact assessment system, please visit the BSIS website or contact Julie Comte.

What is it like for schools to undergo the BSIS process? Discover the compelling journey of Blanka Cimcioch, International Accreditations Coordinator at Poznań University of Economics and Business, as she shares her insights on navigating the BSIS process, highlighting the challenges, seizing the opportunities, and reaping the rewarding results it has yielded. Read more.

For additional insights, announcements and perspectives about BSIS, visit the conversation here.