We are pleased to announce that UTC Business School has successfully completed the Business School Impact System (BSIS) assessment process and has been granted its first BSIS label. UTC Business School is the first institution in Tunisia and the second in Africa to receive this recognition.

The BSIS evaluation team highlighted several key strengths, including the school’s strong financial sustainability, high student progression and employability rates, entrepreneurial initiatives, impactful research, societal engagement, and extensive international collaborations.

Addressing the school’s achievement, BSIS Director François Bonvalet remarked:

“UTC Business School in Tunisia has demonstrated exceptional commitment to meaningful impact across its community and beyond. Achieving the BSIS label for the first time, and first in Tunisia, reflects not only the school’s dedication to impact but also its role as a catalyst for innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal progress in Tunisia and the region. We warmly congratulate the entire UTC Business School team on this well-deserved recognition.”

UTC Business School

Founded in 1993, UTC Business School is a leading private business school in Tunisia, recognised for its academic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit, and international outlook. Located on a modern five-hectare campus in Greater Tunis, the school offers bachelor’s, master’s, MBA, and executive programmes in partnership with prestigious institutions, including the London School of Economics, University of Quebec at Montreal, ISC Paris, and NCUK. With small class sizes, personalised advising, and a focus on ethical leadership, the school equips students to succeed in global careers while contributing to regional development.

Student attraction, retention, and progression

UTC Business School’s BSIS recognition reflects its pioneering role and broad impact across financial, educational, business, intellectual, societal, regional, and reputational dimensions. The school contributes over 22 million TND to the Greater Tunis economy, including direct, indirect, and induced impacts. Growth in student numbers, consistent surplus generation since 2018, and international programme collaborations reinforce both its financial stability and regional contribution.

Student attraction and progression are strong, with 53% of students from Greater Tunis, 37% from elsewhere in Tunisia, and 10% from abroad. Progression to master’s programmes stands at 76%, providing a robust pipeline of talent for the school and its partners. Students and alumni consistently report a highly positive experience, praising the quality of education, personalised advising, career support, co-curricular activities, and professional certifications.

Employability outcomes within the school’s impact zone are particularly strong. Initiatives such as Bloomberg and Harvard Business Publishing certifications, career bootcamps, and job fairs prepare students for global careers, while strategic international partnerships enhance students’ global visibility and opportunities.

Entrepreneurship is a defining feature of UTC Business School. Embedded in the curriculum through company visits, student competitions, and start-up support, the school has facilitated many jobs through business takeovers. Alumni ventures span sectors from jewellery design to automotive services and education consultancy, reflecting the school’s active role in nurturing Tunisia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Strengthening regional engagement and international connections

Although primarily teaching-focused, UTC Business School maintains a strong commitment to research with tangible societal impact. Faculty contribute nationally and internationally on topics including entrepreneurship, innovation, finance, sustainable development, and digital transformation, integrating research into teaching and policy. The school collaborates closely with major companies, SMEs, and professional networks, and is recognised as a driver of capacity building in emerging sectors such as AI, energy transition, and entrepreneurship.

The school also demonstrates strong societal impact, embedding ethical leadership and sustainable development into its mission. Students engage in initiatives addressing societal challenges, including the annual Ethics Day, environmental management projects on campus, and integration of CSR across teaching and research. Its reputation is strong nationally and regionally, associated with academic excellence, an exceptional student experience, and international partnerships. The modern campus enhances Tunis’s appeal as a higher education hub, while media coverage, social media engagement, and online visibility reinforce its profile.

The EFMD review concluded that UTC Business School has established itself as a high-quality, internationally connected, and impact-driven institution. Through its financial contribution, educational excellence, employability outcomes, progression to master’s programmes, entrepreneurial dynamism, research integration, societal commitment, and strong reputation, the school has delivered broad positive impact on Greater Tunis, Tunisia, and beyond—fully justifying the award of the BSIS label.

Dr Hejer Lasram Sellami, Dean of UTC Business School, commented:

“The BSIS process has been a highly valuable experience for UTC Business School, as it not only enabled us to better understand and communicate our impact, but also helped us identify key areas where this impact is most visible — particularly through our alumni who have secured positions in internationally renowned companies and prestigious universities abroad, and who have also launched their own businesses. We are also proud to be the first business school in Tunisia and second in Africa to be awarded the BSIS label, a recognition that strengthens our commitment to excellence, inclusion, and societal impact.

We would like to sincerely thank the entire BSIS team, including the experts and administration, for their professionalism and unwavering support throughout the process. Their guidance and dedication have been invaluable in helping us achieve this prestigious recognition.”

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 90 schools across 25 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, please visit the conversation on the Business School Impact System (BSIS).