We are pleased to announce that FIA Business School has successfully completed the EFMD Business School Impact System assessment and has been awarded the BSIS label for positive impact, becoming only the second school in Brazil to join the BSIS community.

The EFMD BSIS review team identified several strengths at FIA Business School, including the scale of its contribution to the regional economy, the depth of engagement with employers and alumni, and the close integration between applied research, teaching, and consultancy activities.

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

“FIA Business School presents a clear and consistent demonstration of impact across its core activities. The assessment highlights strong alignment between its academic work and its engagement with organisations and society, supported by sustained, measurable regional embeddedness. It is a pleasure to welcome them as our second Brazilian institution to join the BSIS community.”

FIA Business School

Established in 1980, FIA Business School has developed into one of Brazil’s most prominent management institutions. Over its 45-year history, the school has delivered more than 10,000 impact projects for public, private, and third-sector organisations across multiple sectors of the Brazilian economy. The EFMD BSIS review team noted that the school’s motto, “Know to act, act to impact,” is reflected in its practice across its activities.

Financial strength and regional contribution

FIA is financially strong and has consistently delivered upward performance. In 2024, its direct financial impact on the State of São Paulo reached €33.6 million. When indirect expenditure is included, this rises to €37.7 million. Applying a 2.5 multiplier, the total induced impact is estimated at €131.9 million. The review team considered this significant within the Brazilian higher education sector. Premium pricing across MBA programmes and consultancy work is supported by accreditations and market standing. Students and alumni consistently report strong value.

Educational excellence and graduate outcomes

In 2024, FIA served more than 7,000 students across degree programmes, MBAs, and executive education, including 6,500 participants in short executive courses. The International Executive MBA has been ranked as Brazil’s best for six consecutive years and is positioned within the top 100 globally in the QS Executive MBA Rankings.

The school draws 91% of its students from the State of São Paulo. Graduate employability is strong: 90% of undergraduate students were employed following graduation, while 30% of Executive MBA alumni reported salary increases and 64% reported promotions. Employers span major international firms, including EY, SAP, Google, Santander, and Caterpillar.

The review team highlighted FIA’s student-centred model, with small cohorts enabling tailored support. The psychological support unit, originating from a student case study and later adopted institutionally, illustrates the reciprocal nature of educational impact.

Alumni, business & entrepreneurship

FIA’s alumni network is a central strength. A 2024 survey showed that 61% of alumni hold senior leadership roles, while 59.2% work in organisations with more than 500 employees. Alumni are active across key sectors, including finance, consulting, healthcare, technology, and retail.

Engagement is sustained through teaching, mentoring, and collaboration in applied research. Founded by the first MBA cohort, the Instituto GESC (IGESC) has mobilised a large network of volunteers who have supported many civil society organisations and trained numerous managers.

FIA combines rigorous research with practical business applications, supporting organisations through executive education, consulting projects, and applied research. The school is closely integrated with São Paulo’s business sector, working with a large network of partner organisations across several thousand active B2B projects. These relationships enable direct engagement with organisational challenges across multinational firms, public institutions, and SMEs.

In 2024, alumni founded more than 20 new businesses within the impact zone, generating close to 30 jobs. Initiatives include The Helpi Academy and Procede, an application supporting family businesses. Collaboration with Colégio Dante Alighieri through the IncubaDante programme further demonstrates alignment between business development and societal priorities.

Intellectual vitality and research

Research is organised through 16 specialised centres with established external partnerships. Over three years, the faculty produced 623 academic journal papers, 319 professional papers, and a broad range of books and conference contributions, indicating sustained output.

Between 2021 and 2024, more than 75% of faculty in the Professional Master’s programme secured external funding from national and international agencies. The review team noted alignment between research and regional priorities, including innovation, agribusiness, and global economic integration.

Research informs teaching and consulting, supported by the Centre for Faculty Development. The launch of a Doctorate in Business Administration in 2025 represents a further investment in research capacity.

Impact zone integration

FIA maintains strong links with academic and professional institutions. Its agreement with the University of São Paulo (FEA/USP) supports joint academic events, while its partnership with UOL EdTech enables the FIA Online platform to serve more than 15,000 learners.

The FEEx “Most Incredible Places to Work” initiative, developed with Estadão, has engaged more than 3.2 million employees. Participating organisations report improved performance indicators. In the public sector, FIA successfully developed multiple projects in 2024, including the Leadership Academy, which currently has a waiting list of more than 400 participants. Faculty and staff also contribute to national and international organisations across education, policy, and research.

Societal commitment and sustainable practices

Sustainability is embedded in FIA’s governance and operations. All students complete a Sustainability and Ethics module, and activities are aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with several recent publications addressing sustainability and ESG topics.

Operational measures include a LEED-certified building, carbon tracking, and compliance systems achieving more than 90% adherence. Gender representation stands at 30% among faculty and 50% among students. An ESG Committee oversees targets and performance.

Image, stakeholder perception, and growth

FIA maintains a strong reputation within its impact zone and nationally. It received more than 500 national media mentions within a year, with additional international coverage. The school holds accreditations from AMBA and BGA as well as EFMD Programme accreditation and participates in major global networks. Stakeholders consistently describe FIA in terms of excellence, impact, trust, knowledge, and community, indicating a coherent institutional identity.

Across all BSIS dimensions, FIA demonstrates measurable and sustained impact within its impact zone. It combines strong regional roots with an expanding international presence. The BSIS label recognises both current performance and the institution’s continued commitment to its founding purpose: to know, to act, and to impact.

Roberto Sbragia, President, FIA Business School, commented:

“The BSIS assessment provided FIA Business School with a comprehensive view of the impact we generate through education, research and consulting. It reinforces our commitment to connecting rigorous academic knowledge with real-world challenges, developing leaders and supporting organisations that shape the economic and social development of Brazil.”

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 review process involves defining the impact zone and institutional scope, collecting data, conducting an impact assessment, and producing a 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 100 schools across 30 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 on the BSIS review process, please visit the conversation on the EFMD Business School Impact System (BSIS).