We are pleased to announce that Kozminski University (KU) has successfully completed the EFMD Business School Impact System assessment process and has been awarded a three-year BSIS label renewal for positive impact.

The EFMD BSIS review team recognised Kozminski University for its strong regional reach and growing global impact; significant contribution to talent development and the regional labour market; impact across the full educational lifecycle; substantial progress in research volume, quality, and dissemination; and research aligned with regional priorities and connected to practice. Kozminski University was first awarded the BSIS label in 2020, and it was renewed in 2023.

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

“Congratulations to Kozminski University on the renewal of its BSIS label. The university demonstrates how a strong commitment to students, research and engagement with business and society can translate into meaningful impact at both regional and international levels. It also recognises the quality of the governance and the strategy. We are pleased to underline this continued progress and the sustained contribution KU makes to its community and beyond.”

Kozminski University (KU)

Kozminski University (KU)(opens in new tab) is a private, business-focused university in Warsaw, Poland, founded in 1993. It offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, postgraduate and MBA programmes in management, finance, economics, law and related fields, including programmes taught in English. With accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA, the university combines research with practical business education and maintains partnerships with universities, organisations and employers worldwide.

Global, regional and societal impact

The BSIS review team found that Kozminski University has a strong regional reach and an expanding international presence. Its contribution extends across the educational lifecycle, from student recruitment and talent development to graduate employment, executive education, flexible learning and alumni engagement. The university’s impact is particularly significant in Warsaw and the wider Mazovia region. KU has a substantial educational presence in the region while attracting students from across Poland and internationally.

The review team highlighted its close links with industry, international recruitment and exchange activity, executive education and the growing provision of part-time programmes. Together, these activities support global talent development and contribute to the regional labour market.

Career readiness and alumni network

Graduate outcomes were identified as a significant strength. More than two-thirds of graduates entered the regional labour market during the reporting period, with more than two-thirds of international graduates also taking jobs locally. The review team regarded these outcomes as a substantial contribution to the region and evidence of KU’s role in developing employable graduates.

Executive education further extends KU’s regional contribution. The review team highlighted the university’s responsiveness to areas including AI, its ability to deliver programmes online and its engagement with professionals ranging from senior executives to technical specialists. Flexible part-time programmes similarly enable working professionals to undertake higher education while pursuing their careers.

KU’s alumni community is another important source of regional impact. The university has more than 80,000 alumni, with tens of thousands working in the region, including many in senior positions across the public and private sectors. The BSIS team highlighted the Alumni Association’s professional development, knowledge exchange and ESG activities, as well as alumni contributions to entrepreneurship, industry and public service. This engagement extends the university’s contribution beyond graduation.

Alignment of research, practice and partnerships

The review team also identified significant progress in research volume, quality and dissemination. The team highlighted hundreds of academic journal articles, including a substantial number in journals with impact factors, as well as professional articles, books, book chapters, conference presentations, and published cases. A large majority of core faculty were actively involved in research and intellectual activities.

KU’s research addresses regional priorities and practical challenges, including digital transformation and AI, sustainability and responsible business, banking and finance, labour market dynamics and geopolitical developments. Research is also applied through consulting and projects addressing urban policy, tourism development and local planning. The review team noted that dozens of doctoral theses concerned the region and that Kozminski University had organised numerous conferences on regional topics, attracting thousands of participants.

Partnerships with regional organisations further support KU’s contribution. The review team identified cooperation with several renowned public and private organisations that support curriculum development, professional certification, and the integration of practical perspectives into teaching and research.

Overall, the BSIS team concluded that Kozminski University makes a substantial contribution to Warsaw and the wider Mazovia region through talent development, graduate employment, executive education, flexible learning and sustained alumni engagement. The team also recognised KU’s global growth in research volume, quality and dissemination, supported by a clear strategy and measurable KPIs. The alignment of research with regional priorities and its practical application further strengthens KU’s global, regional and societal impact. Collectively, these factors contributed to the review team’s decision to renew KU’s BSIS label for a further three-year period.

Professor Grzegorz Mazurek, Rector of Kozminski University, commented:

“Impact is integral to a university’s core mission. It is the test of whether education and research truly matter. BSIS gives us a rigorous framework for understanding that impact, managing it more deliberately and strengthening the value we create for students, organisations, and wider society.”

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).