We are pleased to announce that Royal Docks School of Business and Law (RDSBL) has successfully completed the EFMD Business School Impact System assessment process and has been awarded the BSIS label for positive impact.

The EFMD BSIS review team recognised Royal Docks School of Business and Law for its broad impact across business, education, research, and society, reflecting the School’s ability to translate its values and expertise into tangible benefits for the communities and organisations it serves.

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

“This achievement is a strong reflection of the purpose and ambition that Royal Docks School of Business and Law brings to its work. The breadth of its contribution, from supporting students and businesses to informing policy and strengthening the wider communities it serves, demonstrates the value of a business school that takes its responsibilities beyond the classroom. Congratulations and welcome to the BSIS community.”

Royal Docks School of Business and Law (RDSBL)

Royal Docks School of Business and Law (RDSBL), the largest school within the University of East London, serves more than 8,200 students across its Docklands and Stratford campuses, with an additional 8,000 students studying through global partner institutions. Located next to London’s only Enterprise Zone and close to Canary Wharf, RDSBL delivers career-focused undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA, PhD and DBA programmes rooted in its ethos of “business with a sense of social justice”.

Known for its commitment to access, inclusion and applied research, the School works closely with regional businesses, government and communities. The EFMD BSIS expert review panel found compelling evidence of impact across all seven dimensions of the assessment framework, supporting the award of the BSIS label to RDSBL.

Driving regional prosperity

RDSBL generates £660.8 million in financial impact across Greater London when the multiplier effect is applied, making a significant contribution to the University of East London’s overall income. More than 3,000 students have worked with 600 businesses, while the Business Incubator and Help to Grow Management Course support entrepreneurship and SME growth. More than 100 start-ups have been supported through the incubator in the past 12 months.

Compulsory consultancy projects have also generated more than £18 million in value for regional companies, demonstrating the School’s contribution to business development and regional economic growth.

Educational and Intellectual contributions

RDSBL supports its students with inclusion, widening participation and social mobility central to its approach. Many students study through apprenticeship routes, while its careers-first ethos and practice-based learning provide them with experience relevant to professional practice and areas including AI, FinTech, sustainability and innovation.

The School’s diverse staff and student community, representing more than 70 nationalities, and its strong recruitment from local and international markets, particularly India and Nepal, were highlighted positively by the panel. The panel also recognised the multi-generational trust RDSBL has established within its communities.

RDSBL’s research contributes to policy and public debate across areas including AI and the future of work, FinTech, digital currency, sustainable finance and social justice. Over the assessment period, the School produced more than 200 high-quality articles in academic journals, with its research and expertise contributing to debate and policy in London, the UK and internationally.

The School has also hosted several conferences with international delegations over the past two years, providing a platform for academic, professional and policy engagement.

Regional integration and societal impact

RDSBL is deeply embedded in East London through its Legal Advice Centre, Business Advice Centre, Tax and Accountancy Clinic, practice-based centres and community partnerships. Together, these initiatives have delivered more than £1 million in pro bono support.

The School has also drafted White Papers for the UK Parliament’s Science and Technology Committee and maintains extensive engagement with professional and civic organisations across London.

External stakeholders described Royal Docks School of Business and Law as “a hub for students, inclusive, an opportunity facilitator, an anchor and a trusted partner,” reflecting its role within the region as a provider of education, expertise and practical support.

Inclusion, social mobility, sustainability and social justice underpin RDSBL’s societal impact. Initiatives, including the Newham Citizen Science Fair, work on gender and social justice, widening participation, and community engagement, extending the School’s contribution beyond the university campus.

The panel particularly commended RDSBL’s work on inclusion, diversity and sustainability. Its Athena SWAN Bronze award and wider commitment to widening participation were highlighted as evidence of its role as “a major engine of social mobility.”

Global reach and engagement

RDSBL takes its expertise from East London to the international stage, working with the UN and international partners across AI, FinTech, innovation, sustainability and digital transformation.

This includes the UEL Noon Centre’s role as the global secretariat for the UN-affiliated New Social Contract for Development, as well as international activities in Taiwan and Romania. The School also has more than 250 international partnership programmes, supporting the global reach of its teaching, research and engagement.

The panel recognised RDSBL’s strong national and international profile, supported by significant media coverage, international partnerships and growing engagement with global academic and professional networks.

Overall assessment

The EFMD BSIS panel concluded that Royal Docks School of Business and Law has a distinctive, values-driven identity centred on “business with a sense of social justice”. The assessment highlighted the School’s financial strength, educational reach, contribution to business development, research and intellectual activity, regional integration, societal contribution and international profile. The panel also identified a clear growth trajectory and a strong commitment to measuring, demonstrating and communicating the School’s impact in the years ahead.

Professor Fatima Annan-Diab, Vice-Provost (Business) and Executive Dean Royal Docks School of Business and Law, University of East London, commented:

“Receiving the BSIS label is an important recognition for the Royal Docks School of Business and Law and one that we are incredibly proud of. What is particularly important about the BSIS process is that it goes beyond traditional measures of success and looks at the difference a Business School makes to the students, businesses, communities and the wider society it serves.

The assessment gave us an opportunity to look closely at our impact across Greater London, from the education and opportunities we provide for our diverse student community, to our research, our work with business and industry, and our contribution to inclusive growth, sustainability and social impact. These are all central to who we are as a School and to our commitment to creating meaningful and lasting impact. This recognition also speaks to the wider vision that guides RDSBL: to be a leading hub for business and law leadership that drives sustainable economic growth, social impact and transformative innovation.

The BSIS label provides independent international recognition of the contribution we are making and the direction we are taking as a School. It reflects the values and ambitions at the heart of UEL’s Vision 2028 and our journey towards 2040 and gives us a strong foundation from which to continue developing our impact.

Most importantly, this recognition reflects the collective work of our colleagues, students and partners. I am enormously grateful to everyone who contributes every day to the School and to the communities we serve, and I am excited about how we take this forward together.”

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 evaluating 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).