We are pleased to announce that Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics (Católica-Lisbon SBE) has successfully completed the EFMD Business School Impact System (BSIS) assessment process and has been awarded the BSIS label for positive impact.

The EFMD BSIS review team recognised Católica-Lisbon SBE for its substantial and demonstrable impact on the economy, education, research and society in Portugal and beyond.

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

“Congratulations to Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics on receiving its first BSIS label. The assessment recognises the school’s substantial contribution to Portugal’s economy and society, reflected in its strong graduate employability, influential alumni network, high-quality research and close partnerships with business and public institutions. Its commitment to responsible management and sustainable development further demonstrates how business schools can create lasting value for their communities and contribute to the wider public good.”

Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics

Established in 1972, Católica-Lisbon SBE is a leading business school in Portugal and part of Universidade Católica Portuguesa. With more than 50 years of experience in management and economics education, the school combines academic rigour, internationally recognised research and practical relevance.

Its portfolio spans undergraduate, master’s, doctoral and executive education programmes across management, economics, finance and business analytics. Accredited by AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS since 2007, Católica-Lisbon SBE is committed to developing responsible leaders and advancing knowledge with meaningful societal and economic impact.

Substantial contribution to the economy

Through its educational programmes, research, entrepreneurship initiatives and engagement with business and public institutions, Católica-Lisbon contributes to Lisbon’s regional economy, Portugal’s national development and the country’s international standing.

Educational outcomes and employability

With more than 3,000 degree students, half of whom are international, Graduate employability is a principal strength. More than 95% of graduates secure a relevant position within three months of graduation, while the overall employability rate across Master’s programmes remains extremely high. Employers particularly value graduates’ analytical and communication skills, while students benefit from the school’s strong emphasis on personal attention.

Bachelor’s programmes maintain close links with Lisbon and the Portuguese labour market and are starting to be internationally recognised, while Master’s programmes attract 75% of international students and prepare graduates for careers in Portugal and abroad. Scholarship initiatives, including Católica TOP Talent Scholarships, help high-performing students access these opportunities irrespective of their financial circumstances.

Executive education extends the school’s contribution to professional development, serving approximately 4,000 participants and its customised corporate programmes and open courses cover leadership, finance, strategy, artificial intelligence, sustainability and responsible management, among other areas.

Entrepreneurship and business development

The school supports business development through student internships, consulting projects, corporate assignments and faculty consultancy. The Católica Lisbon Entrepreneurship Centre (CLEC) supports aspiring entrepreneurs through initiatives including Forward!, New Venture Creation, the Leading Entrepreneurship Programme and the Transform4Europe European Validation Studio. These programmes provide coaching, pre-acceleration support and access to mentors and corporate partners.

More than 200 students participated in entrepreneurship programmes during the most recent academic year, with student and alumni founders developing ventures in fields including digital health, financial technology and sustainable products.

The school also contributes to Portugal’s entrepreneurial standing. Universidade Católica Portuguesa ranked first in Startup Portugal’s entrepreneurial universities ranking in 2024 and second in 2025, with Católica-Lisbon identified as a significant contributor. Through its CEA consulting and studies unit, the school also provides companies and public organisations with expertise, analysis and strategic support.

Quality research with policy influence

The school produces a substantial number of peer-reviewed journal articles, with faculty research generating thousands of citations each year, and several faculty members featured among the Stanford Top 2% of the most influential scientists.

The Católica Lisbon Research Unit in Business and Economics (CUBE) is highly rated, and the school is consistently positioned among Europe’s top 30 institutions in the UT Dallas Research Ranking of Top Journals, reflecting strong research performance relative to its size.

Research informs public debate and policy development in areas including economic forecasting, sustainable finance, corporate responsibility, water management, mental health and economic regulation.

Faculty members communicate research through national media, seminars, conferences, podcasts and public events. Research also informs teaching in responsible business, sustainable finance, climate risk, data science and business analytics, strengthening the links between academic work and organisational practice.

Ethics, sustainability and societal responsibility

The assessment identified Católica-Lisbon’s humanistic identity as a defining institutional characteristic. Its strategic framework aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the UN Global Compact principles and the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). The school has mapped its curriculum against SDG targets, with validation by the faculty responsible for each course.

Ethics is taught to all students, while dedicated courses address corporate responsibility, social innovation, sustainable finance and impact investing. The Centre for Responsible Business and Leadership, the Centre for Sustainable Finance, and the Yunus Social Innovation Centre support research and practical initiatives that address social and environmental challenges.

International engagement further extends this contribution. Executive education programmes in Angola and Mozambique support management development and institutional capacity-building within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.

Contribution to business and society

The EFMD BSIS assessment highlights the scope of Católica-Lisbon’s contribution to Portugal and the wider international community. Its economic impact, educational outcomes, alumni leadership, research excellence and commitment to responsible management demonstrate the value it creates for businesses, public institutions and society.

Together, these strengths position the school as an important contributor to Portugal’s economic and social development, a contribution recognised by the BSIS review team through the award of its first BSIS label.

Filipe Santos, Dean of Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics, commented:

 “Receiving the BSIS label is a great honour to Católica-Lisbon SBE and a validation of the excellence and impact of our activities, both nationally and globally. The rigorous BSIS methodology and constructive evaluation visit allowed us to better understand our impact and positioning, including measuring our financial impact at 214M euros for Portugal. The evaluators acknowledged that “Católica-Lisbon SBE combines significant economic impact with a genuinely humanistic identity, a unique level of personal attention, a central role in mobilising the Portuguese impact ecosystem, and sustainability integrated into education and institutional practice”. Rooted in Portugal, where we pioneered business education exactly 54 years ago, we are increasingly recognized as a top tier research oriented business and economics school. With close to 50% international faculty and students, we are an increasingly attractive hub for outstanding global talent and a strong contributor to societal progress.”

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).