We are pleased to announce that Maastricht University School of Business and Economics (SBE), The Netherlands, 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 identified a wide range of strengths that demonstrate SBE’s significant impact across financial, educational, business, intellectual, regional, and societal dimensions, which served as the basis for awarding the BSIS label.

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

“Maastricht University School of Business and Economics demonstrates a well-integrated approach to impact, where education, research, and regional engagement reinforce one another. The school’s consistent focus on Problem-Based Learning, combined with its strong international orientation and close ties to the regional economy, results in tangible contributions that extend across multiple dimensions of society.”

Maastricht SBE

Founded in 1984 as part of Maastricht University in the Netherlands, Maastricht University School of Business and Economics (SBE) offers a broad portfolio of bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, and executive education programmes in economics, international business, management, public policy, and sustainability.

The school serves more than 6,500 students from around the world, with more than 60% coming from outside the Netherlands, and maintains a global network of more than 175 partner institutions. Education is delivered through small-group teaching based on the Problem-Based Learning model. SBE holds accreditations from AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS.

Financial contribution to the regional economy

The BSIS review team found that SBE generates a substantial financial impact within the Maastricht region and the wider 100-kilometre Euregion. The school’s direct financial impact, based on its annual budget and related institutional activities, amounts to approximately €97.6 million.

When student expenditure, visiting academics, executive education participants, and related activities are included, the indirect financial impact reaches roughly €89.4 million. Combined, this represents a direct and indirect contribution of more than €187 million annually to the local economy, with an overall financial impact exceeding €654 million.

These figures illustrate the school’s economic role in the region through employment, spending, and collaboration with businesses and organisations.

Distinctive and influential educational model

A central strength identified by the BSIS reviewers is the school’s educational approach, particularly its long-standing commitment to Problem-Based Learning (PBL). This student-centred model encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and practical application of knowledge.

The school attracts a highly international student body and maintains a diverse learning environment. With an extensive network of partner institutions and hundreds of exchange participants each year, SBE demonstrates strong global reach.

Graduates show excellent employment outcomes. Nearly all alumni secure employment within 1.5 years of graduation, and many pursue successful careers across Europe and internationally. At the same time, a significant proportion remain in the region or elsewhere in the Netherlands, contributing directly to the local and national talent pool.

Contributions to workforce development

The BSIS review team highlighted the school’s role in supporting professional development through executive education and part-time programmes. SBE offers a structured portfolio of executive education courses and customised programmes for managers, public sector leaders, and professionals across the region.

Part-time degree programmes and certification courses also play an important role in workforce development. With participation from hundreds of professionals and employees from more than 270 companies, the school contributes directly to the continued development of regional managerial talent while strengthening ties with industry.

Engagement with business and entrepreneurship

The BSIS review team found that SBE plays a significant role in supporting business development. Through internships, consulting projects, student assignments, and collaborative research, the school provides companies operating within the impact zone with valuable expertise and talent.

Entrepreneurship represents another important area of strength. The Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation supports students and alumni in developing new ventures and innovation projects. Programmes linked to this centre have supported the creation of new ventures and innovation initiatives that have attracted external investment, contributing to regional innovation and economic activity.

Research and international intellectual influence

The school’s research output was recognised as both extensive and influential. SBE maintains a vibrant research community with a large number of doctoral candidates and a strong record of PhD completions. Its intellectual contribution extends across multiple disciplines through international collaborations and partnerships with industry and public institutions.

Research themes related to sustainability, digitalisation, and globalisation provide a strategic framework for interdisciplinary work. These areas encourage collaboration across departments and strengthen the relevance of research to major societal and economic challenges.

The panel also noted that the school’s intellectual influence extends beyond academic publications. Policy engagement, advisory roles, conferences, and public dissemination activities enable SBE researchers to contribute to discussions affecting business, governance, and labour markets at national and international levels.

Regional integration

SBE is strongly embedded in the institutional and economic networks of Limburg and the wider Euregion Meuse–Rhine. The school collaborates with municipalities, regional authorities, companies, educational institutions, and innovation platforms. Its partnerships with the Brightlands campuses were highlighted as a particularly strong example of regional collaboration linking academia, industry, and government.

Faculty members also serve on advisory boards, professional associations, and public institutions, bringing academic expertise into regional decision-making processes.

Societal responsibility and sustainability

The BSIS review recognised the school’s commitment to sustainability, ethics, and social responsibility. These principles are integrated into teaching, research, and institutional practices. Educational programmes incorporate sustainability competencies, and students are encouraged to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in their work.

The school also promotes diversity and inclusion through initiatives supporting gender equality, inclusive recruitment practices, and the development of a diverse academic community. Research centres and educational initiatives related to sustainability further strengthen the institution’s contribution to societal challenges.

The BSIS review team concluded that the School of Business and Economics (SBE) of Maastricht University demonstrates a strong, coherent, and mature impact profile across all seven BSIS dimensions. Overall, the BSIS review team considered SBE a strategically important actor whose integrated impact aligns closely with BSIS principles and demonstrates strong societal value creation.

Prof Dr Mariëlle Heijltjes, Dean, Maastricht University School of Business and Economics, commented:

“The BSIS assessment confirms that our impact extends well beyond the classroom. It highlights our contributions to the regional economy, our role in knowledge creation, workforce development, and innovation. We view this recognition as validation of our coherent and long-term impact strategy.”

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 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, please visit the conversation on the EFMD Business School Impact System (BSIS).