PIR REPORT 2026

Rethinking societal impact.

A roadmap for business schools to implement positive impact.

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Key figures

Schools rated

>19k

Student responses

Countries

8.0

Average PIR score

What the 2026 results reveal

Beyond the headline figures, the 2026 findings reveal where business schools are making progress, where perceptions still diverge and what is needed to turn positive impact commitments into visible change.

Impact is becoming part of the institutional agenda

Most rated schools are already connected to major international frameworks: 80% are PRME signatories, 78% are AACSB accredited and 53% are EQUIS accredited.

PIR therefore provides more than a standalone rating. It offers a shared evidence base for institutional development, impact reporting and accreditation processes.

Perception gaps reveal where change gets lost

Across the 25 schools that surveyed both students and faculty, faculty consistently perceived the school’s impact more positively.

The closest alignment emerged around Culture, while larger gaps appeared in the Educating area. These differences show where institutional intentions may not yet be fully visible or experienced by students.

The priority is meaningful implementation

Students and faculty are asking for less theory disconnected from practice, less bureaucracy and fewer symbolic sustainability commitments.

They want stronger external partnerships, more applied learning and impact embedded across programs, research, governance and operations. The challenge is no longer awareness. It is implementation.

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PIR report 2026

The complete 2026 edition, including executive summary, overall results, regional insights, roadmap for action, case studies and financial transparency.

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Relevant Insights

Over seven editions, PIR has evolved from a student-led alternative to traditional rankings into a practical tool for institutional transformation. In 2026, the focus shifts from capturing stakeholder voices to helping schools translate them into governance routines, shared ownership and lasting change.

new ratio faculty student graph (2) (1).png

Faculty consistently perceive their school’s positive impact more positively than students, with particularly visible gaps in governance and the institution’s role as a model. These differences reveal where ambition may not yet be fully experienced, communicated or translated into everyday practice.

Launch presentation

A concise overview of the main findings presented during the official PIR 2026 launch.

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Case studies

Examples of how schools have used PIR to drive institutional change across governance, culture, learning methods, student support and public engagement.

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Report Snapshot

A quick look at the key figures, main insights and highlights from the 2026 edition.

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PIR Rated Schools

An overview of the business schools rated in the 7 years of the Positive Impact Rating.

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Impactful research is not defined by method alone. What matters is whether research creates insight that enters decisions, practices, policies, or capabilities.

Dan LeClair, CEO GBSN

and member of the PIR Supervisory Board

PIR Global Summit 2026 online

The PIR Global Online Summit 2026 marked the official launch of the PIR 2026 Report, Closing the implementation gap: proven ways of scaling positive impact at business schools. The summit explored how business schools can move from evidence to action, using PIR results not only to understand student and faculty perspectives, but also to translate them into concrete institutional change. The discussion highlighted the key findings of the 2026 edition, including the growing role of the faculty survey, the introduction of research impact as a new PIR dimension, and the mechanisms schools can use to close the implementation gap through governance routines, student involvement, operating systems, impact measurement and culture. A rich panel discussion brought together representatives from highly engaged PIR schools, including Nottingham University Business School, Monash Business School, Wits Business School and BSB Burgundy School of Business. The lively exchange offered inspiring examples of how schools are embedding responsible management education, strengthening student and faculty alignment, and using PIR insights to advance positive impact across their institutions.