SBS Recognized as a Transforming Institution in Global Positive Impact Rating 2025

Strathmore University Business School (SBS) has been honored as a Transforming Institution (Level 4) in the 2025 Positive Impact Rating (PIR), recognizing its commitment to sustainability and societal impact. This prestigious distinction was announced earlier this month at the PIR Global Summit 2025 and the UN PRME Global Forum, placing SBS among global institutions driving meaningful change in business education worldwide.

As one of only 86 participating business schools from 30 countries, SBS saw 17,167 student responses globally in a record-breaking year, a 13 percent increase from 2024. This achievement reflects its dedication to developing ethical, responsible business leaders for Africa and beyond.

The PIR is a unique rating created by students for students, which was designed to capture how participants perceive their schools’ positive impact on the world. Participants evaluated how SBS addresses societal and sustainability challenges and how well it prepares its students to become responsible leaders. The data collection at SBS was organized and led by the various class presidents who distributed the survey across the campus. This year, 143 respondents from SBS participated in the survey: 76 undergraduate students, 45 graduate students, and 22 MBA students.

SBS’s performance was assessed across seven critical dimensions: governance & culture, programs & teaching, learning methods, student engagement, institutional practices, external engagement, and research impact.

The PIR uses 20 questions grouped into seven dimensions across three overarching areas: Energizing, Educating, and Engaging. These results place schools into one of five levels, three of which are published: Level 3 (Progressing), Level 4 (Transforming), and Level 5 (Pioneering).

The PIR – supported by WWF, Oxfam, UN Global Compact, and leading student organizations – has become an essential tool for accreditation processes. “As African business schools rise in global prominence, SBS’s PIR achievement sets a benchmark for the continent,” said Prof. Thomas Dyllick, PIR Founder. “Their student-centered approach exemplifies how institutions can drive academic excellence and societal progress.”

With this recognition, (SBS) reaffirms its position as East Africa’s premier institution for responsible management education while contributing valuable insights to the global conversation about business school impact.