News

School of Business participates in the 2023 Positive Impact Rating

Published: 17.1.2023

Positive Impact Rating (PIR) is an international business school rating, in which students evaluate their own school regarding its readiness to help solve sustainability and other societal challenges

two economics students — Photo: Aalto University / Roope Kiviranta

The School of Business students have again the possibility to evaluate how their own School addresses and prepares its students to solve sustainability and other societal challenges, as the School participates in the 2023 Positive Impact Rating (PIR). In the 2022 rating, the School of Business reached the second-highest level (4/5).

Student organisation KY organises the data collection together with the School by sharing the link to the survey through for example newsletters. Responding to the survey by February 28, 2023, is an excellent opportunity to impact the School’s development and make one’s opinion heard.

‘Responsibility and sustainable development are not only of primary importance, but also the starting point from which operations should be viewed. Building a more sustainable tomorrow requires concrete actions, and the actions require an understanding of how the activities could and should be promoted. It is important that our students get to influence how the themes of sustainable development are taken into account in the development of activities and operations. The students have both significant competence and a huge desire to influence our joint future,’ says Laura Nikola, who was responsible for sustainable development in the KY board.

Timo Korkeamäki, Dean of the School of Business, appreciates the feedback given by the students and hopes that as many bachelor's and master's students as possible will respond to the survey.

‘The PIR survey gives us valuable feedback on taking the themes of sustainable development into account in our teaching. We want to build a sustainable future here in Aalto University, and as such, we here at the School of Business will closely monitor the results of this annual survey.’

Rating created by business school experts, NGOs and students

PIR survey includes both multiple-choice and open questions for example related to, the school’s teaching culture and its commitment to societal impact. As a result, each business school gets an overall PIR score, which is used to position the school on one of five levels, as well as tools to be used in the further development of the school. The different levels refer to the developmental stage of the business school, rating it by a certain level of achievement.

According to Katrin Muff, President of the Positive Impact Rating Association, PIR is designed as a tool to improve and transform business education. ‘It enables schools to understand what a positive impact for society is, according to their students. The PIR highlights the potential for improvement, even for leading schools.’

The PIR was created by concerned business school experts together with global NGOs – World Wildlife Fund WWF, Oxfam, and United Nations Global Compact. International student associations oikos, AIESEC and Net Impact are also part of the PIR, which is supported by VIVA Idea and Fehr Advice.

The results of the 2023 Edition of the Positive Impact Rating will be launched at an international event in Spring 2023.

More information:
www.positiveimpactrating.org