POLIMI Graduate School of Management has once again been confirmed at Level 5 among the Pioneering Schools in the Positive Impact Rating (PIR) 2026, the highest level of the international rating that assesses business schools’ ability to generate a positive impact on society.

This recognition is particularly meaningful because the Positive Impact Rating stands out from traditional rankings thanks to its student-driven approach: the assessment is based exclusively on students’ perceptions of the School’s ability to translate its values into educational experiences, organizational practices, and relationships with society.

In the 2026 edition, the Positive Impact Rating involved 90 business schools and collected nearly 20,000 student evaluations. Of these, 87 schools from 32 countries were included in the rating, and only 12 achieved the distinction of Pioneering School, among them POLIMI Graduate School of Management, the only Italian institution to receive this recognition.

This achievement confirms a long-standing commitment by the School to integrating sustainability, responsibility, and positive impact into all its activities — from programme design to collaboration with companies, institutions, and organisations — with the goal of educating professionals and leaders capable of addressing the major economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time.

Rather than rewarding individual initiatives, the Positive Impact Rating evaluates the extent to which business schools embed these principles into their identity and culture. Being confirmed at the highest level of the rating therefore represents a significant endorsement of the consistency between the School’s vision and the daily experience of its students.

“Being recognised once again among the Pioneering Schools of the Positive Impact Rating is an important validation of the path we have pursued over the past few years,” comments Federico Frattini, Dean of POLIMI Graduate School of Management. “The value of this achievement lies above all in the perspective from which it originates: that of our students. Knowing that our commitment to responsible, innovative, and impact-oriented education is perceived in a tangible way by those who experience the School every day encourages us to continue investing in this direction, further strengthening our contribution to developing the leaders of tomorrow.”

The Positive Impact Rating was developed by an international coalition of experts, student organisations, and NGOs with the aim of promoting greater attention to the social and environmental impact of business schools. Unlike traditional rankings, it does not measure reputation or financial performance; instead, it assesses institutions’ ability to create value for society through their culture, governance, educational experience, and stakeholder engagement.