ZHAW in Positive Impact Rating 2026
The ZHAW School of Management and Law (SML) has once again been included in this year’s Positive Impact Rating for Business Schools. Worldwide, more than 20,000 students rated their business schools based on their social impact.
This year, the SML has achieved Level 3 “Progressing School” status with a higher score than last year (7.1 compared to 6.4). Feedback from SML’s international students and MBA participants was particularly positive.
The Positive Impact Rating (PIR) survey, organized by students for students, considers seven dimensions: the school’s governance, the school’s culture, programs, learning methods, student support, the institution as a role model, and public engagement.
A total of 87 business schools from 32 countries participated in this year’s survey. In addition to the SML, only two other universities in Switzerland are listed – the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) and the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH).
All the results are presented in detail in the PIR Report 2026.
The Positive Impact Rating (PIR) was developed by experts from business schools and NGOs (WWF, Oxfam, and the UN Global Compact). The PIR collaborates with international student associations and partners with the Global Business School Network (GBSN) and the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). The PIR is supported by the Institute for Business Sustainability Foundation (Switzerland) and VIVA Idea (Costa Rica).