François Bonvalet: Championing impact through BSIS

François Bonvalet is a seasoned leader in business education with deep experience steering internationally accredited institutions. After serving as Dean and Director General of two triple-accredited business schools for over 15 years, he was invited by FNEGE and EFMD to take the lead on BSIS, the Business School Impact System. As someone who has experienced the BSIS process first-hand during his final deanship, François now guides schools through the impact, helping them to better define, measure, and communicate their societal relevance.

We recently spoke with him about the BSIS framework, what schools gain from the process, and why cultivating a culture of impact matters now more than ever.

Could you introduce BSIS?

We like to describe BSIS as a comprehensive impact assessment system based on a robust methodology developed over 13 years.It functions almost like a peer-to-peer consultancy process—a compass, if you will—that helps schools reflect on their strategy, assess their footprint, and take clearer steps to amplify their impact.

BSIS is built around the concept of "impact." How do you define that for a business school?

In the BSIS framework, we define impact as something that has long-term, significant consequences—either quantitatively or qualitatively measurable. It’s not just about what’s visible today, but what endures.

The impact we assess must be meaningful for the individuals or organizations concerned. That’s why we work across seven dimensions of impact and tailor the assessment to each school’s unique context and stakeholders.

What are the main benefits schools gain from going through the BSIS process? And are there any surprising outcomes they often discover?

To hear from our experts directly, I always recommend reading the “Impactful Insights” series on the EFMD Global blog—where BSIS assessment experts share first hand reflections and takeaways from their visits.

But from my perspective, the value of BSIS is that it provides schools with an in-depth understanding of how they operate and what they contribute. It equips them with evidence to identify, demonstrate, and enhance their impact. It shifts the mindset from a culture of performance to a culture of purpose—impact-driven strategy rather than purely metrics-driven activity.

One powerful outcome is that people through out the organization, regardless of role, gain a clearer sense of how their work contributes to the institution’s overall impact. That shared understanding can transform how a school communicates and makes decisions, both internally and externally.

What are common obstacles schools face when preparing for BSIS, and how can they be addressed?

First, it’s worth noting that BSIS is a voluntary process, so schools usually begin the journey with motivation and alignment. Still, challenges can arise—mostly related to dedicating the right resources and time.

Fortunately, the data collection software is highly efficient, and the BSIS team is there to support schools every step of the way. My main advice? The dean should be genuinely involved. Even if the process is led by accreditation or quality assurance teams, real leadership and visibility from the top are crucial for success.

Beyond achieving the label, what are the real challenges schools face when delivering on their societal impact goals?

That’s a complex question—societal impact is multifaceted, and it varies significantly depending on the school’s history, strategy, context, and governance. There's no one-size-fits-all solution.

What we do encourage, however, is aligning institutional efforts with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined by theUnited Nations Global Compact. This helps schools clarify which objectives they’re pursuing, and why. From there, it becomes easier to select meaningful qualitative and quantitative indicators to track progress.

Schools that complete BSIS often have a wealth of data and insights. How can they use those results to spark real change?

The impact journey doesn’t end with the report. In fact, that’s when the work really begins. To translate insights into meaningful change, schools should:

·       Define clear objectives

·       Identify how they will measure progress regularly

·       Demonstrate the economic and human value of their impact

·       Communicate transparently with internal and external stakeholders

·       And above all, treat it as a continuous cycle—setting bold new goals once initial ones are achieved

Change is not a one-off event; it’s an ongoing commitment.

How does TASK™ complement the BSIS framework?

Societal impact begins inside the institution. Students, after all, are future leaders and change makers. TASK™ helps schools gauge how well students understand and embody key elements of societal impact.

It’s a robust tool that gives schools deeper visibility into student mindsets. At BSIS, we’re always looking for complementary approaches like this that empower schools to build lasting, meaningful impact.

From your experience, what are the most urgent issues facing business education today—and how should schools respond?

This could easily be the subject of an entire book—or several! But if I had to narrow it down, I’d say we’re facing three interconnected challenges:

·       The growing influence of AI and digital transformation across teaching, research, and communication

·       Increasing geopolitical uncertainty, which requires agility and resilience from institutions

·       Persistent inequality and poverty, which business education must help address

In the face of these challenges, one belief keeps me grounded: to educate is the only real path to a better world.And I sincerely hope that my colleagues—deans, faculty, staff—share this conviction. Because it’s this shared purpose that gives our work real meaning.

A shared mission

BSIS is not just an assessment tool, but a true strategic lever that enables business schools to better understand and enhance their impact. Many of our ChangeLeaders, including Onsi Sawiris School of Business (AUC), EM Normandie and more, are also part of the BSIS community, and we are grateful to work alongside BSIS to advance the shared mission of enhancing educational impact and mainstreaming sustainability literacy.

About BSIS

The Business School Impact System (BSIS) is the first comprehensive impact assessment tool designed specifically for business schools. Developed by EFMD Global and FNEGE, BSIS helps institutions demonstrate their tangible and intangible impact across seven key dimensions.

The process involves mapping a school’s“impact zone,” collecting data through a guided system, and participating in a peer-reviewed assessment visit. The resulting insights help schools refine their strategy, better engage stakeholders, and communicate their value both locally and globally.

To date, more than 90 schools in 25+ countries have received the BSIS label. For more information, visit the BSIS website.