HKUST continues to strengthen its position as a global leader in sustainability and positive societal impact. Building on the University's achievement of ranking 20th worldwide in the Times Higher Education (THE) Sustainability Impact Rankings 2026, HKUST Business School has also earned the highest distinction in the 2026 Positive Impact Rating for Business Schools (PIR) — Level 5: Pioneering School.
Driven entirely by student voices, the 2026 PIR gathered nearly 20,000 student responses from 32 countries, offering a global perspective on how business schools create positive impact through governance, education, engagement, and their broader contribution to society.
With an overall score of 8.8 out of 10, well above the global average, HKUST Business School remains the only business school in Hong Kong to achieve the highest Level 5 distinction, marking its seventh consecutive year of recognition in the PIR. This result reflects our sustained commitment to nurturing responsible leaders who can create meaningful and lasting change in an increasingly complex world.
The PIR was developed through a collaboration between international NGOs — including WWF, Oxfam International, and the UN Global Compact — together with global student organizations. Its mission is to advance a new vision of management education, shifting the focus from being merely "the best in the world" to being "the best for the world."
Organized by the Positive Impact Rating Association (PIRA), the initiative evaluates how effectively business schools embed sustainability, ethics, social responsibility, and stakeholder engagement into the student experience.
At HKUST Business School, this achievement reflects the collective efforts of faculty, students, alumni, staff, and partners who share a belief that business education should be a force for positive change. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our student ambassadors who championed the survey and encouraged participation among their peers, as well as to every student whose feedback helped shape this recognition. Your voices continue to inspire us to strengthen our impact and deliver an education that empowers future leaders to make a difference.
Learn more about the 2026 Positive Impact Rating.