News
| 17.06.2021

Hanken aims at engaging students even more in sustainability

Hanken School of Economics was recognized for its social impact and sustainability achievements when the Positive Impact Rating (PIR) results were launched on 17 June 2021 at the UN PRME Global Forum. Hanken was one of 47 business schools from 21 countries worldwide that took part in the rating this year and achieved Level 3, making it a progressing school within the PIR.

The PIR is a rating conducted by students and for students. For the second time, students worldwide assessed their business schools on how they perceive their positive impact in the world. The positive impact of business schools goes beyond their contribution to business and the economy; it addresses the need for their positive impact for society. 

“We students at Hanken want to gain the knowledge and the tools to bring a positive change to society. There is always room for improvement, but we are glad that Hanken takes this subject seriously and want to help us students engage in the matter”, states Daniel Karlsson, President of Hanken’s Student Union.

Students assessed how Hanken addresses societal and sustainable challenges and prepares its students to be responsible business leaders. The data collection in Hanken was organised and led by SHS, who distributed the PIR survey across campus to their fellow students. This year only 48 students responded to the survey, but it still gives decent insight into what the students are thinking and which direction they want the School to take. Participating in the PIR demonstrates the value Hanken gives to student feedback and voice.  

“Having been assessed a progressing school twice in row indicates we are headed in the right direction, but also indicates a lot of room for improvement. The honest feedback from students provide some tangible new grounds for student engagement and overall institutional action on sustainability and societal impact in coming few years. It has definitely provided an institutional impetus to take some hard measures around walking the sustainability talk”, says Sanchi Maheshwari, Social Responsibility Coordinator at Hanken.

The rating survey asks students 20 questions in seven relevant impact dimensions that sit within three areas: Energizing, Educating, and Engaging. The overall PIR score of the business school is used to position the schools across five levels. Hanken scored 7 in energising and engaging indicating that the School does have processes in place to take positive societal impact to the next level, so it is now about doing more and better. 

More information about PIR and the report for 2021 »  

The PIR was created by concerned business school experts together with global NGOs - WWF, Oxfam, and UN Global Compact. International student associations oikos, AIESEC and Net Impact are also part of the PIR.