From External Rating to Internal Reflection

This article examines how business schools can respond constructively to external sustainability ratings and public benchmarks. Drawing on Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts’ experience with WWF Switzerland, it argues that such ratings are most valuable when treated as catalysts for internal reflection rather than as prescriptions for rapid curricular change. The article highlights the importance of deliberate governance, faculty ownership, institutional identity, and curriculum coherence in integrating sustainability meaningfully into business education.

This article was originally published in AACSB Insights on 28 April 2026: From External Rating to Internal Reflection.