Impact

: identification and measurement in higher education institutions

Abstract

This thesis investigates how Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), particularly business schools, can generate and measure their impact on society. Recognizing that the influence of universities extends beyond education, this study explores how HEIs can affect a wide range of stakeholders through their research, educational practices, and outreach activities. By taking inspiration from the impact framework developed by Belcher and Halliwell (2021) and Erasmus University Rotterdam (2024b), we define impact as any effect, change, or benefit across domains such as academia, culture, economy, environment, health, policy, in social ways and technology, we construct a system to identify and assess impact within a university setting. The framework is then applied at Católica Porto Business School (CPBS), where a customized impact assessment model was developed, reflecting the institution’s mission and objectives. Drawing on institutional data, three interactive dashboards were created to evaluate outputs and outcomes across research, education, and outreach. The results highlight how HEIs can better understand, manage, and communicate their value to society through a structured approach to impact measurement.

Date of Award	2 Jul 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Silva (Supervisor)