The final review highlights the key achievements of the past three years and provides an overview of the POLIMI School of Management’s commitment to sustainability. It also lays the foundations for the new Sustainability Plan 2026–2028.

Over the past three years, this framework has guided the integration of sustainability principles into the School’s research, teaching, inclusion, social innovation and environmental management activities. Developed in line with the Politecnico di Milano’s Sustainability Plan, the SOM Sustainability Plan has helped translate the Politecnico’s strategic objectives into the School’s specific context.

Overall, the picture is positive: of the 61 planned actions, 43 fully achieved their objectives, confirming the progressive consolidation of sustainability as a cross-cutting dimension across the activities of the POLIMI School of Management.

One of the most significant results is the strengthening of policies on inclusion and equal opportunities. Participation in organisational climate surveys exceeded the target of 60%, reaching 71,2% of academic and technical-administrative staff.  The participation rate for training activities dedicated to inclusion and inclusive leadership also exceeded the set targets, with 15,5% of Faculty and 50,8% of technical and administrative staff participating, compared with targets of 10% and 30% respectively. The commitment to promoting access to education through scholarships for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds was also particularly significant, with the total value reaching 10 million euros – more than double the initial target.

Monitoring also highlights the consolidation of sustainability as a cross-cutting element of the educational program. Over the three-year period, more than 32% of teaching hours were dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals, exceeding the target of 30%. Student involvement in initiatives focused on purpose, sustainability and impact also grew significantly: 61 project work were submitted for sustainability awards, compared with a target of 20; 424 students took part in dedicated challenges, compared with a target of 180; and 13 challenges were launched, compared with a target of five. At the same time, the scope of continuing professional development has expanded to include 4 digital learning resources dedicated to sustainability: MOOCs, podcasts, a content hub that has reached over 731.000 users, and more than 5.000 hours of training in master’s and postgraduate courses featuring sustainability content involving 1.217 participants.

Research has also confirmed its strategic role. The number of sustainability projects developed in collaboration with businesses and universities has reached 56, far exceeding the target of 30. Meanwhile, PhD scholarships dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals have increased by 32%. Training for researchers on ethics and the impact of research has also produced very positive results: An impressive 88,5% of researchers participated, far surpassing the target of 15%, which confirms the growing focus on responsible research.

Significant results have also been achieved in the area of corporate social responsibility. Collaboration with the third sector has resulted in 40 pro bono consultancy projects being carried out for non-profit organizations, involving 18,1%  of Faculty members – nearly twice the target figure. Furthermore, 299 members of staff, including professors, support staff and students, participated in voluntary initiatives, contributing over 2.670 hours of work in support of non-profit organizations. These results demonstrate the School’s growing commitment to having a positive impact on the local community.

In terms of the environment, monitoring confirms the continuation of measures aimed at reducing environmental impact, ranging from energy efficiency and sustainable mobility to circular economy initiatives and waste reduction. The aim is to continuously improve environmental performance.

This final review marks the conclusion of the 2023–2025 Sustainability Plan, while also representing a starting point for the future. The results achieved and experience gained over the three-year period will contribute to the development of the new 2026–2028 Sustainability Plan, to be presented by the POLIMI School of Management in the coming months. Building on the progress already made, the new Plan will further strengthen the integration of sustainability into research, education, innovation, and socially impactful activities, with the aim of continuous improvement and creating value for the academic community and society.