The school remains the only one in Portugal with two MBAs accredited by EFMD, joining a select group worldwide.
Porto Business School (PBS) has once again been recognized with the international accreditation of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), one of the leading international accreditation bodies for quality in education, which has renewed — for another five years — the quality certification of the Executive MBA and International MBA programs.
This renewal, granted for the maximum period awarded by the entity, strengthens PBS’ position among the world’s top business schools. The school remains the only one in Portugal with two MBA programs accredited by EFMD, and one of very few worldwide holding this dual certification. It is worth noting that, currently, there are only 112 accredited programs in Europe and 150 worldwide, according to EFMD official data.
The reaccreditation comes shortly after Porto Business School entered the Financial Times ranking of the world’s top 100 Executive MBAs, further consolidating the school’s international reputation and the relevance of its portfolio of advanced management programs.
The evaluation process involved an in-depth review of the programs and the active participation of multiple stakeholders — including faculty, students, alumni, staff, and corporate partners — in a collective effort that reaffirms PBS’ commitment to quality, innovation, and impact on the development of leaders and organizations.
In its assessment, EFMD highlighted the international scope of the programs, reflected in the diversity of student profiles, academic partnerships, and international faculty, as well as the strong connection to the corporate world, evident in applied projects, guest lectures by executives, and corporate partnerships.
The excellence of the faculty, combining academic rigor with professional experience, was also emphasized, along with the impact of the programs on participants’ career progression and organizational growth. EFMD also highlighted the active involvement of the alumni community, which maintains a strong relationship with the school, engaging in mentoring initiatives, events, projects, and the promotion of the PBS brand.
“This maximum reaccreditation by EFMD is more than a quality stamp — it reflects our ambition to shape the future of management and leadership education. At Porto Business School, we develop purpose-driven leaders, prepared to transform their organizations and society. This achievement is a tribute to our community, which every day makes PBS a laboratory for innovation and a global reference for positive impact,” said José Esteves, Dean of Porto Business School.
In addition to EFMD accreditation, Porto Business School also holds AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and AMBA (Association of MBAs) certifications — two of the most prestigious global accreditations in management education.
Earlier this year, the Global Online MBA ranked 8th worldwide and 4th in Europe in the Financial Times Online MBA Ranking 2025, reaffirming the school as a leader in pedagogical innovation and in the integration of Artificial Intelligence in leadership development.