Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, Barefoot In Business Community Interest Company (CIC)wins prestigious Best Business School Partnership Award in the AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026

Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow scooped the coveted Best Business School Partnership Award 2025, at the world-renowned Association of MBA’s (AMBA) and Business Graduates Association (BGA) Excellence Awards 2025 for their partnership with Barefoot In Business Community Interest Company (CIC).

The AMBA & BGA Excellence Awards 2026 were held on January 23, 2026 at the exceptional Royal Garden Hotel. The Awards brought together leading lights from the global business education community to celebrate excellence and commend achievement among business schools, MBA students and graduates, suppliers and employers.

The ceremony was attended by more than 200 business school leaders, as well as category finalists, judges and members of the media.

The Best Business School Partnership Award recognises business schools that share AMBA & BGA’s passion for building networks and have adopted a proactive and innovative approach to strategic collaboration.

A productive social enterprise partnership between Adam Smith Business School (ASBS), female entrepreneurs in Ugandan slums, and Glasgow primary schools is empowering women of all ages.

Colourful tote bags produced sustainably by Ugandan female entrepreneurs are sold in a business created by Glasgow pupils. The youngsters are mentored by business school students who share the ideas, knowledge and skills they've developed throughout their degree.

It is the first initiative of its kind to be supported by a UK business school. The work adopts a proactive and innovative approach to strategic collaboration, supporting the values and purpose of ASBS and Barefoot in Business.

Professor Graeme Roy, Head of Adam Smith Business School said: “Our Barefoot in Business partnership gives our students the opportunity to go out into the community and use their knowledge and skills to support and mentor others, and provides them with the chance to think more broadly about what ‘business for good’ means in terms of fostering global and local partnerships.

“The initiative connects and strengthens the School’s and Barefoot’s shared goal of teaching and empowering local people in the long term, to acquire skills and reflect upon their entrepreneurial skills in an enlightening and enterprising manner, and addresses real-world challenges for all involved. It’s fantastic this work has been recognised in the AMBA and BGA Excellence Awards.”

Carol Cooke Kaspar, Founder of Barefoot in Business CIC said: “We are honoured to receive this recognition from the AMBA and BGA Excellent Awards. Working with the staff and students from the Adam Smith Business School has been a game changer for us. Thanks to this partnership, we’ve been able to take the project to the next level and ensure the maximum impact for everyone involved. For our budding entrepreneurs, it’s brought the world of business and academia to life, and for our team in Uganda, it's meant much-needed orders and an opportunity to show the world what they’re capable of.

“This is why I set up Barefoot in Business. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved over the past five years with ASBS and couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds with them as our partners.”

Andrew Main Wilson, Chief Executive of the Association of MBAs and Business Graduates Association (AMBA & BGA) said: “I am delighted to congratulate the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, and Barefoot in Business CIC on winning this year’s Best Business School Partnership Award. Their collaboration is an inspiring example of how strategic, values‑driven partnerships can create meaningful social and educational impact.

This year saw an exceptionally high standard of entries, and standing out among such strong competition is a remarkable achievement. The transformational work undertaken through this partnership—empowering women entrepreneurs in Uganda while enriching the learning experience of students and schoolchildren in Glasgow—perfectly embodies the spirit of innovation, community engagement and global citizenship that AMBA & BGA are proud to champion.”

“I also want to take the opportunity to thank our sponsors Ready Education, GMAC and Cesim Business Simulations. Their support for our awards – and the business education sector – is greatly appreciated.”

For more information or interviews, please contact:

· Ellen Buchan, Insight, Content & PR Manager, AMBA & BGA – e.buchan@amba-bga.com

Awards selection process:

The finalists were shortlisted by AMBA & BGA’s senior management team. A panel of judges then reviewed the shortlisted entries, selecting a winner and a highly commended entry for each award. Our judging panel is made up of AMBA board members, business experts, deans and management leaders.

All of our judges were selected based on their experience and qualifications.

The winners and highly commended entries can be seen here.

Best Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative Award 2026

The Best Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative award has been introduced to recognise business schools and the work they have been doing to create, incorporate and develop culture, diversity and inclusion practices.

Winner

· Women Leadership Program, International Management Institute (MIM-Kyiv)

Highly commended

· Aotearoa Centre for Enterprising Women, University of Auckland Business School

· IE’s Inclusive Celebration Series: empowering culture, identity and belonging across campus, IE Business School

Best Business School Partnership Award 2026

The Best Business School Partnership award recognises institutions that share AMBA & BGA’s passion for building networks and have adopted a proactive, innovative approach to strategic collaboration.

It is open to any business school that is working strategically and collaboratively with (for example) another school/group of schools, an employer, a consultant, education partner or technology provider, a social impact group, an individual, a charity, or other organisation.

Winner

· Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, Barefoot In Business Community Interest Company (CIC)

Highly commended

· POLIMI School of Management with UniCredit

· UBI Business School, with Publicis Commerce

· Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University with BJC Big C group

Best CSR and Sustainability Initiative Award 2026, in association with Cesim Business Simulations

The Best CSR and Sustainability Initiative award honours AMBA & BGA schools that share our commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability, and who are passionate about making a difference to communities and societies.

The award will recognise business schools that are taking the initiative in creating a sustainable future and teaching students about social values, as well as making a positive impact in practical and measurable ways.

Winner

· Responsible Supply Chain Network, Universidad Externado de Colombia

Highly commended

· 1,000 Tree Project, Mannheim Business School

· Social Sensitisation Camp, Rajagiri Business School

Best lifelong learning Initiative Award 2026, in association with Ready Education

The Best Lifelong Learning Initiative award recognises the efforts of AMBA & BGA schools that are reinventing teaching and learning among students, graduates, alumni networks and custom and executive education.

The winning entries will showcase the impact and success these initiatives have had not only on students but also on the business school itself.

Winner

· GITAM Innovation & Entrepreneurship Continuum, GITAM School of Business

Highly commended

· HyFlex delivery + MBA Specialisations, UBI Business School

· AI University and Metaverse Campus Initiative, Berlin School of Business and Innovation

Best Innovation Strategy Award 2026

The Best Innovation Strategy award honours a school’s achievement in pushing boundaries in terms of creativity in practice.

This prestigious award is a celebration of innovation and radical thinking in business education delivery across all areas of the business school and has been developed to recognise and reward game-changing new practices, risks and creativity around programmes on offer at business schools in the AMBA & BGA networks.

It promotes the values of taking risks in pursuit of the new in a range of areas, such as teaching, learning, recruitment and alumni relations.

Winner

· AI-Powered Job Matching Tool (JMT), IE Business School

High commended

· Business learning in graduate education through immersive gamification and video games, EGADE Business School

· B-Involved Program, Fortune Institute of International Business (FIIB)

Best Digital Transformation Award 2026

The Best Digital Transformation award showcases a school’s journey to implementing new and world-class technology.

This award recognises schools that have pushed past the expected digital proficiency expected of a business school and developed or implemented a seamless digital experience.

This award has been developed to showcase digital change in any aspect of a business school’s day-to-day operations – for example, this could be in implementing new learning management systems, adopting new devices in the school, or digitising administrative processes. Initiatives might also be school-wide or instead relate to the implementation of a technology in one specific module or area.

Winner

· BI Norwegian Business School, Norway

Highly commended

· Indian Institute of Management Indore, India

· POLIMI School of Management, Italy

· Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, UK

BGA Business School Impact Award 2026

The BGA Business School Impact Award is open to BGA member, validated and accredited schools that can demonstrate their impact on all stakeholders, alongside BGA’s vision and charter. 

This award celebrates and reflect on the positive impact that a business school is exerting on students and graduates, communities and the economy as a whole.  

By validating how positive impact, continuous improvement and responsible management have enhanced the stakeholder experience, business school nominees here showcase how they are contributing to the betterment of society using both quantitative and qualitative analysis of activities, initiatives and/or programmes.  

Winner

· The Narxoz/CIM Integration Initiative, School of Economics and Management, Narxoz University

Highly commended

· Bath Institute for Digital Security and Behaviour, University of Bath School of Management, UK

· Mutual Empowerment through Experiential Consulting, International Business School (IBS) at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), China

· The Construction of the Chinese School of Management, School of Business Administration - Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, China

Start-Up of the Year Award 2026

The Start-Up of the Year award celebrates the achievements of successful students and alumni in innovative world-class business strategy, but also showcases business schools that are nurturing a spirit of enterprise and ambition.

This award highlights the success of AMBA & BGA business schools that promote entrepreneurship in their cohorts. The award is also a chance for individuals to impress high-profile judges who are already at the forefront of global entrepreneurship.

The Start-up of the Year award is designed to encourage and promote the value of start-up business strategy and innovation, in the current competitive climate and to showcase its importance in the global market.

The Start-up of the Year award is open to both private and public sectors, celebrating innovative business strategy and the process of taking something from idea to action.

Winner

· Samuel Tecuala, King's Business School, King's College London, UK for Dehusk

Highly commended

· Micah Leitch, Durham University Business School, UK, for Donup

· Prabal Pratap Singh, Goa Institute of Management, India, for SartGram

Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2026

The Entrepreneur of the Year award celebrates the achievements of successful alumni entrepreneurs, but also showcases business schools that are nurturing a spirit of enterprise and ambition.

This award highlights the success of business schools that promote entrepreneurship in their cohorts. It is also a chance for individuals to impress high-profile judges who are already at the forefront of global entrepreneurship.

The Entrepreneur of the Year award is one of the most distinguished awards in the industry. AMBA & BGA has developed the award to encourage and promote the value of entrepreneurship in the current competitive climate and to highlight its importance in the global market.

The Entrepreneur of the Year award is open to both private and not-for-profit sectors. This award is designed to celebrate the impact made by growing organisations in terms of development and will look at an enterprise’s results and achievements.

Winner

· Warner Jenkins, IE Business School, Spain

Highly commended

· Christian Mwachuku, Aston Business School, Aston University, UK

· Gostina Malope, Porto Business School, Portugal

Postgraduate Leadership Award 2026

The Postgraduate Leadership Award 2026 honours alumni from AMBA & BGA business schools who have been making an impact in the business world following their graduation.  

The award recognises the great work of these graduates through their achievements, performance and recognition. 

Winner 

· Cristian Von Schulz Hausmann, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella Escuela de Negocios, Argentina

Highly commended

· Michelle Steele, QUT Graduate School of Business, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

· Bhaskar Ramesh, SP Jain Institute of Management & Research, India

AMBA Student of the Year Award 2026, in association with GMAC

The AMBA Student of the Year Award plays a pivotal role in supporting AMBA’s pledge to promote the MBA as the leading international business qualification.

The AMBA Student of the Year Award recognises students who have shown exceptional career potential and who AMBA believes can act as ambassadors for the high quality of accredited MBAs and the opportunities these programmes provide for students.

This award doesn’t just recognise ‘straight-A’ students but also focuses on leadership potential and career progression.

Winner

· Esmeralda Colombo, POLIMI School of Management, Italy

Highly commended

· Raymond Xiang Zheng, Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, UK

· Miarizaka Fabien Randriamananjara, Kent Business School, UK

BGA Student of the Year Award 2026

The BGA Student of the Year Award 2026 recognises students who have shown exceptional career potential and who BGA believes can act as ambassadors for the business school community. The students will be from a wide range of different personal and professional backgrounds and can be studying any business school degree programme.

This award doesn’t just recognise ‘straight-A’ students but also focuses on leadership potential and career progression. 

Winner

· Aurora d’Alonzo, POLIMI School of Management, Italy

Highly commended

· Liv Heinemann, Regent's University London, UK

· Sourav Burman, GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research, India

AMBA MBA Director of the Year Award 2026

The AMBA MBA Director of the Year Award is central to upholding AMBA’s commitment to maintaining the MBA degree as the premier global business qualification. It celebrates Programme Directors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and management of their MBA programmes, enabling their institutions to deliver truly transformative experiences that create meaningful opportunities for all participants.

Winner

· Caitlin Ferreira, University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, South Africa

Highly commended

· Daniel Serrot, Universidad de San Andrés, Argentina

· Raj Krishnan Shankar, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, India