Purpose: In the field of education, there is increasing concern about whether public and private investments in research are generating tangible societal benefits. In business schools in particular, there is growing pressure to ensure that academic research is not only rigorous and theoretically sound but also relevant, applicable, and impactful beyond the academic ivory tower. One key area of concern is the link between research and education: despite being core missions of universities, these domains often operate in silos. This disconnect limits the ability of research to enrich teaching and of education to drive research questions with societal relevance. Against this backdrop, this article proposes a Research Impact Management Framework tailored to business schools, enabling them to evaluate, manage, and communicate the real-world impact of their research and to strengthen the connection between research, teaching, and engagement with societal challenges.

Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a critical and reflexive case study approach. It was conducted at Centrum PUCP Business School in Lima, Peru, through semi-structured interviews with the team leading the Research Results Transfer Office (OTRI)—responsible for implementing the framework—and an analysis of relevant institutional documentation.

Findings: The proposed framework consists of three core dimensions: Strategy, Structure, and Deployment. The Strategy dimension aligns research efforts with the institutional purpose and societal challenges, including the SDGs. The Structure dimension defines how research groups, centers, and the OTRI operate to facilitate research translation and internal collaboration. The Deployment dimension identifies key stakeholders (academia, students, private and public sectors, and civil society), types of transferable outputs (theoretical, applied, competency-based, or developmental), and transfer mechanisms—classified into informing, promotion, dissemination, and action.

Importantly, the framework explicitly incorporates the integration of research into educational processes. It calls for using research outputs not only in academic publications but also as content for course design, materials for skill development, and foundations for the creation of new academic programs. This approach strengthens the link between research and teaching, ensuring that students are exposed to the most current knowledge and societal issues addressed by their institution. In doing so, the framework closes the loop between knowledge generation, dissemination, and application, enhancing the student learning experience while reinforcing the practical impact of academic research.

Originality/value: This paper contributes a strategic and operational tool to help business schools bridge the gap between research and real-world impact. It reinforces the role of research in shaping educational content and responding to stakeholder needs, ultimately driving positive change for people, the environment, and the economy.

Keywords: Research Impact, Business Schools, Positive Impact, Research, Education.