University of St. Gallen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of St. Gallen

Universität St. Gallen
Motto	From insight to impact
Type	Public
Established	May 25, 1898
Budget	CHF 251.3 million (2019)
President	Bernhard Ehrenzeller
Academic staff	105 professors (2019) 73 assistant professors (2019)
Administrative staff	3,335
Students	9,047 (2020; ♀: 35,7 %)
Undergraduates	4,952 (2020)
Postgraduates	3,443 (2020)
Doctoral students	617 (2020)
Other students	35 (2020)
Location	St. Gallen , Canton of St. Gallen , Switzerland
Campus	Urban (Rosenberg hill)
Newspapers	HSG Focus, Prisma
Colors	Green, White and Black
Affiliations	CEMS, APSIA, EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA, Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs
Website	www.unisg.ch

The University of St. Gallen (also known as HSG) is a well-known university in St. Gallen, Switzerland. It's famous for subjects like business, economics, law, international studies, and computer science. It started in 1898 and is often ranked as one of Europe's top business schools. In 2022, nearly 9,600 students studied there.

Even though HSG is one of Switzerland's smaller universities, it has the largest group of professors for business studies. It's also known for educating many successful people in Europe. The university is part of important international groups like CEMS and APSIA. It has also earned special accreditations (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA), which means its programs meet high global standards. The university's campus is considered a special national heritage site in Switzerland. The local government of St. Gallen owns the university.

History of HSG

Early Years: 1800s and 1900s

In May 1898, the local government of St. Gallen decided to create a school for trade, business, and administration. Theodor Curti, who was in charge of economic affairs for the region, is seen as the person who really made it happen. The business school started teaching in 1899. This made it one of the first schools of its kind in the world.

By 1911, it was called Handels-Hochschule. In 1938, it became a public school, and in 1939, it gained the right to give out doctoral degrees.

The University of St. Gallen in 1963, with art works by Antoni Tàpies

In 1963, the university moved to new buildings and changed its name to Hochschule für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften. The new buildings were designed for 900 students. However, by the end of 1963, more than 1,150 students were already enrolled!

In 1989, a new law changed the university's name again to Hochschule St. Gallen für Wirtschafts-, Rechts- und Sozialwissenschaften. This new name showed that it taught economics, law, and social sciences. The university has had a law department since 1978. In 1989, a new library building opened, and the number of students grew to over 3,900. In 1994, the local government officially renamed it Universität St. Gallen, which means University of St. Gallen. The short name HSG stayed the same.

Recent Changes

In 2001, the University of St. Gallen started to change how its study programs were organized. It was one of the first universities in Switzerland to offer bachelor's and master's degrees. This was part of a big European plan called the Bologna process.

In 2005, the university opened its Executive School of Management, Technology and Law (ES-HSG). This school offers special programs like MBAs for people who are already working.

Around 2005, the people of St. Gallen voted to update and expand the university. They approved a budget of about 80 million Swiss francs. This money was used to renovate the buildings from the 1960s and improve the school's facilities.

University Campus

The University of St. Gallen with the old town of St. Gallen and its Abbey in the background

Main Building, designed by Walter Förderer, at the time of opening 1963

The convention and executive education center opened in 1995

HSG Learning Center "SQUARE" in October 2021

The University of St. Gallen is located on Rosenberg Hill. From there, you can look down at the old town of St. Gallen and see the beautiful Alpstein mountains. The campus is special because it combines art and architecture. The area around the university, including the town near Lake Constance and the Swiss Alps, is great for outdoor activities. You can go skiing, hiking, climbing, and sailing.

A sculpture by Alberto Giacometti in the Main Building of the University of St. Gallen

The Main Building, designed by Walter Foerderer, is a famous example of 1960s architecture. Art is a very important part of its design. In the Library Building, which opened in 1989, artworks add to the different architectural styles. You can find works by many famous artists there, including Arp, Miró, Calder, Giacometti, and Richter.

In 1995, a special center for conferences and executive education opened near the main campus. It was expanded in 2007 and now has many halls and business rooms. The university also has international offices in Singapore and São Paulo. These offices help connect students, teachers, and companies around the world with the university's programs.

In 2019, the people of St. Gallen voted to build another campus in the city. This new campus will have space for 3,000 more students and is planned to open in 2027.

In February 2022, the new HSG Learning Center "SQUARE" opened on Rosenberg Hill. It's designed to be a modern place for learning and working. It helps students and teachers interact in new ways. This project was made possible by the HSG Foundation and was funded by over 800 donors. The design for the building, called "Open Grid - Choices of Tomorrow," was created by Sou Fujimoto Architects.

Academics and Study Programs

Schools and Research Centers

The Central Institute Building, designed by Herzog & de Meuron

The Institute of European and International Business Law

Since 2011, the University of St. Gallen has five main schools:

• The School of Management (SoM-HSG)
• The School of Finance (SoF-HSG)
• The Law School (LS-HSG)
• The School of Economics and Political Science (SEPS-HSG)
• The School of Humanities and Social Sciences (SHSS-HSG)

Even though programs are linked to a specific school, professors from different schools often teach together. The Executive School of Management, Technology and Law (ES-HSG) is a special part of the university. It manages MBA and other advanced education programs.

The university also has about 40 institutes and research centers. These are important for research and help connect what students learn in theory with real-world practice. They also help young academics grow in their careers. The university has many professors, lecturers, and assistants who work with students.

HSG is also a member of important research groups like the European Research Center for Information Systems (ERCIS) and the Auto-ID Labs network.

Study Programs Offered

Since 2001, the university has offered bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. This follows the Bologna Process, which helps make university degrees similar across Europe.

Since 2013, all bachelor's students start with an "Assessment Year." This year is offered in German or English. The English track focuses on economics, which prepares students for bachelor's studies in Business Administration, Economics, International Affairs, or Law and Economics. The German track also offers a law specialization for students interested in studying law. Many master's and most doctoral programs are taught in English.

After the Assessment Year, students can choose one of five main subjects for their next two years. Most bachelor's students choose Business Administration. HSG is one of only two universities in Switzerland that offers an International Affairs program. Master's programs are more specialized and usually last 1.5 to 2 years. Students can also get double degrees with partner universities like Bocconi University or HEC Paris.

University Rankings

The University of St. Gallen is often ranked highly among business schools in Europe. Here are some of its recent rankings:

*In 2016, CEMS chose not to participate in the yearly FT Ranking. The program returned in 2017 at 9th place.

Student Life

Opening panel of HSG Talents, a recruiting initiative run by students

About 25% of the students at the University of St. Gallen come from other countries. This is a limit set by the government.

There are around 80 student clubs at the university. One very famous club is the International Students' Committee. This group organizes the yearly St. Gallen Symposium. Since 1970, this event has brought together leaders from business, science, politics, and society with students from all over the world.

AIESEC St. Gallen, founded in 1951, helps students find international internships. The Helvetian Investment Club is the largest club at HSG and in Switzerland, with over 1,450 members interested in finance careers. DocNet, the club for doctoral students, has more than 600 members. They organize the annual DocNet Management Symposium.

A local chapter of Oikos International, a student group focused on sustainable development, is also active at the university. Other clubs include sports clubs, cultural clubs, groups for students from different countries, and clubs related to specific subjects.

HSG Alumni is the official group for former students. With over 19,000 members and 80 alumni clubs worldwide, it's one of Europe's top alumni associations. Since 1930, this group has helped former students stay connected with the university and with each other through many events and information platforms.

Notable People

Alumni (Former Students)

Josef Ackermann graduated from the University of St. Gallen with a doctoral degree in economics in 1977

Many successful people have studied at the University of St. Gallen. In the world of finance, some famous alumni include:

• Paul Achleitner, former Chairman of Deutsche Bank
• Josef Ackermann, former CEO of Deutsche Bank
• Martin Blessing, former CEO of Commerzbank
• Walter Kielholz, Honorary Chairman of Swiss Re
• Peter Wuffli, former CEO of UBS
• Valentin Stalf, current CEO and founder of N26

In other business areas, notable alumni include:

• Ola Källenius, CEO of Daimler AG
• Nick Hayek, Jr., CEO of Swatch Group
• Georges Kern, CEO of IWC
• Ulf Mark Schneider, former CEO of Fresenius SE and current CEO of Nestlé
• Peter Fankhauser, CEO of Thomas Cook Group

In law and politics, some important alumni are:

• Christoffel Brändli, a Swiss politician and former President of the Swiss Council of States
• Prince Hans-Adam II, the Sovereign Monarch of Liechtenstein
• Adrian Hasler, former Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
• Klaus Tschütscher, former Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
• Thomas Aeschi, a businessman and politician
• Judith Sarah Jäger Bellaiche, a politician

Faculty and Staff

Important current or former teachers and staff at the University of St. Gallen include:

• Juliane Kokott, an Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union
• Miriam Meckel, a professor of corporate communication
• Sir Peter Jonas, an art director
• Ota Šik, a Professor of Economics and a key figure in the Prague Spring movement.

Partner Universities

The University of St. Gallen works with many universities around the world. Here are some of its partners:

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de San Galo para niños

• List of largest universities by enrollment in Switzerland
• List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945)