Educating tomorrow`s leaders
Institute for Economy and the Environment
Through relevant and rigorous research and impactful teaching, we prepare future business leaders to address global sustainability and climate challenges.
Institute for Economy and the Environment
Through relevant and rigorous research and impactful teaching, we prepare future business leaders to address global sustainability and climate challenges.
Climate change and sustainability are also at the centre of the research project “Sustainable Aviation”. The focus: aviation and the question of how we can make it more sustainable. Although the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has set sustainability goals, the industry as a whole still lacks the know-how on how the sector can manage the transition to decarbonisation and achieve the intended goals. What strategies can airlines use to fight climate change? The researchers Prof. Judith Walls, Dr. Andreas Wittmer, Dr. Alexander Stauch, and Adrian Müller addressed these and other questions in their project, which culminated in the publication of the book “Sustainable Aviation“, an industry conference and a CAS course.
Author: Doris Hoevel
Date: 10. May 2023
Author: Doris Hoevel
Date: 2. May 2023
We are happy to announce that Dr. Cris Pons-Seres de Brauwer joined our institute as a postdoctoral researcher. He will be working under the leadership of Rolf Wüstenhagen on innovative business dynamics at the intersection between EV use and renewable energy generation. Before he finished his PhD at DTU Wind and Energy Systems and is now ready to take on new exciting challenges to accelerate the energy transition!
Author: Doris Hoevel
Date: 10. March 2023
We are excited about our newly finished PhDs who just received their doctoral certificates in Feb. 2023: Dr. Jakob Knauf, Dr. Elizabeth Côté and Dr. Nina Schneider with supervisor Prof. Dr. Rolf Wüstenhagen, Chair of Management of Renewable Energies, Dr. Nina Schmid with supervisor Prof. Dr. Judith Walls, Chair of Sustainability Management, and Dr. Angela Honegger with Prof. em. Dr. Thomas Dyllick, Emeritus Chair of Sustainability Management. Thank you for all your contributions to the IWÖ community, in all possible ways, and all the best for your future!
Author: Zsuzsa Borsa
Date: 28. February 2023
Two Institutes of the Universität St.Gallen (HSG): HSG Institute for Economy and the Environment and Institut für Marketing und Customer Insight (IMC-HSG) are currently working on a research project with Publicis Groupe and Grownate. The aim of the collaboration is to create a well-founded scientific study on the perceived sustainability of companies in Switzerland. Prof. Dr. Judith Walls and Zsuzsa Borsa from the Chair of Sustainability management are in charge of the qualitative phase of the study, which looks at how brands manage their sustainability communication to stakeholders. Based on multiple case studies, the study illustrates how sustainability has changed the branding landscape and become an integral part of (corporate) brand communications. The publication of the report is planned for Summer 2023.
https://www.scopes.report
Author: Zsuzsa Borsa
Date: 17. February 2023
A “young” institute turns 30! Founded back in 1992, IWÖ-HSG was one of the first research institutes at a leading business school to focus on sustainability. Three decades later, concerns about climate change and biodiversity loss are at the center of the public debate, and the Institute’s contributions to research and teaching on topics of corporate sustainability and renewable energy management are in high demand. To celebrate our anniversary, we joined forces with our colleagues from the Institute of Accounting, Control and Auditing ACA-HSG, which happens to have been founded in the same year. The newly appointed tenure track assistant professor of Sustainability Governance, Dr. Judith Ströhle, shared her insights on “Current Debates in Accounting for Sustainability” with a deep dive into carbon accounting, highlighting interesting areas for future research at the interface of both institutes. Thanks to the many alumni, team members, business and research partners, and university representatives who joined for an evening full of insightful exchanges.
Author: Doris Hoevel
Date: 30. November 2022
Dr. Fabian Takacs joined the Delegates Team for Responsibility and Sustainability as a Project Manager (Sustainability Curriculum Development) and post-doctoral researcher of the IWÖ. Fabian is passionate about environmental protection and sustainability. His research focuses on the Circular Economy and business model innovation, focusing on the entrepreneurial implementation of resource conservation and closed material loops.
Fabian works at the team of the Delegate for Responsibility and Sustainability on realizing the HSG vision and Roadmap 2025 supporting the implementation of sustainability in the curriculum at HSG. In addition, he continues to research the Circular Economy’s entrepreneurial implementation with various academic and practice partners.
Previously, Fabian worked at the Institute of Management and Strategy (IfB) at the University of St. Gallen and conducted research in an SNF research project (Laboratory for Applied Circular Economy, NRP73), for which work he received the HSG-Impact Award in 2020. Fabian holds a Ph.D. in Management (Ph.D. HSG) focusing on circular transformation through business model innovation and ecosystems. Fabian is also involved in various non-profit organizations, among others, in local culture promotion.
Author: Zsuzsa Borsa
Date: 29. October 2022
Katharina Reidl and Juliane Seika joined the Chair of Management of Renewable Energies
With the start of the new semester, Katharina and Juliane have started as doctoral candidates after finishing their master’s degrees in Business Management and Marketing Management at the University of St.Gallen.
Being alumni of the certificate program Managing Climate Solutions (MaCS), both are looking forward to contributing to the institute’s research about electro mobility within the CircuBAT project and investigating options for a Green Deal for Switzerland and Ukraine.
Author: Doris Hoevel
Date: 6. October 2022
Prof. Dr.
Rolf Wüstenhagen
Management of Renewable Energies
The Chair of Management of Renewable Energies contributes to the transition from a non-renewable to a renewable energy supply and thus help to reduce environmental, economic and societal risks, and to create entrepreneurial opportunities. We invest intellectual venture capital in students and young researchers, enabling them to contribute to a clean energy future, in academia or business.
Prof. Dr.
Judith Walls
Sustainability Management
At the Chair of Sustainability Management, we research and teach on corporate sustainability strategy. Corporate leaders face decisions to address major sustainability challenges through their businesses. We identify business models that effectively create value and govern sustainability, both within and outside the company’s boundaries.
The Consumer Barometer of Renewable Energy provides insights into what Swiss people think about energy and climate change. The study is published annually since 2011 and is based on a representative sample of more than 1,000 respondents.
#REMforum, the St.Gallen Forum for Management of Renewable Energies, took place in June 2022. #REMforum gathered academics and practitioners to discuss the topic Managing the Dynamics of Social Acceptance. The war in Ukraine has led to renewed awareness of Europe’s unsustainable dependence on energy imports. In combination with the urgency of climate change, the twofold crisis requires an acceleration of the energy transition. This puts the spotlight on social acceptance: renewable infrastructure projects, as well as ambitious energy and climate policies, are often met with local resistance. More information about #REMforum 2022 can be found on www.REMforum.ch.
In the Managing Climate Solutions (MaCS-HSG) certificate, master students develop entrepreneurial solutions to one of the most pressing societal challenges of our time: climate change.
Students complement their core Master`s programme with dedicated courses enabling them to understand the magnitude of the challenge, to explore the range of possible solutions, to craft behaviorally informed strategies, and to shape a positive future in a carbon-constrained world.
Currently in its 10th consecutive edition, the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Renewable Energy Management (REM-HSG) is a unique executive education programme helping participants to turn climate change and other challenges to the energy status quo into new business opportunities. A particular focus is on managing disruptive decentralization in the energy market, driven by the convergence of solar photovoltaics, battery storage, digitization, and electric mobility.
The university’s contribution to sustainable development
The University of St.Gallen is committed to contribute to a sustainable economy and society. Find out how we integrate this mission into our education, research, engagement and the activities on campus.
IWÖ-HSG collaborates with three other institutes of the University of St.Gallen within the Center for Mobility. The interdisciplinary center, hosted by IMP-HSG, investigates the effects of digital technologies, climate change and land use on changes in mobility-related consumer behaviour and innovative business models.
2023
#REMforum 2023 – After the Winter: Accelerating the Climate Crisis or Supergarching the Energy Transition?
Location: LOKRemise, Grünbergstr. 7, 9000 St.Gallen
From:
22.06.2023, 18:00
To:
23.06.2023, 18:00
On June 22/23, 2023 the exciting #REMforum 2023 takes place again. Under the motto “After the Winter: Accelerating the Climate Crisis or Supergarching the Energy Transition?” we exchange latest insights from research and new ideas on the Management of Renewable Energies. Do not miss this strong networking event for practitioners, academia, and politicians. For more details on topics, speakers, workshops check www.REMforum.ch See you there !
University of St. Gallen (HSG)
Institute for Economy and the Environment
Müller-Friedberg-Strasse 6/8
CH-9000 St. Gallen
Tel: +41 71 224 2584