Managing Climate Solutions

Key Facts

Certificate on Managing Climate Solutions

Upgrade your HSG Master’s degree

Turn your career climate positive

Taught in English (24 ECTS)

About the Programme

The certificate programme MaCS addresses one of the biggest societal challenges of our time. Climate change is now widely acknowledged, but how can it be successfully tackled?

This is the key question to be answered by future leaders in business and society. Through the additional qualification in Managing Climate Solutions, students will complement their core Master`s programme at the University of St.Gallen 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.

Why you should get involved

Become part of the solution. Develop your skills in managing climate solutions, a top priority in today’s business environment. Help your future employer recognize your expertise and strengthen your network of climate-positive innovators.

Programme Overview

The programme consists of (a) an introductory course “Climate Solutions 101” in the fall semester, combining a physical kick-off with blended learning elements and a compact course in the second week of the semester break, (b) a set of elective courses from various Master programmes at the University of St.Gallen, and (c) a mandatory course “Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Solutions” in the spring semester, where the students will implement a specific climate solution. The design of the programme allows electives to be partially recognized for the student’s main Master degree.

Climate Solutions 101

Fall Semester

5 ECTS

Climate Solutions 101 is a specifically designed course for MaCS students and the first get-together of the cohort. The course provides the students with a basic scientific understanding of climate change and its consequences and presents potential climate solutions. The focal topics are climate science, economics & policy and implications for business.

The course will start with a physical kick-off, followed by online learning modules and quizzes. In the second week of the break, a block seminar combining guest lectures, team work and excursions will take place. Professors and climate specialists will present different perspectives on the relevant topics. Students will apply their newly acquired knowledge and get first-hand experience of managing climate solutions. At the end of the course, students submit a reflection paper to fulfill the course requirements.

Lecture

Kick-off: Saturday before semester begin, calendar week 37 (all day)
Block seminar: 2nd week of the semester break, calendar week 45 (5 days, all day)
Closing session: calendar week 47 (half-day)

Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives on Climate Solutions

Spring Semester

3 ECTS

The second compulsory course “Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Solutions”, will take place in the spring semester. Service learning will be used as a teaching method with the aim to implement a project on campus or in the region that has a positive effect on the climate.

Lectures dates

The course will be held during the regular semester dates, covering the full length of the semester. The course includes 6 half-day lectures and project work in between these dates.

Electives

Ongoing

16 ECTS

A set of elective courses can be selected from the three core areas (1) Climate and Sustainability, (2) Energy Transition & Governance, and (3) Low Carbon Innovation. Students have to complete at least one course per core area.

The preliminary menu of elective courses can be found here.

MaCS team

MaCS is brought to you by a team of dedicated academics. The programme’s co-creators Rolf Wüstenhagen and Merla Kubli have a combined experience of more than 40 years of energy and climate-related research and teaching.
The programme’s interdisciplinary faculty offers complementary perspectives on climate solutions. An advisory board, including experts from five different schools of the University of St.Gallen and a climate scientist from ETH Zurich, supports the programme’s development.

Prof. Dr.

Rolf Wüstenhagen

Academic Director

Prof. Dr.

Merla Kubli

Programme Manager

Advisory Board

Angelo Ranaldo

Hato Schmeiser

Judith Walls

Sonia Seneviratne

Peter Hettich

Klaus Dingwerth

Tanja Schneider

Martin Kolmar

“Climate change is a trillion dollar risk – and an opportunity”

Alison Martin
CEO EMEA and Bank Distribution
Zurich Insurance Group

Photo source: U.S. Mission Photo by Eric Bridiers

“Climate disruption is happening now, and it is happening to all of us.”

António Guterres
UN Secretary-General

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How to Apply

To apply for MaCS, submit your motivation letter (1-2 pages), CV, and grade transcript by June 30th. Please note the earlier application deadlines for admission to the main Master’s programmes! The application process takes place in Compass. Please hand in one PDF-file with the required documents in the order “Motivation Letter – Curriculum Vitae – Grade Transcript”.

HSG students with a valid HSG email address log in to Compass to apply for MaCS (just follow the “Apply for MaCS” button)
External students without a valid HSG email address apply as follows: create a login for Compass -> apply for MaCS.
HSG alumni (who no longer have an HSG account) follow the procedure for rematriculation

Selection Criteria

Please note that the number of spots available in the MaCS certificate is limited. Here is how we select students from the pool of applicants: three independent reviewers will assess your application. The following considerations guide our final selection:

Motivation: Why do you want to study Managing Climate Solutions? What has led to your interest in climate solutions, and what specifically would you like to achieve by enrolling in the programme? How will other MaCS students benefit from having you in the programme?
Prior experience: Have you previously focused on climate issues during your studies or in internships? Have you been actively involved in climate solutions, e.g. as part of an NGO or a student organisation? Or do you have specific plans how to make climate solutions part of your future career path?
Quality of the application including language (note that the programme is taught in English)
Previous performance in your studies
Portfolio considerations – we strive for a healthy balance across the main Masters’ programmes and a diversity of backgrounds

Application timeline

Read the FAQ

Apply for MaCS

Deadline: June 30th, 2023