Campus - 03.01.2024 - 08:00
125 years of HSG: the anniversary in pictures
On 26 May 1898, the St.Gallen Cantonal Council decided to found a "Higher School (Academy) for Commerce, Transport and Administration". Less than a year later, classes began with just seven students. 125 years later, the University of St.Gallen is a defining institution in Eastern Switzerland with over 9600 students. This was duly celebrated in the anniversary year.
To kick off the celebrations, HSG organised an open day at SQUARE.
Student involvement took centre stage – numerous student associations enriched the day with music, culture, sport and games.
Students of the academic fraternity AV Notkeriana in conversation with former President Rolf Dubs and President Bernhard Ehrenzeller about the past, present and future of HSG.
The highlight of the anniversary year was the "Dies academicus".
Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter and Albert Kriemler were appointed Honorary Senators.
The university choir provided the musical backdrop to the ceremony.
A dance performance and the unrolling of the fabric panels: following Dies academicus, the vernissage of the anniversary publication took place in SQUARE.
Panel discussion with the author of the commemorative publication Sieglinde Geisel, Vice-President Ulrich Schmid and Gulnaz Partschefeld.
Visitors discovering the commemorative publication.
"HSG forscht" programme offered an insight into the University's research landscape. Guests were able to immerse themselves in a virtual world, for example.
Charging the battery with muscle power: young visitors put in a lot of effort and generated quite a lot of watts.
A panel of experts discussed the development of ChatGPT and AI at universities.
A special highlight in June: over 1100 employees celebrated together on the piazza in front of the main building.
HSG members organised the supporting musical programme under the motto "HSG's got Talents", including the "Blues Brothers" with President Bernhard Ehrenzeller.
Professor and country musician Kuno Schedler also set the tone, together with students. Because at "HSG, you're much more than the cliché."
To kick off the second half of the anniversary year, a symposium invited international guests and students on the topic of "The Future of Universities".
At the opening, author Lukas Bärfuss called for the promotion of critical and systemic thinking.
On the following day, the globally successful talk format "TEDxHSG", also offered a varied programme.
Finally, a colourful and playful work of art for HSG: a sculpture made of recycled plastic created by the English mixed-media artist Lewis Davidson.
The name "St.Gallen Clicker" refers to the sound of plastic being clicked together, which Davidson collected at HSG over the course of the year.
The work has been transferred to the HSG's publicly accessible art collection – and invites you to discover it in SQUARE.
Togetherness is an important pillar of the HSG community. The anniversary year promoted this in a special way. There was plenty of opportunity to celebrate together, exchange ideas and learn from each other. In addition, relationships were forged and strengthened at the various public events – between members of the HSG community and St.Gallen residents of all generations.
Further information and publications on the anniversary year can be found at: hsg.ch/125
Videos on the anniversary year
Anniversary celebration of the employees
International Symposium
