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Campus - 15.05.2012 - 00:00 

The HSG: a value creation driver

The University of St.Gallen (HSG) annually contributes CHF 201 million in value creation within the region of Appenzell Ausserrhode – St.Gallen – Lake Constance.

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15 May 2012. As an institution under public law, the HSG regards its regional identity as a matter of great importance. It is for this reason that the Institute of Systemic Management and Public Governance (IMP-HSG) periodically draws up a report on the HSG’s regional roots in order to provide a well-founded insight into where the University is positioned and where there is room for improvement. The first report was published for 2007. The report is now available with updated data for 2010.

80 francs investment per inhabitant
The overall budget of the University of St.Gallen amounts to CHF 193 million, of which some CHF 38 million (19.6%) come from the Canton of St.Gallen. This means that the inhabitants of the Canton invest 80 francs each in the University – the third lowest figure: Zurichers pay five times as much, and citizens of Basel-City 18 times as much. In Switzerland, the average contribution that an inhabitant of a university canton makes is CHF 368.

Increase in value creation
Regional value creation provides information about the value added in the region by the University of St.Gallen and by students and participants in executive education courses. The University contributes CHF 201 million to value creation and thus to the regional aggregate income for the region of Appenzell Ausserrhoden – St.Gallen – Lake Constance; this is tantamount to CHF 874 per inhabitant. From 2007 to 2010, value creation for Greater St.Gallen increased by 31% to CHF 193 million – primarily as a result of growing student numbers – which amounts to CHF 1,286 per inhabitant.

Overnight stays generated by the HSG
Various HSG events, executive education courses and seminars generated overnight stays in the city and the region. In sum, the HSG was responsible for 31,000 overnight stays in the city and the region. Thus one in five overnight stays in the city and the region was generated by the University.

Involved HSG members
University members actively participate in the exchange of knowledge with the region by means of voluntary and professional involvement. 57% of undergraduates, 58% of students at the Master’s Level and 50% of staff take part in the region’s social life. The bandwidth of activities ranges from sports to culture and politics. Two thirds of the staff involved take on a function such as being on the committee of a sports club or being a coach. In terms of hours, the voluntary involvement of staff in the region amounts to more than 5,000 per month, which is as much as 27 full-time jobs.

Public university
The University Executive considers the HSG’s regional roots and the concomitant contribution to regional value creation and to the exchange of knowledge to be an important pillar. The intention is to strengthen the dialogue between the HSG and the region above and beyond the public programme. Various measures have been planned. Thus the HSG will comment on current issues in the new “HSG Live” format, and the University will show presence at regional events. St.Gallen’s position as a congress location is intended to be reinforced through cooperation ventures with St.Gallen-Lake Constance Tourism and the Olma trade fairs. In addition, the HSG campus will serve as a public meeting place more frequently.

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