425 Master’s degrees awarded

28 March 2015. On the occasion of the Masters' Graduation Day, a total of 425 graduates were handed their degree certificates in the following programmes:

• 40 in Business Innovation,
• 46 in Marketing, Service and Communication Management,
• 100 in Accounting and Finance,
• 62 in Banking and Finance,
• 22 in Strategy and International Management,
• 52 in Business Management,
• 14 in Management, Organization Studies and Cultural Theory,
• 15 in Economics,
• 7 in Quantitative Economics and Finance,
• 34 in International Affairs and Governance,
• 14 in Law,
• 19 in Law and Economics.

Global orientation and regional roots

"Many will feel compelled to go out into the world to learn and experience new things," Bieger said to the graduates. Whether abroad or in a regional SME, all Master graduates would be torn between global orientation and regional roots. For Bieger, a meaningful way of dealing with the balancing act between the two orientations has become an actual success factor in the present time – both for private individuals and for companies.

Cultivating cultural roots

An increasing number of globally operating corporations deliberately and purposefully cultivated their regional roots. Bieger recommended that the graduates should do likewise, for "at some stage a life, in the spirit of homo faber, of dashing from one lounge to the next hotel, and to a workplace bounded in time, will be exhausted." Graduates should deal with their cultural roots and with the values and competencies resulting from them. Also, encounters with old friends are important, since in the HQs of international corporate groups and a new residential environment, we did not experience the critical openness that prevailed at the regulars’ table at home. Bieger concluded by saying: "The HSG is now also part of your history and your roots."

Attractive social programme

Before the degree certificates were handed over, HSG Alumni President Urs Landolf gave his welcoming address to the graduates. He encouraged them to join the alumni organisation. The musical backdrop to the ceremony was provided by Malcolm Green. Guests were able to go on a guided tour of the HSG's art works, and graduates were able to have their photographs taken with or without a gown, before and after the official ceremony. By way of a souvenir, the HSG Shop sold "Class of 2015" T-shirts. Refreshments were provided by the ad[hoc] coffee bar and the bratwurst sausage stand of the St.Gallen Addiction Assistance Foundation. In the evening, HSG Alumni staged the traditional Graduation party in St.Gallen.