Research with practical relevance

23 October 2013. Audi already cooperates with the University of St.Gallen in several projects. In this context, the University’s centres, in which academics conduct interdisciplinary research, have proved particularly useful. The two parties to the agreement are now extending these individual projects into a long-term strategy of academic cooperation. 

Research with practical relevance
Currently, seven doctoral students of the University of St.Gallen are working on issues raised by Audi AG. At the Center for Disability and Integration (CDI-HSG), for instance, a doctoral student is conducting broadly based employee surveys to examine how employees with serious disabilities can be integrated in working process of production in an even better way. The doctoral students will be able to participate in the further education and other courses of the Audi doctoral programmes as from now.

Findings from consumer research
After the cooperation agreement Rupert Stadler, CEO of Audi AG and a new Honorary Professor of Business Administration at the University of St.Gallen, gave a lecture on “Strategy in the global competition environment”. “Consumer research provides us with important findings and ideas that contribute towards our competitive edge. For doctoral students, in turn, it is exciting to do research into issues which will find practical application in our enterprise,” he said.

Worldwide, Audi cooperates with 29 academic institutions. Besides promotional projects, these cooperation ventures also include the “Audi Kolloquium” lecture series, the funding of professorships and Audi staff teaching at universities.