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© FHS St.GallenGiving credit where credit is due:The coveted Young Leader Awardof FHS St.GallenC O M PA N Y P RO F I L EFHS St.Gallen,University of Applied SciencesA leading light in the Higher Education LandscapeHow a university of applied sciences reinforces “Education atSt.Gallen” as a brand.In recent years the FHS St.Gallen has shown its engagement in developing into a universitywith high quality standards -standards that have become a talking point all over Switzerland.Today its work is characterised by strong growth, outstanding practical links, a presence includingmultidisciplinary topics and a thrill of anticipation about the impressive tower structure.“That the FHS St.Gallen enjoys an excellent reputation far and wideis no secret to people in Valais”, comments Angelica Casiero, afirst-year student from Valais, explaining why she has enrolled atthe FHS St.Gallen. In 2008 student numbers at the FHS St.Gallen brokethrough the 2000-mark for the first time. How does a relatively small institutionlike FHS St.Gallen - a school affiliated to the University of AppliedSciences of Eastern Switzerland (FHO) - manage to hold its own so well in thecutthroat university environment?A CENTRE OF EDUCATION THAT EMBODIESA COMMITMENT TO QUALITYThanks to its strong orientation towards quality and the internationalinfluence of St.Gallen as a centre of education, the FHS St.Gallen hasmanaged to position itself in Switzerland’s Higher Education Landscape withgreat success. It therefore comes as no surprise that the FHS itself acts as acertifying body for various quality labels in the educational sector. St. Gallen’sBachelor of Business Administration is the second to receive internationalFIBAA accreditation throughout Switzerland. Its experts even rated thiscourse “excellent” in certain aspects. This includes for example the level ofemployability achieved by students.FERTILE GROUND FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRITWhen it is a question of business activities undertaken by students, the FHSSt.Gallen is streets ahead of the rest of Switzerland. This was demonstratedby the Swiss Survey on Collegiate Entrepreneurship carried out by the KMUInstitute of the University of St.Gallen (HSG). When it comes to the plansof students to enter business, the FHS comes in at third place among 26 Swissuniversities, following hard on the heels of the HSG, the top-flight “factory”.The University of Applied Sciences of Eastern Switzerland (with the FHSrepresenting the largest university in its network) even leads the field in termsof completed start-ups. Nor it is surprising that students at the FHO also giveit top marks for offering an environment conducive to starting up in business:it once again comes out in first place. FHS principal Prof. Dr. Sebastian Wörwagaccounts for this as follows, “For example, all students complete at least fourpractical consulting projects in business. This results in skills that cannot beacquired through theory. They get a taste of business right from the start.”PRACTICAL RELEVANCE ISN’T JUST AN EMPTY PHRASEIn 2008 students have spent 45,000 hours working on their consultingprojects in the Business Studies department alone! That is 45,000 hoursdevoted to real contracts placed by local companies. They pay between CHF500 and 20,000 for such consulting work, depending on the level of effortinvolved. Every year the business community of Eastern Switzerland thanksstudents for the engagement they have shown with the “Young Leader Award”.It is presented at a ceremony held in St.Gallen’s venerable concert hall, theTonhalle, and in recent years this occasion has become the meeting place forthe key players of business and politics in Eastern Switzerland. Proof of thestrong links forged by the FHS St.Gallen to the world of practical applicationand the esteem in which it is held there.MULTIDISCIPLINARY CENTRES OF EXCELLENCEThe eight institutes of the FHS, which are devoted to research and development,also offer their services to solve current issues arising from practical application.The FHS St.Gallen can put together interdisciplinary teams, also makingup centres of excellence and specialist departments, to deal with increasinglycomplex problems. Its orientation towards quality takes specific form here aswell: The FHS St.Gallen aims to lead the field at a regional level where themesin its strategic sectors are involved: Generations, SME Management, Innovationand Social Environments. In addition, the FHS plays a pro-active role in theinternational scientific community, with the staff employed at the institutestaking a lively part in regional public debate about current events.INHABITANTS PAY TRIBUTE TO SERVICESThis presence and performance record of FHS St.Gallen are also appreciatedby the inhabitants of St.Gallen. With an overwhelming majority of almost 82percent they approved a CHF 120 million application for the construction ofan impressive new building for the FHS St.Gallen in September 2008. Oncompletion in 2012 this will bring together all eight sites of the University ofApplied Sciences under one roof - right next to the nerve centre of EasternSwitzerland, at St.Gallen’s station. This will give the FHS St.Gallen an evenstronger position in the hotly contested education sector.EQUIPPED FOR THE FUTUREThe FHS will then acquire its long-coveted building on schedule for theso-called “Higher Education Landscape Switzerland” - and with it a new face,something it will be identified by. But even today the FHS is already playinga groundbreaking, pioneering role in the networking of higher education andregions. For instance, the merger of the FHS Institute for Rapid ProductDevelopment with Inspire AG, the spin-off from the Swiss Federal Instituteof Technology. Today they are making joint use of the networks belonging tothe Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, the FHO and Empa (theSwiss materials testing and research institution) and are cooperating in the fieldsof education, research and services for generative processes. The FHS St.Gallenis an equally sought-after partner for example on the “Swiss UniversityInnovation Project”, where it is responsible for marketing innovations. “Thecourse for our future has now been set”, comments principal Wörwag.35Swiss Label UNTERRICHT - ERZIEHUNG - AUSBILDUNG - Dezember 2008