CHOOSE THE PROJECT FOR YOU!
For the Board Intern position, oikos is seeking motivated individuals who are eager to commit to our association. As a Board team member, you will have the opportunity to choose from various roles in Marketing, Finance, Legal, Operations, and Community. The oikos Board oversees all 11 projects, so by joining our team, you'll gain insight into the entire organization and have the chance to contribute your ideas to its development. Furthermore, if you aspire to a leadership role, being part of the team will provide you with valuable experience working closely with the Board and preparing for such positions.
The aim of Sustainability Week St. Gallen is to engage with fellow students in order to raise awareness about various sustainability-related topics. Through a range of activities and workshops, Sustainability Week addresses key sustainability issues. It presents and explores different options for students and the St. Gallen community to easily incorporate sustainable practices into their daily lives.
We understand that during the first year, studying requires a lot of time. At the same time, we know that one of the strengths of our university, which sets it apart from many others, is the student associations. These associations allow students to take on responsibilities, develop a sense of initiative, and approach the working world while building their own network. For this reason, we offer a program at oikos for first-year students that does not require much time and effort, but allows them to get to know our association, activities, and projects. The Assessie Program includes a meeting every two weeks, where workshops will be held and business problems related to oikos and its projects will be addressed. We hope to welcome you into our community soon.
oikos Solar is a pioneering initiative committed to advancing solar energy in Switzerland. It acts as a bridge between investors and roof owners by utilizing private debt instruments to fund installations on existing rooftops. This approach not only offers economic returns to investors but also supports property owners with financing, project management, legal support, and competitively priced electricity. This dual-benefit model promotes a smooth transition to renewable energy, aligning with both financial incentives and environmental sustainability goals.
The aim of Curriculum Change is to promote a sustainable environment at the University of St. Gallen and to raise awareness about sustainability across campus. The team behind Curriculum Change, managed by oikos, is responsible for implementing initiatives that enhance sustainability at the University. By taking small steps, individuals can make a significant impact on sustainability issues.
The oikos Curriculum Change team collaborates with the SHSG, the HSG faculty, the IWÖ, and the HSG administration, working constructively with those in positions of authority. Education is a crucial first step in addressing climate change, and we urge the University to fulfill its institutional responsibility in this crisis.
oikos Catalyst is a dynamic pitching competition designed exclusively for sustainable startups. It serves as a pivotal platform, bringing together eco-minded entrepreneurs and angel investors who are passionate about supporting sustainable ventures.
The best part? In addition to attracting interested investors, oikos Catalyst itself awards significant prize money to the best pitch of the evening.
Beyond the prizes, the event offers a valuable opportunity for startups to showcase their innovative solutions not only to investors but also to curious students eager to embark on their own entrepreneurial journeys.
In essence, it's an event that drives positive change - for both entrepreneurship and the environment.
Un-Dress, a project founded in 2012 in St. Gallen, aims to raise awareness about the unsustainable nature of the current fashion industry by engaging and educating the public. To achieve this goal, it organizes various events throughout the year, including the iconic annual Un-Dress Fashion Show Award, which was attended by over 550 people last year.
Over time, the project has exceeded expectations, with more than 100 former and current members, and has become the largest event dedicated to sustainable fashion in Switzerland.
The Framework is a project that designed a guide to help student clubs host events at the university while minimizing their carbon footprint. Our main goal is to maintain and update the Framework with the most current tips and to promote its use among a diverse range of clubs.
We are currently focused on expanding our digital presence and breaking down the guide into easy-to-understand steps to simplify its application. In the end, we aim to make a real impact by demonstrating the viability of the net-zero path.
The ChangeHub is a project with the mission of elevating all sustainability-related initiatives at the University of St. Gallen by making them more visible.
By doing so, it aims to enable stakeholders to collaborate for long-term impact while embedding these efforts within the HSG sustainability strategy and ecosystem. The project is founded on the belief that visibility, collaboration, and alignment among all sustainability-oriented actors can ultimately lead to lasting positive change.
The Sustainable Finance project is a dynamic university initiative aimed at fostering awareness, education, and collaboration in the field of sustainable finance. Our primary goal is to inform and educate students while facilitating connections between talented individuals and forward-thinking companies right here on campus.
Additionally, we aim to publish research papers and interviews on current issues in the field. Through this initiative, we seek to create a collaborative environment that encourages exploration and innovation in sustainable finance.
OISMAK, a unique student-led project, stands out for promoting vegetarian and vegan recipes tailored for students, emphasizing the importance of the planet's well-being. With its focus on resource-conscious diets, OISMAK showcases the richness and variety of plant-based eating.
Our main goals for this year include expanding our recipe collection, increasing outreach across various platforms, and fostering eco-responsible eating habits. All recipes highlight Swiss regional delicacies, are seasonal, budget-friendly, and designed for servings of 2 or 4.
In addition to nutritional information, our recipes also include carbon emission data as a starting point for measuring sustainable nutrition.
APPLICATION PROCESS
FILL THE FORM
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to apply as an assessment or master’s student?
Of course! All students at the University of St. Gallen can join oikos.
What are the requirements to apply?
Interest in sustainability and driving change, motivation, reliability, transparency, and a willingness to learn new things!
Can I join oikos for only one semester, or go on an exchange during the year?
You can join as a team member for only one semester if the Project Head or a Board member agrees to it (they usually do — you are a great help no matter the duration!). However, if you want to apply for a Project Head or Board position, you need to stay committed for an entire year, and it’s best if you are on campus for both semesters.
How can oikos benefit my future career?
oikos offers the chance to gain hands-on experience in any position you take. If you join as a team member, you can choose a position according to your interests (finance, sponsoring, marketing, operations, program, events, brand relations, R&D, etc.) and directly apply concepts you’ve learned, with a lot of freedom.
If you join as a Project Head, you will learn about leadership, team management, organizing work within a team, and all the practical aspects of leading a project.
If you join as a Board member, you’ll gain experience in team leadership and management, and you’ll also get to think strategically about how you want the association to develop in the future. Moreover, since oikos has some of the most active members, you’ll have significant responsibility and a lot of freedom to shape your department as you please. Depending on the department that interests you most, you can also learn more about finance, marketing, HR, event management, or operations.
What is the average workload for oikos members?
The workload depends on the position you are applying for. As a team member on one of oikos’ projects, the workload is expected to be between 3–4 hours per week. For a Project Head, it’s 6–8 hours, and for a Board member, it’s 10–12 hours.
Will I earn campus credits?
Due to the varying workload, it is Project Heads (4 ECTS) and Board members (6 or 8 ECTS) who receive campus credits.