Theory of Change
oikos is the home for sustainable initiatives
About oikos
oikos St. Gallen operates 11 projects & platforms within various spheres taking into account the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability. With our community of over 160 active members we aim for a change in business and economics, purposed for a sustainable world. With our values of transparency, responsability and respect close at heart, our legally independent and taxexpemted NPO has achieved many successes since our creation in 1970. oikos St. Gallen always strives for innovation in achieving our goals: sharing knowledge and direct impact.
Our Vision
oikos St. Gallen aims for change in business and economics, purposed for a sustainable world.
Our Mission
Be informed.
Get involved.
Make a difference.
Our Goals
Sharing Knowledge
Direct Impact
About oikos
oikos St. Gallen operates 11 projects & platforms within various spheres taking into account the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability. With our community of over 160 active members we aim for a change in business and economics, purposed for a sustainable world. With our values of transparency, responsability and respect close at heart, our legally independent and taxexpemted NPO has achieved many successes since our creation in 1970. oikos St. Gallen always strives for innovation in achieving our goals: sharing knowledge and direct impact.
Timeline and Successes
oikos' Goals , Initiatives & Spheres
Above: our Projects & Platforms sorted by the spheres they operate in, and the main goals they acomplish. Many Projects & Platforms achieve both goals, but choose to focus on one. Sharing Knowledge has an in-direct impact, while direct impact is measurable and quanifiable.
Problem
(Changes require a change in statutes)
Strategic Objective
(Changes require a change in statutes)
Output (2024/2025)
(Updated yearly)
Impact Measurement
(Coordinated with the Impact Report team)
oikos Board
Great Swiss sustainable ideas
don't get the chance to realise
their full potential
We provide expertise,
structure, oversight,
overarching strategy, and
funding to viable & sustainable
ideas.
The oikos Board & its Projects
& Platforms
In-direct: Reputation of oikos
as a whole and other metrics
Direct: measurable successes
of oikos' initiatives
oikos Action Days
There is a lack of hands-on
action taken by individuals
within Swiss society
Motivate individuals to
effectuate hands-on
sustainable change in
Switzerland
oikos Action Days 2024/2025:
Held multiple hands-on
networking event with hands on
action
Direct: Tangible outcome from
each event, number of
participants
In-direct: Event metrics
oikos Catalyst
Students have too little interest
and access to the world of
sustainable start-ups
Inform and connect students to
sustainable start-ups
A pitching competition with a
cash prize of 1'500 CHF, multiple
angel investors, an expert jury
and an audience of at least 50
people.
​
In-direct: Following up with the
startups throughout the year
after the event (and e.g., posting
progress of selected startups
on social medias).
oikos Solar
Switzerland needs to
decarbonise and increase its
electricity production
Advance sustainable energy
where its most effective in
Switzerland
Solar consulting project in
collaboration with St. Galler
Stadtwerke and research
project
Direct: Green energy produced
(MWh/MWp) and spreading
knowledge
ChangeHub
The university aims to have a
sustainable impact, but there is
still a lot of potential in the
areas of direct action,
awareness, collaboration, and
alignment
Provide collaborative
infrastructure that contributes
to active knowledge creation
and concrete action points
towards a more sustainable
university ecosystem
Solar panels on campus,
Ecosystem Navigator,
HappyHoodie, female hygiene
products, more sustainable
mensa and food concept,
sustainability corner with SHSG
Direct: Solar panels (kWp),
female hygiene products
(articles used)
In-direct: Ecosystem Navigator,
new mensa menu
Curriculum Change
The education system is not
incorporating sustainability
enough in the curriculum taught
Promote a change towards an
up-to-date understanding of
sustainability in curriculum
Create a sustainability-related
student survey in collaboration
with WWF, reintroduce the
Sustainability Curriculum
Innovation Lab, launch the
Critique of Capitalism course.
Direct: Number of professors
successfully consulted. Having
found a professor willing to
teach and implement the new
course Critique of Capitalism.
Framework
Event planning & execution
often has sustainability as an
afterthought
Provide and promote a
framework for more sustainable
event planning
Framework Consulting
Direct: Concrete implemented
measures attributable to
Framework
In-direct: Event metrics of
Framework events, club
feedback
OISMAK
Food is the single largest
producer of pollution in
Switzerland
Promote sustainable eating
Website & social media for
recipes, cooking events
Direct: Total recipes cooked,
amount of CO2 compensated,
In-direct: Cooking events
Sustainable Finance
Investments by private people
and companies are often not
efficiently and sustainably
invested
Promote sustainable investing
Organise workshops, panel
discussions and company visits.
Publish interviews and establish
a sustainable investment fund.
Direct: Money (re-)allocated to
sustainable projects
In-direct: Course participants,
reach of publications.
Sustainability Week
Lack of awareness within
student bodies & the general
population for climate topics
A week with education about
sustainability
The Sustainability Weeks 2024
In-direct: Event metrics
Un-Dress
Fast fashion is a major
contributing factor to
environmental and social issues
Promote sustainable fashion
UND Fashion Show 2025,
Awareness events & workshops,
Web e-commerce store, Alumni
Network, Un-Dress Magazine
Direct: Revenue from e-
commerce store and fashion
show
In-direct: Show & awareness
events & workshop metrics,
social media reach