ETH and HSG launch a joint executive education programme

The new emba X programme, which will start in February 2022, combines the strengths of the University of St.Gallen in leadership education, corporate management, sustainability, strategy and business transformation with the knowledge of ETH Zurich in the field of technology management. The programme was created in collaboration between the Executive School of Management, Technology, and Law (ES-HSG) at the University of St.Gallen and the Department of Management, Technology and Economics at ETH Zurich.

Executive education with a lasting impact

The 18-month emba X degree programme teaches the essentials of leadership, technology and general management with a focus on applied knowledge. In so-called “sprint weeks”, for example, students develop solutions to current societal issues. Students also develop their social and leadership skills through “Skill Building Interventions”.

“The increasing complexity of our world challenges existing ways of thinking and acting and requires new skills for top leaders," says Prof. Bernhard Ehrenzeller, Rector of the University of St.Gallen. "With the collaboration between ETH and HSG, traditional teaching methods of management subjects are complemented by an integrative and innovative learning approach”.

Prof. Karolin Frankenberger, co-director of emba X adds: “Our new programme develops responsible leaders who have the mindset, knowledge and skills to integrate management and technology to achieve a positive, sustainable impact for their team, their organisations and society”.

Creating a pool of responsible managers

Today, managers are confronted with a variety of demands: among other things, employees are increasingly looking for meaningful work, the rapid pace of technological progress demands that leaders react flexibly to change, and last but not least, leaders are required to act responsibly towards society.

The new programme aims to train business leaders to embrace such societal changes and align them with their company's business goals. Stefano Brusoni, ETH professor and co-director of emba X says: “New technologies give us the opportunity to address societal problems and business needs, but they also create new challenges for managers. They have to learn how to reconcile the conflicting goals of different stakeholders from business and society”.

Prof. Sarah Springman, Rector of ETH, adds: “With our programme, we want to help leaders realise their full potential and have a lasting positive impact on their employees, their company and ultimately on society”.