ABSTRACT
Social interlinks can be divided into direct links to core processes, such as the number of projects and graduate placements with regional companies, and more general, indirect ones, such as employees’ links with regional organisations, the number of hours they spend as volunteers in regional associations and so on. The same is true of business schools not just traditional, campus schools but also multi-campus universities and virtual business schools offering pure e-learning products. As one of 10 state universities in Switzerland, it is the only specialised university whose graduates, unlike those of the universities of Basel and Zurich, leave the region, with only a small minority remaining. In addition, boards and local politicians want to be sure that the university management links properly with its environment. University of St Gallen faculty have active supervisory or management roles in more than 200 companies and foundations listed in the Swiss Commercial Register and approximately 40% of these are located within the region.
