Managing Climate Solutions (MaCS)

Managing Climate Solutions

In the Managing Climate Solutions (MaCS) certificate, master students develop solutions to one of the most pressing societal challenges of our time: climate change.

The MaCS is an additional qualification that students can earn alongside their master’s degree and comprises 24 ECTS credits. At its core are two mandatory courses. In addition, students can choose from a wide range of electives covering the key thematic areas of Climate and Sustainability, Energy Transitions and Governance, and Low-Carbon Innovation.
A central element of the program is the course Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Climate Solutions, in which students work collaboratively on a hands-on, real-world project to address a specific climate challenge.
The program begins in the fall semester and concludes in the following spring semester. Students may, however, continue to take elective courses beyond this period. Many of the electives can also be credited towards the student’s main master’s program.

 

Student Ambassadors

Our Student Ambassadors represent the MaCS program externally and are current MaCS students, so feel free to contact them if you have any questions.
“I chose MaCS because I see an incredible value in connecting my business studies with climate science. I wanted to join a program that is truly action-oriented with an interdisciplinary setting and focuses on co-creating realistic climate solutions.”
Axelle Scheuner
Master in Business Innovation (MBI)
axelle.scheuner@student.unisg.ch
“From guest lectures and field trips to events by the Student Board, like Career Fairs or a shared weekend in the mountains, you not only gain hands-on insights but also build close friendships.”
Theo Girardi
Master in Accounting and Corporate Finance (MACFin)
theo.girardi@student.unisg.ch
“MaCS helps me to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world impact. It provides me with practical skills and interdisciplinary sustainability knowledge, which are important for working on climate challenges in professional settings.”
Sophie Seiser
Master in International Affairs and Governance (MIA)
sophie.seiser@student.unisg.ch
“For me, the most valuable part has been the community. It is very motivating to see how much is already happening behind the scenes.”
Till Bieri
Master in General Management (MGM)
tilldimitri.bieri@student.unisg.ch
“As I want to work in the sustainability sector in the future, the MaCS certificate felt like the perfect complement to my Master’s in General Management at HSG.”
Emma Jakob
Master in General Management (MGM)
emma.jakob@student.unisg.ch
“MaCS gives me access to a broad network of like-minded peers and provides practical skills that are directly relevant to addressing climate-related challenges.”
Annika Linggi
Master in Business Innovation (MBI)
annikalena.linggi@student.unisg.ch

Featured Employers

Featured employers with a strong track record of recruiting MaCS students or participating in the annual MaCS Climate Career Night.

MaCS Alumni Testimonials

Advance your career with the MaCS certificate. 
“Working on data-based sustainability solutions for the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund requires understanding multiple dimensions of climate action, and MaCS prepared me exactly for that.”
Felix Popis
Associate, Norges Bank Investment Management
“MaCS’s interdisciplinary program allowed to deal with sustainability solutions in different fields paired with long-term thinking, which I am convinced was an advantage in the job market.”
Deborah Jossen
Head Sustainability, Emmi Switzerland
“The MaCS certificate was not only the perfect addition to the main HSG Master to expand the range of topics, it successfully bridged the gap between academics and hands-on projects to allow everyone to find ways to concretely take action.”
Conradin Meili
Senior Analyst, Pexapark
“MaCS combined interdisciplinary thinking with hands-on, solution-focused project implementation, inspiring the career path I am pursuing today.”
Ines Morales Wyden
Candidate Career "International Cooperation", EDA
“MaCS helped me build a strong understanding of the climate challenge and the innovations addressing it, enabling me to work with investors to finance climate solutions.”
Laura Forero
Investor Relations Officer, World Fund
Transformation Capital
“MaCS opened the door to an amazing community of like-minded sustainability enthusiasts which gave me the courage and conviction to pursue a career path that is fully aligned with my values.”
Johannes Tschiderer
Senior Associate, TransCap Initiative
“MaCS shaped my interest in sustainability transformation in companies through an interdisciplinary perspective on complex organizational challenges, leading me into sustainability consulting and ultimately my current PhD research position.”
Anna Sophia Burch
PhD candidate, University of St.Gallen
“MaCS deepened my understanding of climate change and its impact on vulnerable people. It connected human reality with systems thinking and shaped my career in philanthropic impact investing, supporting climate-resilient ventures in emerging markets.”
Lea Vetsch
Associate, elea

MaCS Team

Rolf Wüstenhagen

Prof. Dr.

Professor of Management of Renewable Energies / Co-Director RISE-HSG

Institute of Responsible Innovation, Sustainability and Energy (RISE-HSG)
52-5222
Müller-Friedberg-Strasse 6/8
9000 St. Gallen

Nina Schneider

Dr.

Senior Lecturer of Managing Climate Solutions

IWÖ-HSG
Büro 52-5206
Müller-Friedberg-Strasse 6/8
9000 St. Gallen

Pascal Vuichard

Dr.

Senior Lecturer of Managing Climate Solutions

Institute of Responsible Innovation, Sustainability and Energy (RISE-HSG)
Büro 52-5204
Müller-Friedberg-Strasse 6/8
9000 St. Gallen

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Join the MaCS Webinar

Join the MaCS Webinar to learn more...

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Join the MaCS Webinar to learn more about the Managing Climate Solutions (MaCS) Master’s Certificate Programme at the University of St. Gallen.

Date: 24 February
Time: 18:00–19:00
Online

Register here

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