Promotion process at HSG

With the goal of supporting academic career development, we enable promotions to an associate or, if appropriate, a full professorship.

Such a promotion is only possible under the preconditions that the necessary financial resources are available and that the academic achievements of the candidate were assessed as positive by the relevant school in a mid-term evaluation carried out according to the criteria of the RELEAD schema.

The promotion process for an associate or full professorship is initiated by a resolution at the assembly of the school concerned. The promotion itself takes place by means of an independent process of evaluation, in which the committee is convened with the same composition as in the case of an appointments process. If the evaluation is a positive one, the election follows in the Senate and on the Board of Governors, as well as – in the case of a full professorship – by the cantonal government of St. Gallen.

Promotion to the rank of an Associate Professorship

Promotion of Assistant Professors (Tenure Track and Tenure Option)

Assistant professors each become qualified for their position, as a rule, by means of a competitive appointments process. This position constitutes a stage in an academic career that may enable a promotion to the rank of an associate or, in certain cases, a full professorship, if their performance in teaching and research meets the requirements. Such a promotion can only happen if the funds for an associate or full professorship are available.

If these funds were already reserved by the school at the time when the position in question was advertised, then the holder of this assistant professorship has a tenure-track position.

If the necessary funds are not yet secured, then the assistant professor has a position with an option of promotion; and if the funds or a professorship become available, a promotion to an associate or full professorship is possible – as is the case with colleagues having a tenure-track position.

In both cases (that is, a tenure-track position and one with an option of promotion), an evaluation is held after six years at the latest that also makes comparisons with international colleagues on the same career level and in the same subject area. If this evaluation has a positive result, the promotion can be successfully completed; it is initiated by the relevant school in question.

Promotion to the rank of a Full Professorship

Promotion of Associate Professors

In principle, a promotion to the rank of full professor is possible, if the performance in teaching and research meets the requirements.

However, such a promotion can only happen if the funds for a full professorship are available and if so, the process can be initiated by the relevant school.