The St. Gallen Institute of Management in Latin America (GIMLA) will serve several purposes, as the University of St.Gallen (HSG) explains in its press release. On the one hand, it will be used to arrange exchange semesters for HSG students, enabling them to familiarise themselves with Latin America. Currently an average of 200 students and 25 lecturers from the university complete a period of stay abroad in Latin America. In future, the GIMLA will also find students practical placements in Latin America.
On the other hand, the university wants to increase its practical research and intensify its research cooperation and consultancy activities. The focus of the hub already established in Sao Paolo in 2010 is “Impact Investing” and “Social Finance”. In so doing, research is carried out on business models which have a positive influence on society and the environment. The GIMLA will also advise regional companies in how to improve their business sustainability.
On 18 October 2016 the University of St.Gallen is scheduled to host its fifth Impact Business Conference on the subject of “Innovative Business Models for a Sustainable Society – Insights from Latin America”. The GIMLA will be officially in inaugurated within the framework of the conference.
