Oikos International - Organisational Structure

Organisational Structure

oikos organisation consists from 3 main levels. The governing organisation is oikos International, headquartered in St.Gallen. It is governed by the Executive Board and supported by the Advisory Council. Once a year a President of oikos International is elected from members of Local Chapters of the organization (approved by voting procedure by all Local Chapters). International Advisory Council consists from representatives of business, politics, non-governmental organisations and other groups. The main role of the Advisors is to help to the operations of the whole oikos by providing support in the planning of specific activities of the organisation and its overall strategy, by connecting members of oikos with the representatives of businesses and society and by supporting funding efforts.

The main activities of oikos International include organisation of a number of international events, conferences and workshops and guidance and coordination of the whole development of oikos. Besides of that oikos International aims to assist to the advancement of Local Chapters at the early stage of their development, to provide the organisational "know-how", IT-infrastruture and promotional materials to its local branches and to help to Local Chapters to install contacts with key decision makers at their regions.

Local Chapters of oikos are root elements of the organisation - they conduct the majority of all activities of oikos International. Chapters consist of students interested in fields of ecological protection and sustainable development in business and economy. Main goals of Chapters are to integrate issues of sustainability into curricula of home Universities in order to make it one of the main elements of student formation and to engage local students into the activities and interests of oikos International. Chapters organize their operations independently from oikos International in order to achieve common goals of the organisation.

oikos Foundation for economy and ecology is part of oikos International. Its focus lies on financial and institutional support of the activity of oikos organisation. This body is governed by oikos Foundation Council and it works closely with the Swiss Institute for Economy and the Environment.