Interdisciplinarity matters more than ever – and this is why I am a huge fan of teaching interdisciplinary university courses like Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in the Master in Strategy and International Management (SIM), the University of St.Gallen’s flagship master programme.
Today is exam day for the students in our M&A course. It is the opportunity for them to demonstrate their understanding and skills in a variety of M&A-related topics. The course structure reflects the complexity of real-world transactions: Students analyse M&A through the lenses of strategy, operations, corporate law, contract law and corporate governance. We follow an interdisciplinary approach by design, teaching a variety of topics – such as M&A strategy, post-merger integration, M&A negotiations, share purchase agreements, merger control, public takeover law and corporate governance implications. Our goal is to enable our students to approach M&A not as technical transactions, but as multidimensional decisions with strategic, legal and organizational implications. Seeing them connecting these perspectives is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching this subject.
Interdisciplinary learning and integrative thinking lie at the heart of the University of St.Gallen’s academic identity: In their first year – the mandatory Assessment Year – students build a foundation in business management, economics and law. This early exposure fosters a mindset that naturally bridges disciplines. This is something that distinguishes the University of St.Gallen from other business, economics and/or law schools – and I would even call it a USP in the educational landscape.
In practice, the most successful leaders, decision-makers and advisors are those who can navigate these intersections with confidence. Interdisciplinarity is not just an academic ideal; today, it is a professional necessity for board members, C-level executives and business lawyers alike.
It is (and it has always been) my firm belief that investing in broad foundational training pays dividends: It empowers young professionals to think holistically, challenge assumptions and make better decisions in complex environments. And it is precisely this ability that will shape the next generation of responsible business leaders.