It is with great pleasure that we announce that starting January 1st, 2026, the Chair of Sociology, led by Patrik Aspers and supported by a team of nearly 20 people, will join IIDM.
Patrik Aspers’s research spans several fields, focusing on organization and decision-making, as exemplified in his book Uncertainty: Private Problems and Public Solutions (Oxford University Press, 2020). He also leads an SNF-funded project on marketplaces, with which most of his postdocs are affiliated. Aspers has been at HSG since 2019 and is currently the President of the Swiss Sociological Association and the Academic Director of the DOK Doctoral Program @ HSG.
Another large part of the activities at the Chair of Sociology is the research hub led by Prof. Sabine Hoidn, which focuses on human-centred transformation processes. She currently leads four Horizon Europe projects, contributing expertise in socioeconomic impact analysis, stakeholder engagement, training concepts, sustainable governance strategies, and gender equality promotion. Sabine Hoidn also leads the Student-Centred Learning Lab (SCLab), which develops evidence-based models and practices for student-centred teaching and supports innovation in higher education through research.
Integrating the Chair of Sociology into the IIDM strengthens our thought leadership in international management and diversity management, in terms of both research and practice.
We are looking forward to working together and with each other’s teams productively, to learn from one another, and to contribute to each other’s research, courses and industry projects!
The IIDM Team
The Institute for International Management and Diversity Management (IIDM-HSG), formerly known as the Research Institute for International Management (FIM-HSG), has been a leading hub for cutting-edge research, project work, and educational programs since its establishment in 2013. Effective 1 January 2025, this name change signifies the institute’s expanded strategic focus on the promotion of diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities, alongside its foundational expertise in international management.
With a distinguished history of impactful research and consultancy, IIDM-HSG operates through a robust structure of five Competence Centres:
Competence Center for Diversity, Disability and Inclusion (CCDI)
India Competence Centre (ICC)
China Competence Centre (CCC)
Competence Centre for Top Teams (CCTT)
Corporate Governance Competence Centre (CGCC):
Over the years, the institute has significantly expanded its reach and impact. Notable achievements include publishing in leading academic journals such as the Journal of Management Studies, Journal of Business Research, and Leadership Quarterly, and presenting the First Sino-Swiss Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Academic Evaluation Report in the presence of the President of the Swiss Federation and other officials.IIDM-HSG faculty members have been consistently recognized for their excellence, with accolades such as the prestigious Latsis award and rankings among Switzerland’s TOP 100 Women in Business.
The transition to IIDM-HSG brings a new leadership team comprising Prof. Winfried Ruigrok, Prof. Gudrun Sander, and Prof. Stephan Böhm. Together, they guide the institute in addressing the complex challenges of today’s business world while reinforcing its position as a global leader in diversity management.
As we integrate International Management with Diversity, Disability, and Inclusion, IIDM-HSG envisions becoming a unique institute with significant impact both at HSG and globally. With approximately 40 dedicated employees, we remain committed to providing innovative solutions and advancing the fields of management and inclusion for the benefit of business and society.
