Magellan
Bienvenido and welcome to the Magellan website! Here you can find all relevant information about our Latin America exchange program. Please use the links on the left to navigate through the page. Should you have any questions you can also consult our information brochure or contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . ¡Buena suerte!
Our Mission
Magellan is a bilateral exchange program which aims to foster intercultural exchange and intercontinental friendships between students from the University of St. Gallen and an annually changing partner university in Latin America. Each year, the project offers a total of 40 open-minded students from both participating universities the opportunity to explore the partner country and to get to know its culture and its peculiarities. The program is split into two 10-day parts and consists of a wide range of different events such as lectures, workshops, city tours, sightseeing and company visits in both countries. Through these diverse activities we hope to give participants a unique and profound insight into the cultural, political, economic and social system of both nations and to equip them with a backpack of impressions and memories that will accompany and enrich them and others all their lives.
The Magellan program is organized entirely by students who voluntarily put a lot of effort and work into making the exchange an enjoyable and useful experience for everyone. Magellan first started in 2003, organizing an exchange project with the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Santiago de Chile. Since then, various universities in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia participated in the program.
Our Partner University
This year’s partner university will be the University del Pacífico in Lima, Peru (UP). It was founded in 1962 and is one of the leading universities in the areas of economics and business administration in South America. We are looking forward to a good collaboration and an exciting exchange!
For more information about the University del Pacífico, Lima, Peru (UP) please visit their website: www.up.edu.pe/en/
Our Patrons and Supporters
We are very glad to present to you our patrons who support us and the project vigorously. Often they can give us helpful contacts and ideas on how to improve the project. We sincerely thank them for their assistance!
 | Prof. Dr. Markus Schwaninger |
| Prof. Dr. Markus Schwaninger teaches Business Administration at the University of St. Gallen, his focus being on system oriented Management studies. Mr. Schwaninger also supports us with useful advice and helpful contacts. | |
 | Prof. Dr. Yvette Sánchez |
| Prof. Dr. Yvette Sánchez is professor for Spanish language and literature at the University of St. Gallen. For several years she has been supporting us with a lot of effort and has helped us especially with her numerous excel¬lent contacts to people and institutions in Latin America. | |
 | Fernão de Magalhães |
| Fernão de Magalhães was the portguese explorer who the Magellan project is named after. His expedition was the first one to sail from the Atlantic into the Pacific Ocean (through the Strait of Magellan) and also the first one to complete a circumnavigation of the world (although Magalhães himself did not complete the voyage due to his death during a battle in the Philippines). Except for our project he also gave name to the Magellanic Penguin and the Magellanic clouds. | |
Supported by
The Magellan program is supported by the Federal Departement of Foreign Affairs FDFA, General Secretariat GS-FDFA, Presence Switzerland. Presence Switzerland is responsible for presenting and fostering a positive image of Switzerland and for implementing the Federal Council’s strategy on Switzerland’s communication abroad.
