Promoting a Healthy Work-Life Balance

St.Gallen

There are places available for all university members at the Globi daycare centers in St. Gallen (Böcklinstrasse 14 and Otmarquartier), in Winkeln, Gossau and Oberbüren.

The daycare centers offer places for children from the age of three months until they start school. They are also open to university members who do not live in the city of St. Gallen or in the commune. The tariff regulations of the city of St. Gallen or the commune apply.

We recommend an initial consultation with Ursula Graff from the Diversity and Equal Opportunity Office (ursula.graf@ost.ch). Register directly with the Globi daycare center and let them know that you are studying or working at OST when you register.

Buchs

Starting August 1, 2025, a childcare spot at the Schatzchischta daycare center in Buchs will be available for OST employees and students. 

The daycare center operates at two locations near the Buchs Campus (Aeulistrasse and Brunnenstrasse) and provides care for children from 3 months of age up to kindergarten entry. The childcare spot is reserved for children of OST employees and students and can be shared among multiple children. 

Registration: Employees and students can contact the Schatzchischta daycare center starting now, stating that they work or study at OST.

If an emergency arises due to illness, accident or a difficult life situation, in-home childcare can provide support.

The following agencies can arrange in-home childcare in an emergency:

• Swiss Red Cross in the canton of St. Gallen
• Frauenzentrale St. Gallen (St. Gallen Womens’ Center)

The Student Childcare Fund offers students the opportunity to apply for financial support for childcare options outside of the home.

You can make use of financial support

• to ensure that you don't have to interrupt your studies after the birth of your child,
• in order to secure childcare until the end of your studies and
• if you encounter financial difficulties in funding your childcare.

Only students of OST Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences are eligible to apply for funding.

Documents for the written application can be obtained from Ursula Graf at the Diversity and Equal Opportunity unit (ursula.graf@ost.ch).

University staff who look after or care for sick, disabled or elderly relatives face different problems and challenges. The university strives to find individual solutions for those entitled to compensation for disadvantages.

You can obtain important information from the information sheet for employees with relatives in need of care, from Pro Senectute, the Swiss Red Cross, and under Work & Care.

For further information, please contact Cornelia Bruggmann from the HR Department: cornelia.bruggmann@ost.ch.

Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences (OST) actively promotes a healthy work-life balance and is strongly committed to gender equality. With a wide range of targeted measures, OST systematically advances these priorities and was awarded the «UND label» by the UND specialist agency in summer 2025. This award confirms that OST is systematically committed to compatibility and equality and meets a clearly defined quality standard.

Employees and students can find detailed information about the specific measures on the OST Infoportal.