ESG’s academic philosophy is founded on four fundamental ideas:

• Education works best when everyone is involved and active
• Learning happens in and out of the classroom
• Teaching is a two-way process
• Students learn best in a dynamic educational community

In support of these principles, ESG offers a greater degree of flexibility than the regular curriculum’s set structure does. This allows students to go at their own pace whenever possible and organize their schedules to suit their needs. ESG’s small classes allow students to interact more directly with their teachers and fellow students than is typical in larger classes, and to experiment with novel ways of learning the material. Depending on the nature of the subject, students may also choose their topics of concentration to suit their academic interests.

At ESG, peer teaching is valued and encouraged. We believe that students take greater ownership and command over their academic material when they are teaching it to others.

Learning in a small community setting offers other benefits as well. With only about 55 first-year students in ESG, no one is anonymous. Being part of a small community allows people to get to know one another at a deeper level, and encourages each community member to develop his or her own personality and learning style.