Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne has been selected by ceoinsightsindia as one of the " 10 Best European Educational Institutes for Indian Students - 2019.
The travel and hospitality industry across the world is witnessing a phenomenal growth due to factors such as strong economy, increasing consumer purchasing power, and disruptive digital innovations. In tandem with this fast-paced growth, the hospitality industry is creating countless job opportunities, which attribute to 23 percent of the overall new jobs that will be created in the next ten years. In fact, there lies a great demand for versatile managers in this space who can imbue newgen customers with seamless yet personalized experiences. Often described as ‘The Home of Hospitality’, Switzerland is indubitably home to multiple world class hospitality & leisure management institutions that are building future leaders.
One such worldclass institution at Switzerland is Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), which is the world’s first Hospitality Management School, established in 1893. With a legacy of 125+ years, EHL (member of EFMD & AACSB) has been leading the way and also contributing to the future of hospitality since the very first day of its inception. Even today, pushing the envelope of hospitality industry lies at the kernel of EHL’s strategies!
Standing as the linchpin of EHL is Prof. Michel Rochat (CEO) who considers moulding strategies for an education group is the most interesting job as a CEO, since it enables him to contribute to the development of next generation. In an exclusive interaction with CEO Insights, Michel has elucidated volumes about the international academic excellence of EHL.
What are the hallmarks that provide EHL an edge over other hospitality management schools in the world?
Leveraging our proximity with the best hospitality leaders, partnerships and unceasing research projects, we ensure to update our programs on a yearly basis in accordance with the industrial advancements. Besides, we provide immersive learning experiences to our students right from facilities, to committees, events and excursion so that they excel beyond the frontiers of academic curriculum. Moreover, we are currently emphasizing on bringing innovative learning solutions, stimulating innovation & entrepreneurship through our Innovation Village and partnerships and also redefining the fundamentals of world-class education.
In view of addressing our students’ needs, we offer a vibrant and dynamic international environment with facilities entailing numerous practical operational stations, study areas, top-notch dining and many more. Even students voluntarily participate in various social committees and sports associations like Sustainability Week, EHL Smile Association, Students Helping Students Committee, and others to pursue their common goals and passions. By large our prime goal is to encourage students to live an exemplary life that embraces healthy living, refinement and social engagement.
Today, we are greatly privileged to have the world’s strongest alumni network of 25,000+ professionals with 120+ nationalities along with a student body comprising of 30 percent Swiss and the rest being 120+ nationalities, including 51 Indian students. This diversity in student body as well as faculty adds to our excellence, while it fosters our students to excel in diverse international working environments.
Cast some light on EHL’s admission process, fee structure and placement process.
Admissions are carried out as per a comprehensive approach at EHL where in we search for candidates with good academic foundation and personal qualities to not just succeed across our program, but become a leader in the industry. Especially, to get admitted in our Bachelor in International Hospitality Management program accredited by Swiss Federal Government & NECHE, one must have passed the final secondary school examination. Besides this we conduct a stringent process of online evaluation, face-to-face interview, and analytical & quantitative aptitude test to select the students. Coming to fee structure the overall fees include tuition, infrastructure and food & beverage credit, while we grant scholarships or honorary loans on a case-by-case basis to students via our dedicated foundation.
Leveraging our proximity with the best hospitality leaders, partnerships and unceasing research projects, we ensure to update our programs on a yearly basis in accordance with the industrial advancements.
For placements of our students, we deploy a privileged network of connections across the hospitality industry; thanks to our alumni network and recognition as World’s Best Hospitality & Leisure Management School in the 2019 QS World University Ranking. We proactively organize on campus career fairs twice a year for students to associate with 200 key representatives from diverse sectors, while presenting exclusive job offers on our online job portal. Moreover, we allow our senior students to participate in consulting projects called Students Business Projects (SBP), wherein they engage full time in tackling business challenges faced by partner companies for over nine weeks. Two experts in our faculty also ensure to train them on tweaking highly professional written report research and actionable recommendations.
Brief us on the expertise of your faculty.
We take utmost pride in having some of the world’s top experts at EHL including 130 faculty members and 30 active researchers who regularly publish in leading academic journals. We also have an exceptional culinary arts team encompassing Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, World Catering Champions, and other celebrity chefs, besides the world’s only Michel in starred training restaurant that employs The Best Sommelier of Italy (2018).
What plans have you chalked-out for the future of EHL?
We intend to expand our international presence, which are currently two campuses Lausanne and Passugg in Switzerland and a third one yet to be unveiled at Singapore! Our Advisory Services bracket is striving to build closer connections with the industry to accelerate their business and bridge the worlds of academia & industry. Further, through certifications and VET programs, we will be presenting EHL’s unique education model and quality level to other education partners.
For placements of our students, we deploy a privileged network of connections across the hospitality industry; thanks to our alumni network and recognition as World’s Best Hospitality & Leisure Management School in the 2019 QS World University Ranking.
We are extremely elated on the note that our three entities Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, EHL Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality and EHL Advisory Services have been selected for the ‘Top 50 Companies in Education’ award to be conferred at GFEL (Global Forum For Education and Learning) on 16th-18th Dec, 2019 at Le Meridian, Dubai.
Read the Article from the magazine CEO Insights India.
Related Article: EHL Passugg: At the Acme of World-Class Hospitality Education
