In the heart of picturesque Lausanne, Switzerland, stands an institution that has consistently set the benchmark for excellence in hospitality management education. EHL Hospitality Business School, for the sixth consecutive year, proudly claims its title as the world's best institution in hospitality management education, according to the prestigious QS rankings for 2024. This remarkable achievement not only solidifies EHL's position at the forefront of hospitality education but also highlights its continuous ascent in the global ranking of business schools.
Once more, QS rankings confirm Switzerland’s central role in shaping the hospitality industry and EHL’s position as the world’s leading institution.
Each year, our institution follows the rigorous processes that ranking organizations dictate. While there is a plethora of rankings and websites compiling “the best schools in….”, it may feel confusing to see that your preferred school is at the top in one ranking and in a completely different position in another one.
How to make sense of all the different rankings? What indicators should you look for? Are rankings the sole decision-making factor when it comes to education? These questions are all valid and we hope to shed a light on them.
How to make sense of the different rankings
There are several organizations that provide annual rankings of international hospitality and tourism degree programs. Each organization uses a slightly different methodology to determine their rankings based on what they believe contributes to quality education in hospitality.
While some rankings use a wide range of qualitative and quantitative metrics, others emphasize research and gather readily available information. A ranking like QS World University Rankings by Subject seeks external validation from worldwide academics and recruiters to showcase an indicator of crucial importance: reputation.
How do the QS world university rankings work?
The reason why this ranking is important is because it focuses on narrow specialties rather than broad disciplines. QS uses the same four metrics for all the 55+ subjects it ranks:
- Academic reputation
- Employer reputation
- Research citations by paper
- H-Index
The academic and employer reputation are indicators elaborated thanks to QS’s annual survey which brings together a large cross-section of world-academics and recruiters to nominate the best schools across all disciplines. To date, this survey is the largest and the most international of its kind.
QS is the only organization to assess the number of research papers authored by department faculty members that have been cited in other publications for the specific discipline. The fourth metric, the H-Index, measures the productivity and impact of faculty members within the industry based on academic citations.
What are the top hospitality and leisure management schools in the world?
- EHL Hospitality Business School - Switzerland
- SHMS - Swiss Hotel Management School - Switzerland
- César Ritz Colleges - Switzerland
- University of Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV)
- Les Roches Global Hospitality Education -Switzerland
The importance of reputation in academic rankings
Reputation is the intangible asset of a university’s balance sheet. You may have heard about Warren Buffet’s stance on reputation:
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently”
His statement summarizes what EHL works towards repeatedly to stay relevant and to remain number 1 worldwide: educating differently to shape the future leaders of hospitality and businesses. Our reputation is built on the quality of our academic programs and accreditation, the success of our students, faculty and graduates, our commitment to research and innovation, and our close ties to industry leaders and companies.
But what does it entail to be the best university in hospitality management?
Our ranking position brings a virtuous circle. For over 129 years, EHL has ventured into new territories and pioneered the evolution of hospitality education and leadership:
- The world’s first hospitality school to open its doors in 1893.
- Launched the concept of student internships in 1959 to support the industry.
- Opened the restaurant le “Berceau des Sens”, which is the only training restaurant in the world to hold a Michelin star for 3 consecutive years.
- Founded the Innovation Village, world’s first university food & hospitality innovation ecosystem.
- From “Dress code” to “Dress for”, EHL is the first hospitality school to dust off its historical dress code and introduce the “Guide for professional appearance”, which is now inclusive of cultural and religious diversity, while complying with industry requirements.
Being ranked at the top drives us to innovate and invest in the development of our courses and our campuses internationally, which ultimately benefits our communities - hence our reputation. For us, reputation is the dividend EHL can reinvest into its operations.
From teaching housekeeping courses with virtual reality simulation games, enhancing soft skills through internships and real-life consultant business projects, to embedding sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation in our students’ journey - we place our values of excellence, family, learning, respect, and innovation the heart of what we do.
Our purpose is to augment the level of excellence in our students and the industry by enriching traditional hospitality education and business models with the values of tomorrow.
A legacy of success
Year after year, EHL Hospitality Business School has remained unrivaled in its commitment to nurturing the next generation of hospitality leaders. Markus Venzin, CEO of EHL Group, emphasizes, "Being six years at the top of the QS rankings is a testament to the success of our graduates." This success is a reflection of EHL's dedication to empowering growth and excellence in human experiences within the dynamic hospitality and services industry.
Driving transformation in hospitality education
EHL's recognition extends beyond its dominance in hospitality education. As one of the top business schools in Switzerland, EHL underscores the value of hospitality education in diverse industries, including luxury, finance, and real estate. The institution's holistic approach to education equips graduates with the skills and insights necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape.
A global perspective
Students at EHL gain a global outlook and international experience from it's two Swiss campuses (Lausanne and Passugg) and 1 campus in Singapore. What's more, the student bosy is made up of +30 nationalities and students are encouraged to take internships abroad. Switzerland consistently ranks in the top 10 places to study globally, giving an excellent backdrop for ambitious students to meet people from diverse backgrounds in an inclusive learning environment.
Methodology of excellence
The QS rankings, known for their rigorous methodology, seek validation from thousands of academics and recruiters worldwide. In the realm of Hospitality & Leisure Management, EHL's exceptional performance is underscored by its perfect score of 100/100 points on both the Employer and Academic Reputation indicators. This accolade is a testament to EHL's unparalleled industry connections and its commitment to producing graduates who are highly sought after by employers in the hospitality and services sector.
Empowering future leaders
At EHL Hospitality Business School, excellence isn't just a goal—it's a way of life. Through innovative curriculum, hands-on experience, and industry partnerships, EHL prepares students to become trailblazers in the field of hospitality management.
Whether it's mastering the art of guest relations, honing hard skills in finance and technology, or embracing sustainable practices, EHL empowers students to excel in every facet of the hospitality industry.
In a hyper-connected yet lonely world where the demand for exceptional hospitality experiences continues to rise, EHL Hospitality Business School is honored to say it provides the best education in hospitaity management to meet this demand today and will continue to strive to meet this high bar going forward.
Read the official Press Release.
