Lausanne Hotel School (Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, or EHL) is the oldest hotel school in the world. Founded in 1893, EHL is a hotel school offering high-level studies to students who are aiming for careers in the hotel industry. In Switzerland, it is the only institute of hospitality management of HES ("Haute Ecole Spécialisée", or University of Applied Sciences) level offering advanced programmes which are recognized by the Swiss government. It is also accredited as an Institution of Higher Education by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in the USA and the Bologna process in Europe. Generally, EHL is accepted industry-wide as the best hotel school in the world, as the Cornell School of Hotel Administration is in the United States of America.
| Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne | |
|---|---|
| École hôtelière de Lausanne | |
| [1] | |
| Established | 1893 |
| Type | Hospitality Management Education |
| Director | Michel Rochat |
| Location | Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Colors | Green |
| Nickname | EHL |
| Website | http://www.ehl.edu |
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EHL is accredited as an Institution of Higher Education by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), USA. It was the first management college in the world to have a dual accreditation at NEASC and HES, Haute Ecole Spécialisée (University of Applied Sciences) level offering advanced programmes which are recognized by the government. Thanks to its recent transition to a reviewed Bachelor of Science (BSc) programme, it now as well features European Bologna process accreditation.
In addition to this international recognition, EHL continuously broadens the scope of its three academic programmes by integrating market trends and new technologies through projects done in collaboration with industry partners, applied research and consulting. EHL has earned its worldwide recognition in the hospitality industry as being the number one hospitality school in the world along with Cornell.
EHL has introduced a new selection process for its Bachelor and Diploma students since the end of 2007.
This means that after careful study of the application files and if they meet the admission criteria, potential students are invited to a Selection Day on campus. Selection Day is made up of a number of steps: three computer evaluation assessments, role-playing and a 45 minute interview. This process gives a better perception of the academic capacities as well as the motivation for EHL and the hospitality professions of each candidate.
The school currently offers different types of degrees. The primary programme, where students are educated in international hospitality management, leads to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree and is open to secondary school diploma holders who have access to a university in their country of origin. A Diploma programme is also offered to vocational background candidates as well as a Masters programme.
The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne was the first hotel school in the world. It was founded nearly a hundred and twenty years ago, in 1893, during the Belle Epoque when Switzerland was experiencing an unprecedented boom in tourism and there was an urgent need for skilled and professional personnel, at every level from management down.
This was the era of the grand palaces and magnificent hotels – still visible today – built along the shore of Geneva and in mountain resorts high above the lake, in order to accommodate a growing international and often wealthy and famous clientele.
The rapid growth of this wealthy and highly demanding clientele resulted in a huge increase in hotels. Fifty palaces and grand hotels were built between 1834 and the opening of the School in 1893, and the number had more than doubled by the outbreak of the First World War. The demand for skilled employees and dynamic managers also grew exponentially in response to the need for high standards of individualized service.
EHL was founded in response to this need. At the time, the idea of a hotel school was revolutionary. EHL's founder, Jacques Tschumi, an influential member of the Swiss Hotel Association, had to persuade his rather reticent fellow members that the project was a realistic and viable one. His vision was soon to be proved well-founded.
When founded in 1893 EHL started with 27 (male) students in the first year. In 1924, the first woman enrolled as a student at the EHL. The campus of EHL was originally located in the city of Lausanne, on the shore of the Lake of Geneva in the building of the Hotel d'Angleterre, but was relocated to Chalet-à-Gobet in 1975.
EHL has educated more than 25,000 hospitality industry executives who now make up a network for every member of the EHL community.
In the first half of 2004 there were over 1,400 students from more than 80 different countries, enjoying the unique and enriching environment of the Lausanne Hotel School.
As of September 2009, with the start of the preparatory year for the revised bachelor programme, more than 2000 students were enrolled to EHL from over 90 different nationalities.
At EHL, students can take part in more than 30 committees giving them the opportunity to develop soft skills. From Sports such as Rugby (EHL Griffins), Ice Hockey (EHL Wolves), etc. to business oriented committee such as the Junior enterprise ([2]) and the Active Leadership Committee. EHL also has its internal Bank, the Student Fund, aiming to fund the most active committees, and its political group, the Student Council which is the link between the student body and the management. With more than 30 committees, EHL is one of the few European university that aim to develop student's skills through extracurricular activities as much as the Ivy League universities.
Being the oldest hotel school in the world with one of the most powerful alumni network, EHL has its own secret society. Each year, Le Cercle 1893 select a group of student who showed great leadership skills in different sports team and committees. The name of the members as well as their activities is unknown.
EHL recently helped set up a Hospitality Management Institute in Greater Noida, India. This Institute, FHRAI Institute Of Hospitality Management, was set up in 2005, and commenced its first academic session on the 5th of September 2005. EHL provides academic certification to this institute.
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