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Campus Notes
A pioneer in sync with the times
The Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), the first
hotel school in the world, provides university-level training to talented, ambitious
students aiming for fast-track careers in the hospitality industry. By Sanjeev
Bhar
Founded in 1893, the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) is considered
to be one of the world's leading educational institutions for the international
hospitality industry. According to Ruud J Reuland, general director of Ecole
hôtelière de Lausanne, "The training EHL provides is as relevant
today as it was a century ago, and is based on a balance between the arts and
the sciences, or between the scientific aspects and the artistic aspects of
management." With an enrolment of over 1,600 students from 90 countries
globally, the school trains students to take charge of the developing hospitality
sector in the years to come. The institute has an extensive network of 25,000
alumni, which includes many well-known names in the hotel industry, and plays
a significant role in supporting those aiming for an international career.
Living up to its name of being the oldest institute for hospitality education
in the world, EHL has a lot to strive for. There is the constant challenge of
maintaining standards and more often than not, EHL dictates terms and breaks
the conventions to be with the times and offers education in-sync with industry
specifications. It is even a forerunner in bringing advancements in education
and technique, providing adequate knowledge to amateurs so that they can emerge
successful pros.
The essence of the institute's success can be attributed to the sound learning
it provides. The students are integrated in the last semester of the academic
programme for the various projects EHL undertakes. This allows them to synthesise
the knowledge they have acquired, both theoretical and practical. Students are
coached by faculty, but remain mainly autonomous. More than 200 companies have
given this service a vote of confidence in the following areas; creating and
evaluating new hospitality concepts, analysing the strengths and weaknesses
of selected strategic options, developing new hospitality products and processes;
researching market segments, conducting surveys and making forecasts, and developing
food and beverage concepts.
Over a period of eight and a half weeks (30 hours a week per student), EHL students
carry out projects in teams of four, five or six. In this way, EHL takes education
to a newer level with more lucrative propositions, through the involvement of
corporates. This therefore enables learners from the institute to get integrated
seamlessly into the professional stream.
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Ruud J Reuland, general director of Ecole
hôtelière de Lausanne talks about the booming career opportunities
hospitality offers. By Sanjeev Bhar
Ruud J Reuland
General director,
Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne |
How comprehensive is hospitality education today
globally?
These days, hospitality courses are very comprehensive,
offering very good prospects for students. For example, EHL courses in
management and strategy are combined with practical work, projects and
organisation of events. Constant interaction between EHL and the hospitality
industry ensures that our academic programmes are always up-to-date and
correspond to current and future needs to offer the desired results that
the industry seeks. EHL's International Advisory Board comprises16 international
hospitality leaders who meet regularly to discuss and determine EHL's
educational orientation and strategy to bring about the best result in
hospitality education.
What is the USP of your institute? As a source of young talent, EHL does many things to
bring about the best in students enrolling for various courses. Apart
from hosting events, conferences, and gatherings of various kinds, the
school is always happy to make its know-how available to major companies
who appreciate the touch of enthusiasm its students bring to the service
they provide. In their final semester at EHL, students in the Bachelor
of Science degree programme are given a real life-consulting project as
part of the student business projects. These projects are included in
the last semester of the academic programme and allow students to synthesise
the knowledge they have acquired, both theoretical and practical.
What opportunities are available to hospitality
students today?
In addition to hotels, the hospitality industry
is vast, varied and dynamic. There is the possibility of a career in wellness
centres and spas, cruise ships, golf and country clubs, airline catering,
conference venues, which are all closely related and are currently booming.
EHL graduates are typically appointed to positions in marketing, finance
and human resources. The world of hospitality today extends far beyond
its traditional realms; indeed private banks, hospitals and clinics and
humanitarian organisation must all take into account the wishes of their
clients. In fact, many well-known companies, representing different fields
of activity, send their recruiters to the campus of the Ecole hôtelière
de Lausanne because they are aware that in today's world, client orientation
- the essence of hospitality - is a vitally important asset.
How do students benefit from EHL's corporate
associations?
EHL is involved in various hospitality projects, which
are a boon to students. By giving EHL the opportunity to help develop
a project, a company allows students to see the realities of the professional
world, and as far as EHL is concerned, we provide the client with the
skills, the professionalism and the creative spirit of the faculty and
students of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne. On the strength
of the record and the missions carried out in the past, EHL is able to
guarantee that such a process can make an outstanding contribution to
a company and simultaneously help build quality professionals when students
graduate from the institute.
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