What is the secret behind this century old Swiss university

In the field of pan service management in the QS World University Rankings, there is a school that has consistently ranked first for six consecutive years, and that is EHL Hospitality Business School (EHL), which has a history of 131 years. What secret does this century old prestigious school rely on to maintain its leading position in fierce competition?

Stable at the top of the list, innovative ideas create brilliance

In 1893, EHL was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, initially providing small-scale professional training courses for hotel employees and managers. In the process of continuous teaching exploration, a unique new pan hotel management education model has emerged, becoming an important symbol of Switzerland's world-renowned hotel management education.

After more than a century of development, EHL has grown into a multinational group that can provide a wide range of comprehensive education and business solutions. It has three campuses in Switzerland and Singapore, offering a diverse range of academic programs, from high school student study tours to bachelor's, master's, MBA degree programs, as well as vocational and higher education. It has trained over 25000 graduates worldwide. In 2022, the college changed its name from Ecole H ô teli è re de Lausanne, which had been in use for over a century, and the new EHL brand was officially unveiled.

Speaking of the school's long history, Dr. Juan F. Perellon, Chief Academic Research Officer of EHL, proudly stated, "We are deeply proud of the hotel management education in Switzerland and Lausanne, which has long been integrated into the school's DNA. In fact, the 'L' in EHL comes from the former name of Lausanne in the college. Even though this word is not directly reflected in the new brand name, our identity and foundation are always deeply rooted in it Perelon also introduced that after a long period of discussion, the college finally decided on the new name "EHL Hotel Management Business School". Adding the word 'Business' to the full name not only accurately summarizes the teaching content of the college, but also truthfully reflects the employment direction of graduates.

Perelong pointed out that "in other European countries, some hotel management schools may only be seen as simple vocational training venues, or even equivalent to culinary schools. However, today's EHL is essentially a business school dedicated to cultivating professional talents for many industries under the concept of pan service, especially focusing on the hotel industry." EHL's courses not only teach vocational skills, but also focus on cultivating soft skills such as interpersonal interaction and mutual understanding, as well as high-level abilities such as law, management, and corporate strategy.

The renaming of the college has received strong support from graduates, who believe that the new name accurately summarizes their job responsibilities - business management, which is not only their current job role, but also their pursuit of career ideals. Therefore, behind the concise name EHL, there are many profound reflections on teaching that we have For six consecutive years of leading the QS discipline rankings, Perelong believes that in addition to solid skills teaching, "what truly sets EHL apart is the ability to bring people from different backgrounds and cultures together, helping them communicate and learn from each other. In the pan service industry, this ability is irreplaceable. Understanding and interaction are the key to the development of this industry and the root of EHL's outstanding achievements

Keeping up with trends and cultivating talents suitable for multiple industries

The hotel industry is closely connected to the tourism industry. In recent years, China's tourism industry has become increasingly diverse, with the industrial chain continuously extending. Cultural tourism, sports tourism, agricultural tourism, and health tourism are deeply integrated, and various emerging tourism formats and scenarios emerge one after another. The demand for comprehensive, compound, and high-level talents continues to grow. Perelon believes that this is highly consistent with EHL's judgment of industry trends: "In fact, about half of EHL graduates have not entered the hotel industry, but have entered related fields such as culture, sports, and wellness. The large-scale cultural and sports events hosted by China, such as the Olympics and Winter Olympics, have left a deep impression on the world, and they cannot be separated from outstanding talents who can manage such large-scale events. They are familiar with hotel operations and know how to 'welcome' and 'serve' others from all levels

Perelong firmly believes that as China continues to expand its opening-up, more development opportunities will be created for EHL graduates, and they can also contribute to China's economic development and foreign exchanges. He said, "China has shown a confident and open attitude, and to transform this attitude into high-quality services, more talents with cross-cultural communication skills, understanding of different cultural backgrounds, and good teamwork skills are needed. This is exactly the concept that EHL has always advocated and practiced in teaching." It is worth mentioning that EHL students have many professional talents who have achieved certain achievements in their respective fields, and they choose to join EHL's related projects to seek new breakthroughs in career development. According to Perreron, EHL's focus on developing specific skills in interpersonal communication is highly favored by them. "For example, how to understand others is a highly versatile soft skill that is applicable to various industries. Through learning and communication, students can not only achieve better career development, but also broaden their horizons and move towards broader service areas

In recent years, the big health industry has become one of the most promising strategic emerging industries in the world due to its wide coverage, long industrial chain, strong radiation and driving effect, and strong agglomeration effect. As of 2023, the scale of China's big health industry is expected to reach 14.48 trillion yuan, rising to 17.4 trillion yuan by 2025 and exceeding 29.1 trillion yuan by 2030. Based on the above talent cultivation concept, the value of EHL's teaching projects in the big health industry is becoming increasingly prominent. Taking EHL and the Asian maternal and child care brand Saint Bella as an example, Perreron launched a comprehensive training program that includes workshops and practical courses, aimed at helping Saint Bella care teams provide professional care for every mother and newborn while giving them unforgettable experiences.