Global No 1 Swiss hotel varsity opens Singapore campus
Close to 200 students from over 30 nationalities have enrolled at EHL Campus (Singapore)
SWISS-BASED EHL Hospitality Business School – ranked as the world’s best hospitality management university for 4 years running by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) – has received an enthusiastic response to the launch of its first international campus in Singapore last year.
Close to 200 students from over 30 nationalities have enrolled at EHL Campus (Singapore)’s beautifully renovated building on Lady Hill Road near the Tanglin area under EHL’s flagship Bachelor’s programme and diverse executive education short courses.
“EHL Campus (Singapore) officially opened its doors in 2021 with students pursuing diverse executive education short courses like Luxury Brand Management and our first batch of students studying under our Bachelor’s Degree of Science in International Hospitality Management in September,” says Luciano Lopez, dean of EHL Campus (Singapore).
“We are pleased to have hit the ground running and are delighted that our student enrolment figures have tripled since our launch last year. EHL Campus (Singapore) is EHL Hospitality Business School’s first international campus which has been set up in Singapore to meet the growing demand of hospitality professionals and peoplecentric leaders in Asia...
“As the world’s best hospitality management university for 4 years running, according to the prestigious QS rankings, the campus here offers students from all over the region EHL’s worldclass Swiss education, combined with a genuine Asian refinement, without having to travel too far.
Our aim is to expand opportunities and education for future business leaders to thrive in an international landscape, either in the hospitality sector or beyond,” he adds.
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The range of programmes offered at EHL Campus (Singapore) are catered to stuents of all nationalities, ages and backgrounds, from undergraduates who are looking to attain the same prestigious Bachelor’s Degree of Science in International Hospitality Management that is available in Switzerland to midcareer professionals who are looking to upskill with executive education short courses.
“Throughout our programmes, we work closely with industry partners to create regionalrelevant case studies and examples to ensure relevance to the local context and professional needs. They will be able to participate in partnerships with local establishments, learn from talented Asia-based industry experts, many of whom come from EHL’s vast network of over 30,000 alumni and guest speakers, acquiring practical applications and knowledge that are specific to the Asia-Pacific (Apac) region. In Singapore alone, we have over 150 EHL alumni including Kathrin Bhalla, head existing seller for Amazon and Eric Piatti, general manager of the Dusit Thani Laguna,” says Dr Lopez.
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As dean of EHL Campus (Singapore), he and his team work closely with EHL’s multicampus Deanship and faculty colleagues in Switzerland to do research and to develop the curriculum here, offering students in Asia the same world-class Swiss quality education as that of the campuses in Switzerland.
“Our curriculum here also includes a local Asian flair that provides context and relevance that give students an edge over their competitors as they navigate the changing business landscape. Our students in Switzerland and Singapore are also encouraged to do an exchange semester, should they wish, in the other locations while they are studying with us.
“Each campus offers a unique learning experience, from the alpine atmosphere at our campus in Passugg to the breathtaking lakeshores at our campus in Lausanne – which has nearly 130 years behind it, and the vibrant city life in Singapore. Together, they offer an immersive experience which makes studying at EHL so much more rewarding,” Dr Lopez tells BT.
He is looking forward to receiving more students from Singapore, Asia and from all over the world who are keen to learn from the world’s best in hospitality management. “At EHL, we believe in the importance of lifelong learning to remain relevant and competitive in today’s global marketplace. We provide executive education short courses for professionals or individuals with a passion in hospitality or related fields who are keen to upgrade and reinvent themselves and broaden their career options,” he adds.
Dr Lopez says that EHL decided to set up its first overseas campus in Singapore as the country is well known for its high standards in the service, tourism and hospitality industries, and is a gateway to the rest of Asia.
“As a travel hub and one of the most desired places to live in, Singapore boasts some of the world’s best financial services, luxury boutiques, restaurants, hotels and impeccable leaders with a peoplecentric mindset. Opening a campus here exposes students to the diversity and nuances in Asian culture, as well as the variety of businesses in the region,” he adds.
He says EHL is very thankful for the support it received from the Singapore authorities in setting up a campus here to elevate the service industry in Singapore and throughout Asia. “We recognise the importance of the EduTrust certification, administered by the Committee for Private Education (CPE), which ensures the quality of the education provided in Singapore. EHL is committed to meeting the most stringent higher education standards in thecountry and internationally. We are pleased to be registered as a private education institution in Singapore under the Private Education Act, Enhanced Registration Framework (ERF) and EduTrust Certification Scheme,” he says.
Asked about EHL’s unique approach to education and its dual education philosophy, Dr Lopez says that it is an approach to learning which combines theoretical knowledge with practical application. The practical experience develops the perfect balance of hospitality knowhow and soft skills that are needed to succeed in today’s business landscape.
“It gives students a chance to put into practice what they learnt in classrooms, ensuring that they understand how the theory works. At the same time, they will learn to work effectively, take responsibility independently and in teams, as well as expand their professional, personal and social skills, including cultural agility and resilience,” says Dr Lopez.
Dual education approach “The dual education approach – also known as experiential learning – is deeply rooted in Switzerland’s education system where it has been acclaimed internationally, thanks to the nation’s very low unemployment rate and economic dynamism.
Post-Covid, many now understand how the benefits of experiential learning respond to economic needs, providing learners with real work responsibilities and applied learning opportunities, which make them more immediately employable.
“At EHL Campus (Singapore), we are proud to extend this approach for our Bachelor students here with 2 six-month compulsory internships within the curriculum as well as learning from Asian-based case studies developed with regional industry experts and guest speakers,” he adds.
Interestingly, EHL’s programmes are not just for the hospitality industry. “As many as half of our students pursue careers outside of the hospitality sector, such as luxury, finance, consulting and real estate. EHL’s unique education approach means that students are exposed to a wide range of skill sets, which make them valuable employees in any industry,” says Dr Lopez.
“This is because our multi-faceted education programmes focus on developing lifelong learners with experiential learning. Students are trained in hard or technical skills, such as project management, marketing, accounting and finance, as well as soft skills, including relationship management, cultural sensitivity and leadership skills.”
Supporting the new EHL campus in Singapore are the many EHL alumni living here. “EHL’s network of alumni consists of more than 30,000 professionals across 150 countries, including 150 individuals living in Singapore. The worldwide network strengthens our community and facilitates exchanges between the school and industry members, ensuring that we are on top of trends and changes in the sector,” says Dr Lopez.
“Our alumni are regularly invited to attend events on campus and many also recruit interns and graduates from our schools. At EHL, we hold 2 career fairs every year where we invite over 170 companies from all over the globe to recruit our students, young graduates and experienced alumni,” he adds.
EHL has a history going back nearly 130 years. Now known as the EHL Hospitality Business School, it was founded in 1893 as Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne by Jacques Tschumi. He championed the creation of the school to train professional hotel staff at a time when the industry was just beginning to blossom as the European bourgeoisie and aristocracies discovered the Swiss lakeside resorts.
For the first cohort of 27 students, classes began in a room at the Hotel d’Angleterre on the shores of Leman Lake in Lausanne. Later, as more students were admitted, including female students in 1924, a first for educational institutions of its kind, EHL eventually settled at its current location at ChaletaGobet on the green heights of Lausanne, which offered a much larger area from which the school could continue growing.
EHL has become the global reference in education, innovation and consulting for the hospitality and service sector. For nearly 130 years, the world’s first hospitality management school has educated the next generation of leaders in the art of hospitality. True to its values and committed to building a sustainable world, EHL Group's purpose is to provide education, services and working environments that are people-centred and open to the world.
In addition to a wide range of educational programmes, EHL Group also provides consulting and certification services for companies and learning centres around the world to elevate their service standards and prepare them for future excellence.
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