Students from around the world flock to Switzerland to prepare themselves for careers in the rapidly expanding hospitality industry. The institutions that capitalized on the country's heritage of expertise in hotel management making ''Swiss-managed'' a worldwide hallmark of quality - now see themselves as training grounds for managers of cruise lines, recreational facilities, theme parks, airline catering services and the widely diversified field of travel and tourism. The leading institutions have upgraded their curricula to university level, offering courses in finance, management, human resources and information technology along with specific hotel- and restaurant-oriented subjects. Flexibility remains one of their strong points, with programs tailored to meet the needs of their students in terms of time and aspirations.

Hotel Schools Shift To Hospitality Management A Swiss diploma can open doors across the tourism industry.

The leading institutions have upgraded their curricula to university level, offering courses in finance, management, human resources and information technology along with specific hotel- and restaurant-oriented subjects. Flexibility remains one of their strong points, with programs tailored to meet the needs of their students in terms of time and aspirations.


Flexible features

Parallel to their general upgrading, the Swiss hospitality-management institutions offer a high level of flexibility, which makes them attractive to people already employed in the field who want to add a new dimension to their career, as well as to those for whom a diploma is enough.

The program, which has an alternating academic training with practical work, and includes a professional internship. The one year of relevant work experience required of all applicants can be fulfilled by a so-called ''professional module'' within the context of the school. The emphasis shifts during the seven semesters from initial practical orientation to the acquisition of advanced knowledge of business administration and management, with the last two semesters totally management-oriented.


Certificate program

In addition to its expanded degree program, which offers English, French and bilingual options, is adding a new two-semester program addressed to students with more modest expectations. This concentrated course leads to a certificate in hotel and restaurant operations. Students have a third option of terminating their study after four semesters, thereby obtaining an Associate Degree in Hospitality Administration.

There are also numerous options including a one-and-a-half-year diploma program for students who come from other hotel schools or have two years' experience in the hotel industry, and an 18-week program with five areas of specialization open to people with a previous degree or three years' management-level experience. This leads to a postgraduate professional diploma.

Graduates of Switzerland's hospitality management schools can look forward to a challenging future with opportunities anywhere in the world. Studying in Switzerland already gives them an excellent international orientation and exposure to several languages. The degrees themselves carry a certain cachet, in addition to providing access to a global network of managers with a similar background.

''Students come here because they want an international management career and are also enthusiastic about moving to a new country to take on new responsibilities every three to four years.''


The list of the universities which we are representing in SWITZERLAND:


1) HTMI

Website: :www.htm.ac.uk
Courses Offered:Diplomas and PostGraduate Diplomas in Hotel Management
Campus Locations:Central Switzerland
Semester Intakes:Feb and August


2) IMI ( International Hotel management postgraduate Institute)

Website: www.htm.ac.uk
Courses Offered: Undergraduate Postgraduate
Campus Locations: Luzern
Semester Intakes: Jan & Aug