Swiss Education Group schools once again rank among the best in the world!

We are pleased to announce that all four of our schools continue to rank in the top eight hospitality schools in the world, according to the 2023 QS Rankings.

I want to thank the academic and employer communities for this vote of confidence. Being recognized internationally, with all our schools in the top eight globally, inspires us to continue to improve in everything we do. It’s a very exciting time to be involved in hospitality and hospitality education, says Ronan Fitzgerald, Vice President, Swiss Education Group.

Swiss Hotel Management School continues to be ranked as the third-best hospitality school in the world, and second in Switzerland. Patrick Taffin, Assistant Dean of SHMS Leysin says, “Our team works hard to inspire our students to be the best business leaders in the hospitality industry, and our students can be very proud of being such accomplished young professionals. This outcome is a direct reflection of what the industry thinks of SHMS.”

We understand what we do, how we do it, and why we do it.

Although César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, and Hotel Institute Montreux only recently earned their way into the ranks of the top 10 schools in the world, in 2021, impressive results again in both 2022 and 2023 have firmly established the reputation of all our schools. All four schools have significantly improved their average scores for academic and employer reputation.

Why our schools are among the best hospitality schools in the world

 

1. Our students are highly valued by their employers

Through over 100 industry partnerships and an ever-growing list of highly accomplished alumni who return to share their challenges and successes with current students, the curriculum is informed by the industry and supports our students’ employability and career development.

"Our close collaboration with industry partners breathes real life into the classroom ­— real problems, real challenges, real insights into the workplace ­— all of this equips our students to graduate with an accurate understanding of the challenges they will face in the workplace," explains Ulrika Bjorklund, Dean of Hotel Institute Montreux.

Our close attention to real-world detail in our education pays big dividends for our students in their professional lives.

"The industry loves us,” adds Dr. Szambowski. “Our students graduate industry-ready, as operational leaders ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work. We hear time and time again from companies that we are their school of choice when it comes to recruiting new talent. Our students rise in the ranks very quickly because of their attitude, knowledge, and skill."

We know from the post-graduation success rates of our students that we are employers’ school of choice.

 

2. We have a solid, proven academic reputation

Our strong academic partnerships with leading hospitality education schools in the US and the UK reinforce and broaden the quality of our education offer.

Tanja Florenthal, dean at César Ritz Colleges Switzerland and Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland, explains that

"The better your partners are, the greater your academic recognition is, which leads to exchanges of faculty and students, participation in conferences, and publication in research reviews."

Our schools partner with top institutions such as Washington State University, one of America’s leading research universities (ranked in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education), the University of Derby, one of the top 30 universities in the UK, and Northwood University, whose hospitality management program is one of the few accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

 

3. We are driven to innovate

All of our schools pursue a deliberate integration of cutting-edge research and unparalleled experiential learning.

As Dean Tanja Florenthal explains,

"These rankings are a statement of the efforts we put into our teaching."

Each school is committed to keeping an eye on the horizon to what is coming ahead.

"We foster innovation at an academic level and ensure innovation skills are fully integrated into the curriculum," adds Dean Florenthal.

Dean Bjorklund adds that "new positions are being created that didn’t exist before, technology continues to evolve, sustainability is increasingly important ­— we stay attuned to changes in the industry and prepare our students accordingly."

At Swiss Hotel Management School, a deliberate approach to teaching, learning, and assessment was adopted several years ago that led to the school being recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for its continued efforts in innovative education and learning experience.

 

4. We cultivate a solid community of caring people

Achieving and maintaining this kind of academic recognition for three consecutive years is a celebration of the combined effort that reflects the dedication and ongoing support of everyone involved at all levels of the institutions. The culture and values are set and modeled at all levels, from top management on down. 

At HIM, "being a small, ‘boutique’ school means that every student can engage with faculty and guest speakers, ask questions, and create a solid network of peers. There is a real sense of family which permeates the atmosphere, " shares Dean Ulrika Bjorklund.