Swiss Hotel Association

Swiss Hotel Association

SHA Affiliate School Network and International Education Standards

Photos: Adelboden / Adelboden Tourismus; Luzern / Christof Sonderegger (frontpage)

Swiss Hospitality Education since 1882

“SHA standards drive your aspirations for quality, innovation and passion.”

Khem Lakai, CEO of the SHA Affiliate School GATE, Kathmandu, Nepal

Swiss Hotel Association (SHA)

Established in 1882, hotelleriesuisse – Swiss Hotel Association

(SHA), is the world’s oldest industry body and the centre of excel-

lence for the Swiss hotel industry. As the non-profit umbrella as-

sociation of the hospitality industry, SHA represents the interests

of its members and plays a major role in the development and or-

ganisation of education in the hospitality sector.

Engagement in initial vocational and higher professional

education

At the initial vocational education and training (VET) level, SHA is

the owner of four school-hotels, training young people aged 16

to 20 to become a part of a practice-oriented work force. Histor-

ically, the association has committed itself to enabling both higher

professional training (PET) and academic education in hotel man-

agement schools: SHA established the Ecole hôtelière de Laus-

anne (EHL) in 1893 and the hotel management school in Thun in

1986, and is a shareholder of the Swiss School of Tourism and

Hospitality (SSTH) in Passugg. SHA is represented on the boards

of all three hotelleriesuisse hotel management schools.

International education standards

Due to its strong commitment to education and its traditional,

industry-related approach, SHA is known for being the standard-

setter in hospitality education. Qualified hospitality industry spe-

cialists, having completed their initial and further education in

Swiss Hotel Association International Education Network

federally recognised Swiss institutions, enjoy an outstanding

worldwide reputation. With the support of the Swiss government

(CTI), and together with the University of Zurich and two hotel

management schools, SHA developed the SHA Education Stan-

dards (SHAES) which serve as an improvement and quality tool

for hotel management schools striving for excellence in educa-

tion. The SHA Audit and Recognition System (ARS) is the corre-

sponding tool that allows for the objective assessment of a hotel

management school’s infrastructure and education quality.

SHA Affiliate School Network

SHA Affiliate Schools are part of a network of education institu-

tions that have outstanding and well-recognised quality. Recog-

nition as an SHA Affiliate School entitles the school to use the

SHA Affiliate School trade mark and logo, one of the strongest

brands in hospitality, fostering a hotel school’s international po-

sitioning.

As the Swiss hotel industry association, our driving force is the

quest for the highest quality in hospitality education worldwide.

In order to ensure correct implementation of the standards and

to guarantee the quality of the participating hotel management

schools, SHA adheres to the principles of good governance.

Photo: Zurich / Christof Sonderegger

SHA Affiliate School NetworkSwiss Hospitality Education since 1882

The federally recognised education programmes of the hotel management schools are heavily practice-based, with prac-

tical training in a variety of sectors being an integral component of the courses. The qualifications of the hotelleriesuisse

hotel management schools are recognised at federal level, thereby meeting the highest requirements on the theoretical

and practical skills of the graduates.

For an overview of and information about the SHA Partner and Affiliate Schools, please refer to:

www.hoteleducation.ch

The SHA Partner and Affiliate School Network

SHA Partner Schools in Switzerland

Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality (SSTH)

Qualification: Dipl. Hôtelière-Restauratrice/Hôtelier-Restaurateur HF or Swiss Profes-

sional Degree – Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Hospitality Man-

agement (can be studied in German or English). European Qualification Framework

(EQF): level 6.

SSTH is a member of the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) Group and offers a first

class, federally recognised higher education in Passugg with a focus on blending Swiss

and international values. The SSTH’s top qualifications open the doors to a wide range

of career opportunities in Switzerland as well as abroad. One of the key study objec-

tives is learning to work as a team with fellow students from different countries and

experiencing, first-hand, international interaction.

Hotelfachschule Thun (HF Thun)

Qualification: Dipl. Hôtelière-Restauratrice/Hôtelier-Restaurateur HF (English title:

Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Hospitality Management).

EQF: level 6.

Founded in 1986, the federally recognised German-speaking hotel management

school Hotelfachschule Thun covers all aspects of hotel and restaurant management.

Offering a state of the art educational environment, Hotelfachschule Thun is the ideal

place for students who wish to train for demanding positions in the hospitality indus-

try. During the three-year training, semesters at school alternate with internships of

practical work. Graduates are qualified for different levels of managerial positions in

hospitality and are known in the industry for their outstanding hands-on aptitude.

Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL)

Qualification: Bachelor in International Hospitality Management. EQF: level 6.

Master in Global Hospitality Business. EQF: level 7.

Since 1893, the internationally renowned Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) has been

at the forefront of hotel education and the ambassador of Swiss hospitality. SHA was

the founder of EHL that was the first hotel management school of its kind. EHL offers

a first-rate academic education which encourages students to venture into an inter-

national hospitality career.

A MEMBER OF ÉCOLE HÔTELIÈRE DE LAUSANNE GROUP


The Swiss Hotel Association is proud of its network of superior quality, international ho-

tel management schools which train their students according to the SHA Education

Standards.

International College of Hotel Management (ICHM), Australia

The International College of Hotel Management (ICHM) in Adelaide, Australia, was

founded by hotellerie suisse together with the South Australian Government in 1992.

ICHM offers the SHA Diploma (three-year programme) alongside the Bachelor

of Business in Hospitality Management (Swiss Hotel Association) in the fourth year.

Gobal Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education (GATE), Nepal

The Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education (GATE) in Kathmandu,

Nepal, trains the next generation of hospitality professionals in a three-year programme

leading to a SHA Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Yangzhou Hospitality Institute (YHI), China

The Yangzhou Hospitality Institute (YHI) in Yangzhou, China, offers SHA Diplomas in

Culinary Technique, F&B Service Operations and Room Division Administration.

SHA Affiliate Schools throughout the world

SHA Affiliate Schools are entitled to award the SHA Diploma which is based on the Diplom Hôtelière-Restauratrice / Hôtelier-Restaura-

teur HF that is offered by the hotelleriesuisse hotel management schools.

Est. 1992

ICHMInternational College of Hotel Management


Contact & further information

hotelleriesuisse – Swiss Hotel Association

Monbijoustrasse 130, P.O. Box, CH-3001 Bern

Tel. +41 31 370 42 58, Fax +41 31 370 44 44

[email protected]


“The well-established and proven education model and methodology of

SHA, is not only an effective solution for the cultivation of talents that meets

the demand of the Chinese hospitality industry, but also a good role model

in promoting vocational education during this critical reforming period of

China’s education system.”

Marshall Pang, Executive President YHI, Yanghzou, China

“The Swiss Hotel Association (SHA) is bench-marked for providing the best hospitality

education in the world. It has shared its best practices, highest standards and proven

structures with us at GATE College in Kathmandu, Nepal. With our partnership, we

consider ourselves fortunate to be part of this Swiss standard that has driven our own

aspirations for quality, innovation and passion. We highly recommend SHA to any

institution that strives to meet their standards.”

Khem Lakai, founder and CEO of GATE, Kathmandu, Nepal

“Internationally, the reputation of Swiss hotel management is very strong,

and hotelleriesuisse has a recognised name and expertise to offer. We have

been partners for close to 25 years, and continue to have a strong relation-

ship. We look forward to this continuing for decades to come.”

Gerald Lipman, CEO of ICHM, Adelaide, Australia

Testimonials


Benefits of the SHA Affiliate School Network

Being part of the SHA Affiliate School Network brings a wide range of benefits: in addition to the quality assurance pro-

vided through audits and recognition, SHA Affiliate Schools gain access to a world-wide network, are included in SHA’s mar-

keting activities, are entitled to the use of the SHA Affiliate School logo and are being supported on a strategic level. SHA

Affiliate Schools thus benefit from the Swiss expert knowledge in the hospitality sector on multiple levels.

* Standards for the certificate level are currently being developed.

✓ SHA Education Standards

✓ Audits & recognition ✓ Consulting

Performance & Standards

✓ Know-how exchange ✓ New contacts ✓ Personal & individual support by SHA

✓ Exchanges & traineeships

Network

✓ SHA Affiliate School logo

✓ Marketing collaterals ✓ Marketing activities ✓ Presents for the graduates

Marketing

✓ Academic board meetings

✓ SHA Diploma / Certificate*

Academic


New contacts: SHA continuously enlarges its network in

order to enable valuable contacts within the SHA Affiliate

School Network.

Support by SHA: following the Swiss principles of high

quality service and pragmatism, a dedicated SHA manager

personally supports its partners to meet the individual needs

of each SHA Affiliate School. The head of education (a mem-

ber of SHA’s management board) underlines the importance

of interaction and supports the maintenance of a good re-

lationship.

Exchange and traineeships*: exchange programmes and

possibilities for internships are highly valuable for students.

With its Affiliate School Network, SHA can facilitate and co-

ordinate exchanges between hotel management schools.

Network

Know-how exchange: SHA Affiliate Schools benefit in var-

ious ways from the exchange with other hotel management

schools around the globe.

* Student exchanges depend on the countries’ legal frameworks and

the requirements of the participating hotel management school. All

requests are therefore assessed and assisted on a case by case basis.

SHA Education Standards (SHAES): the SHAES serve as

a benchmark and quality tool for institutions delivering

education at the Diploma level (National Qualification Frame-

work, level 6). With the support of the Swiss government

(CTI), the SHAES were developed together with the Univer-

sity of Zurich and two hotel management schools that offer

federally approved Swiss degrees.

Audits & recognition: the quality of the hotel management

school’s infrastructure and education is based on the SHAES

and guaranteed through the SHA Audit and Recognition

System (SHA ARS). As with the SHAES, the SHA ARS was

developed with the support of the Swiss government and

serves as a tool to measure the quality and the implemen-

tation of the SHAES. For SHA Affiliate Schools, it is a key

added value to be able to rely on the quality of the other

hotel management schools belonging to the SHA Affiliate

School Network.

Performance & Standards

Consulting: if guidance is needed by the applicant school

to implement the SHAES and to ensure recognition, SHA

suggests to contact its partners LHC or Hotelfachschule Thun

who will provide their know-how through advisory services:

Lausanne Hospitality Consulting

(LHC): LHC is a Swiss knowledge and

advisory company and provides sustain-

able advisory solutions with global rel-

evance in the area of hospitality and service business. Over

the last decades, LHC has also developed hospitality schools

in different parts of the word, utilising a structured approach

which combines the experience and philosophy of Swiss hos-

pitality excellence with the local opportunities and challenges

of the region where each school is located. LHC is a com-

mercial company owned by Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne and

the Swiss Hotel Association.

Hotelfachschule Thun: The Hotelfach-

schule Thun (hotel management school

of Thun) was founded by SHA and is known for its practice-

oriented education programme. It has a long-standing tra-

dition through its link with the industry and is eager to share

its in-depth knowledge.

Please contact us for further information.


Presents: when graduating, each student receives a pres-

ent from SHA.

SHA Affiliate School logo: right of use of the SHA Affili-

ate School logo according to the SHA agreement.

Marketing collaterals: SHA Affiliate Schools receive an SHA

flag, metal plate, stickers and pins to show their affiliation

to the Swiss Hotel Association.

Marketing activities: SHA represents the entire Affiliate

School Network while attending fairs in Switzerland and

abroad. Additionally, SHA performs print and online

marketing activities (there are no active sales efforts to

acquire students). Listings and short presentations about the

SHA Affiliate Schools on the official SHA website

(hoteleducation.ch, in four languages) and in the SHA’s an-

nual report are also a part of the marketing package.

Marketing

SHA Certificate: SHAES on the certificate level (initial vo-

cational education and training, based on the European

Qualification Framework, level 4) are currently being devel-

oped.

Academic board meeting: participation of an SHA repre-

sentative at the academic board meetings of the hotel man-

agement school. The presence and active participation al-

lows for direct feedback, inputs for improvement and a

sustainable relationship at the strategic level.

SHA Diploma: in addition to the home school’s diploma,

each graduate from the SHA Affiliate School Programme re-

ceives an SHA Diploma (higher professional education and

training based on the European Qualification Framework,

level 6).

Academic

Photo: Arosa / Urs Homberger


Photo: Landwasser viaduct near Filisur / Franziska Pfenniger





Tel. +41 31 370 42 58, Fax +41 31 370 44 44

[email protected]


SHA Affiliate School Recognition Process

Hotel management schools interested in becoming recognised as an SHA Affiliate School undergo an application process

as well as an audit procedure:

Initial contact

Request for partnership

Application

Submission of the application

Agreement

Recognition as SHA Affi liate School

Assessment 1

Initial audit

Application review

Potential for partnership

Application review

Improvement recommended

Consultancy 2

Upon request

Outcome of the assessment & decision SHA Board

Partnership recommended

Outcome of the assessment & decision SHA Board

Improvement recommended

Consultancy 2

Upon request

Annual audits 1

Continuation of partnership

Consultancy 2

Upon request

Licencefee

Audit fee

Outcome of the assessment & Recognition

fee

Assessment fee

MoU

Handing over of SHAES

Visit & SHAES fee

Appli cation fee


1 by external auditors2 by partners

Application process

Prior to entering into a partnership, SHA reviews information from

the applicant school. After a positive review of the documents

and information, the parties sign a Memorandum of Understand-

ing (MoU) regarding the potential future collaboration. The ap-

plication includes the following information:

Application documents■ Summary of the facts and figures of the institution including:

– History of the hotel management school

– Infrastructure (description of training and academic facilities)

– Recognitions of the qualifications / programmes and/or the

school itself (national and international)

– Organisational chart as well as information on governance

and administrative staff (numbers, qualifications)

– Information about teaching staff (qualifications, numbers, ra-

tio of teachers to students)

– Information about students (number of students, origins,

study programmes)

– Regional network: exchange with the local authority, as well

as industry relationships (inside the country and abroad) and

collaborations with other institutions■ Strategic documents, business plan and information about the

school’s policies (i.e. CSR)■ Description of the programmes and curricula followed in the

courses

Please include references (industry partners, partner schools, etc.)

if possible. You may complement the information with pictures

(i.e. picture of the building, etc.) and add other relevant informa-

tion.

Since the application forms the basis of the decision for further

collaboration, we recommend that you allow yourself sufficient

time to prepare all the documents. Do not hesitate to contact us

for further information, we will be pleased to support you

throughout the entire application process.

In the case of a school planning to open, please contact us for

further details.

Please send your application documents to the contact down be-

low.

Photo: Upper Maggia Valley / Christof Sonderegger





Tel. +41 31 370 42 58, Fax +41 31 370 44 44

[email protected]


The Institution■ has defined a mission statement according to or at least not

conflicting with the Swiss Core Values ■ has implemented a strategy to achieve its mission■ has a business plan which underlines financial stability■ provides resources/facilities to ensure a successful learning ex-

perience■ cooperates with local and international industry partners and

other hospitality educational institutions■ ensures academic independence and integrity.

Good governance and quality management■ enables modern and transparent leadership principles, and com-

mits to excellent services■ promotes the school as a learning organisation, and encour-

ages creativity and innovation, demonstrating cross cultural

awareness as well as team spirit■ ensures an effective quality management system to foster high

quality education.

The teaching staff■ possesses sufficient professional knowledge and experience in

the relevant specific areas■ has adequate teaching qualifications and pedagogical back-

grounds■ ensures process-oriented learning.

SHA Education Standards (SHAES), Diploma Level

The detailed SHAES are handed over to the applicant hotel management school when the Memorandum of Understand-

ing (MoU) is signed and the SHAES fee has been paid. The SHAES comprise six categories that ensure high quality in edu-

cation as well as good governance:

Students■ have suitable language and communication skills■ have hospitality at the heart of their personal values■ receive and are able to give effective feedback.

Industry relationships■ provide a suitable and reputable network related to the hospi-

tality industry■ provide a suitable professional training environment in which

students are able to get real life exposure to and/or experience

of guest service, and are able to learn from and reflect on prac-

tical experience.

The curriculum■ fosters practice-based training and complementary theory■ is aligned with the frame-work curriculum of the Swiss hotel

schools within the scope of local conditions and specialities ■ defines the learning outcomes.

SHAES have been developped with the support of:

Photo: Matterhorn Zermatt / Lucia Degonda





Tel. +41 31 370 42 58, Fax +41 31 370 44 44

[email protected]


A MEMBER OF ÉCOLE HÔTELIÈRE DE LAUSANNE GROUP

Switzerland strongly emphasises its vocational education and

training (VET). The dual-track system of vocational and profes-

sional education and training is at the heart of the Swiss econ-

omy. The consistent orientation towards the labour market, in-

cluding the close collaboration between the education system

and the employer organisations, is a success story. Being the um-

brella association for the hospitality industry, SHA is highly en-

gaged in education, from initial VET to higher professional

education and training (PET). Successfully owning hotel schools

for over 50 years, collaborating with hotel-tourism business

schools on the initial vocational level, and being strategically en-

gaged in the boards of different hotel management schools, SHA

is the competent partner for VET and PET in the hospitality

industry.

The Swiss Education System and the Engagement of SHA

The tertiary level comprises an academic path (including univer-

sities and universities of applied sciences) as well as a second

pillar with colleges providing PET education. The latter is aimed

at people with professional experience, enabling them to gain

specialist skills and additional qualifications. Hotel management

schools delivering diplomas are typical PET colleges in the hospi-

tality sector.

The Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in Hospital-

ity Management of the federally recognised hotel management

schools corresponds to level 6 of the National Qualification Frame-

work (NQF Vocational and Professional Education and Training).

According to the European Qualification Framework (EQF), level

6 is on the same level as the bachelor degree.

Photo: Chillon Castle / Christof Sonderegger


Vocational & Professional Path (VET and PET)

Tertiary Education: Higher Professional Education and Training (PET)

Academic Path

Tertiary Education: Academic Education

Post-Diploma Studies (PDS) HFHF Thun: Post-graduate Diploma

HF Hotel Management

General Education Schools

Academic Baccalaureate

Colleges of Higher EducationHF Thun & SSTH:

Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education in

Hospitality Management (EQF: level 6)

Initial Vocational Education and Training (VET) (EQF: level 4)

Professional Baccalaureate

Federal VET Certifi cate

Advanced Federal Certifi cate (EQF: level 5)

University of Applied Sciences

EHL:Master in Global

Hospitality Business(EQF: level 7)

University of Applied Sciences

EHL:Bachelor in InternationalHospitality Management

(EQF: level 6)

Federal Diploma of Higher VET (EQF: level 6)

UniversityMaster

(EQF: level 7)

UniversityBachelor

(EQF: level 6)




Tel. +41 31 370 42 58, Fax +41 31 370 44 44

[email protected]



The illustration above is a simplified version of the Swiss education system. The education system is characterised by a high degree of permea-

bility between the professional and the academic paths.



hotelleriesuisse – Swiss Hotel Association Monbijoustrasse 130P.O. BoxCH-3001 BernTel. +41 31 370 42 58Fax +41 31 370 44 [email protected]

Documents

Swiss Hotel Association