SHMA offers Swiss hospitality to Sri Lanka with launch of VET by EHL

The Swiss Hotel Management Academy (SHMA) launched VET by EHL, a Vocational Education Training program by Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), Switzerland at Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo.

The event was held under the patronage of Minister of Education Prof G. L. Pieris, as chief guest Hon and saw the participation of many industry professionals and dignitaries.

EHL is the world’s first and number one hospitality management school with over 25,000 alumni worldwide boasting a 96pct employment rate among recent graduates. Based on one of the best education models in the world – the Swiss Competency Framework, the VET by EHL program is characterized by a strong learning outcomes approach and a competence-oriented structure of training.

SHMA is the first hospitality management institute in Sri Lanka to offer an apprenticeship model through the VET by EHL programs, heralding a revolutionary change to the hospitality industry.

Rolf Blaser, Managing Director/CEO at A. Baur & Company Pvt Ltd, said, “We are proud to breakthrough traditional thinking and embrace more innovative and ground-breaking ways that will enable students to have the required practical experience and industry relations on completion of their study. We are challenging the status quo together with VET by EHL and taking this bold initiative for the greater good of our hospitality sector and the country as a whole.’

All certificates and diplomas are signed and issued through VET by EHL and all trainers and lecturers at SHMA comprise renowned top industry professionals.

Jens-Henning Peters, Head of VET by EHL said, “The team at SHMA has tirelessly worked to reach to where we are today. We had the great pleasure to connect and work closely in workshops, trainings and visits with the team and we have full confidence in this collaboration”.

Aman Aditya Sachdev, Director and Regional Head – EHL Advisory Services said, “We are very pleased to have partnered with A. Baur & Company Pvt Ltd for the VET by EHL programs under its SHMA umbrella.

Sri Lanka is a key global tourism destination and despite the ongoing challenges, I’m convinced that Sri Lanka tourism will bounce back much sooner and stronger. This launch is a landmark initiative for the hospitality and tourism industry in Sri Lanka and we are excited to be a part of it”.

SHMA, one of Sri Lanka’s leading hospitality academy since 2012, is now licensed by EHL to deliver the VET program in four distinct streams; Culinary Professional Diploma, Service Professional Diploma, Rooms Professional Diploma and Hotel Administration Diploma.