“We will operate training facilities, including a full-functioning restaurant and kitchen,” informed Edessa Ramos, Director of International Programs at WHGSM.[break]
WHGSM is collaborating with Cesar Ritz University of Switzerland to enable students to pursue Higher Diploma course in Hospitality Management in Kathmandu, to be followed by a one-year finishing program in Switzerland. Upon successful completion of their final year of study in Switzerland, students will achieve a Bachelor of International Business in Hotel and Tourism Management.
The education curriculum of the Swiss degree also includes a 6-month internship within the hotel and tourism management industry. The students can then apply for the 3-year Masters program at Swiss Education Group (SEG), operator of the Cesar Ritz centre.
“The partnership between WhiteHouse and Cesar Ritz signifies yet another landmark in the development of education in Nepal, particularly in the efforts to helping Nepal students become competitive in pursuing careers in the global hospitality industry,” added Ramos.
Talking Swiss education
Florent Rondez, CEO of the Swiss Education Group, visited Nepal to lay the groundwork for the collaboration and spoke to Republica about the education provision in his country.
How different is the Swiss education system from that of Nepal?
We don’t have degrees like SLC and Plus 2. Students are required to have nine years of primary and secondary schooling which is mandatory. High school graduates then go on to Diploma and High Diploma courses. Private institutions have utmost freedom and there isn’t any syllabus provided by the government. We design our own curriculum. Sometimes, when we’re incorporating the modules of British and American universities, we do a mapping and select courses or subjects to add in our previously effective syllabus. Our Masters program, particularly at SEG, is of a year for those who have been studying within the same system, and two years for those who have transferred from some other stream. One year is also allocated for working experience.
What are the required qualification and paperwork for students interested in Swiss degree and provisions of financial aid for international students?
The procedure is not very complicated. Anybody who’s willing to study the subject and has intentions to return to Nepal can apply for a visa at the Swiss Embassy. The whole process will probably take 2-3 months and there are minimum rejections, usually if a student is overqualified to be studying the program or if he is above/below the age bar. There is also a myth that education all over Europe is free, most private institutions charge tuition fees. SEG doesn’t provide financial aids to any student and there is no provision of student loans. Plus, students have to pay their fees beforehand, and in case they fail to pay by the deadline, they will have to discontinue.
What is the curriculum at SEG like?
SEG operates five schools and there are more then 5,000 students from over 80 different nationalities. We primarily provide hospitality degrees but there are various pathways in Finance, International Business, Luxury Brand Management, Hotel Designs, Project Developer, and Entrepreneurship. There is this mentality that hospitality is limited to aspects such as culinary and housekeeping but our curriculum is designed in such a way that people of various educational backgrounds, but with interest to work in the hospitality sector, can hone their skills and find employment in various sectors that help in the functioning of this industry.
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