Les Roches Global Hospitality Education, ranked among the world’s top three institutions of higher education for an international career in hospitality management (TNS Global Survey, 2013), announced that it is running a Career-related Programme in hospitality for well-known Swiss International Baccalaureate (IB) school Collège du Léman based in Versoix, Geneva, started in Bluche VS on September 12, 2016. This new academic offering exposes IB students to the world of hospitality and offers them opportunities to work as an individual and as a team in this dynamic industry.
The program curriculum was developed under the guidance and expertise of Les Roches’ academic faculty and is divided into two pillars: an academic portion which will take place at Collège du Léman, and the experiential (practical) learning portion to be delivered at Les Roches campus.
The academic course will span the last two years of IB studies (IB diploma program level 1 & 2). Courses include Scientific Principles of Human Nutrition and Food, Principles of Hospitality Management and People Management, Conflict and Negotiation, and Culture Studies among other topics.
The experiential learning parts will be delivered in blocks with an induction week introducing students to Les Roches’ values and the spirit of hospitality, followed by principles of customer service in hospitality during IB level 1. Building on this experience, IB level 2 students will work on class projects gathering real-life customer interaction and guest experience.
“Les Roches is a recognized pioneer in combining innovative teaching methods with a huge network of industry leaders and a global expertise to ensure students have a competitive advantage when entering the workforce,” said Sonia Tatar, CEO of Les Roches Worldwide. “When Collège du Léman, a globally recognized international school, was looking for the right partner to develop an IB career program in hospitality, it was a natural choice for Les Roches to offer its long-standing expertise with an institution that shares common educational values and history. We are thrilled to partner with Collège du Léman on this new venture to extend further educational opportunities to high school students.”
The Career-related Programme (CP) is a framework of international education that incorporates the vision and educational principles of the IB into a unique program specifically developed for students who wish to engage in career-related learning. The CP’s flexible educational framework allows schools to meet the needs, backgrounds and contexts of students.
“The IBCP was specifically developed for students who wish to engage in career-related learning while gaining transferable and lifelong skills in applied knowledge, critical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural engagement,” said Thomas Schädler, Director General of Collège du Léman. Being one of the few schools in Switzerland offering such an opportunity at high school level, it is definitely setting up students for future success within the hospitality industry.
Through this career exposure elective, Les Roches exposes IB students with a glimpse into the theoretical and practical aspects of hospitality management and the many different career opportunities for hospitality graduates around the world. This latest program offering aligns with Les Roches’ commitment to prepare students for global and diverse careers in the experience industry, projected to provide 87 million new jobs by 2026 (World Travel & Tourism Council).
