Glion Institute of Higher Education
Glion Institute of Higher Education is one of the most elite hospitality management schools situated in Glion sur Montreux, Switzerland, to the east of Montreux and northeast of Geneva.
Based on the site of the former Grand Hôtel Bellevue, Glion was established in autumn 1962 as the Institut International de Glion. It was founded by Swiss professors Walter Hunziker and Frédéric Tissot, and offers Bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as summer programs and English language courses.
Glion has three campuses: the original Glion campus in Glion-sur-Montreux, Switzerland, a second in Bulle, in the district of Gruyère, Switzerland, and a third at the University of Roehampton in London, United Kingdom.
Globally, it was ranked 5th in the world for Hospitality Management, 1st for Employer Reputation in Hospitality Management, and 3rd in Switzerland for Hospitality Management in the 2018 QS World University Rankings.
Glion alumni number over 14,000 and 79% of faculty members hold a Master's or PhD. The institution is owned by Eurazeo, a multinational private equity firm based in Paris, France and is operated by hospitality education group Sommet Education.
History
Institut International de Glion was founded in 1962 with the initial class consisting of 15 students from five different countries, studying courses delivered in French.In 1977, Glion changed its name to the Centre International de Glion, before becoming Glion Hotel School. In 1989 it opened a second campus in Bulle. In 2002, it updated its name to Glion Institute of Higher Education and became part of Laureate Education, an American education company.
In 2006, Glion was accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education . In 2010 Glion launched an online MBA in International Hospitality and Service Industries, along with a number of postgraduate and professional development programs in 2011 that were taught solely online.
In 2013, Glion opened a new campus in London, located in the grounds of the University of Roehampton. In 2016, Glion was sold to Eurazeo, a multinational private equity firm based in Paris, France. Glion operates under the umbrella of hospitality education group Sommet Education.
Academic programs
Undergraduate degrees
Glion's academic programs include a bachelor's degree in International Hospitality Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration. Both take three and a half years to complete. The courses involve six-month internships with hospitality organisations and finish with a specialisation chosen by the student. In 2018 the specialisations were Luxury Brand Management, International Hotel Development and Finance, and International Event Management.Alongside the Bachelor's program, Glion offers an English language and summer program. Available in both Switzerland and London, the Summer Experience program is offered as an introduction to hospitality for individuals aged between 15 and 19 years old. The English language program is designed to help students raise their level of English to meet the admissions requirements for the undergraduate and graduate programs.
Graduate degrees
Glion's MSc in International Hospitality Business is delivered on campus during two semesters, followed by a six-month internship. In 2018, Glion launched its Dual MBA and MSc in International Hospitality Business, offered in partnership with French business school Grenoble Ecole de Management.Campuses
Glion Institute of Higher Education comprises three campuses.Glion Campus
Glion's main campus overlooks the city of Montreux, positioned in Glion-sur-Montreux, between Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps. The Glion campus is a practical learning centre with two functional fine-dining restaurants, Le Bellevue and Fresh, both opened in 2018. Montreux and Lausanne are nearby, as is Geneva International Airport.Bulle Campus
The Bulle campus is located in the town of Bulle in the Gruyère region of Switzerland. Opened in 1989, the Bulle campus can accommodate 700 students in four accommodation buildings. The campus facilities include a library, study area, two coffee shops and two restaurants.London Campus
Opened in 2013, Glion London is in the grounds of the University of Roehampton and was the first Swiss hospitality institution located in the UK. Glion students are able to use the University of Roehampton's resources and facilities and can study the same academic programs as at the Swiss campuses.Faculty
Glion's staff are mostly from the hospitality industry, typically former business-owners, managers and teachers. As of 2018, Glion comprises six faculties: Finance, Business and Management, Marketing and Event Management, Practical Arts, Hospitality Management and General Education.Alumni
Glion Institute of Higher Education has over 14,000 alumni. The Alumni Association of Glion, or Association des Anciens de Glion, is the official networking community for Glion graduates. Glion Alumni are present in over 100 different countries and are involved in a broad range of industries, from luxury hospitality to private banking. The AAG hosts a series of events worldwide, offering career support and leadership advice to its members.Accreditation
Swiss
Gilon is not accredited or recognised by any cantonal or federal authorities within Switzerland.International
Glion is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education .On 14 June 2016, the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education approved the sale of Glion Institute of Higher Education to Eurazeo. In approving the change of ownership, the Commission applied its Program of Special Monitoring to the College. The Program of Special Monitoring is routinely implemented by the Commission in cases of change of ownership and enables the Commission to monitor the institution's ongoing compliance with the Standards for Accreditation.
Glion is also accredited by the International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education. THE-ICE is a global member network of over 30 leading tourism, hospitality and events institutions in 14 countries.
QAA
Glion has undergone an educational oversight monitoring visit by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. In 2018 the QAA monitoring team endorsed Glion for meeting UK expectations for quality and standards and for making commendable progress through constant building on its good practices and responding to student needs and expectations.The QAA monitoring team concluded that Glion Institute of Higher Education had made commendable progress in implementing the action plan from the Recognition Scheme for Educational Oversight.
THE-ICE International Accreditation
Glion holds THE-ICE accreditation. The International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education is an international accreditation agency and a global network of leading quality tourism, hospitality, events and culinary arts institutions.Key Dates
1962 Founded as the hotel school ‘Institut International de Glion’1977 Changes name to “Centre International de Glion”
1985 Founding member of the Swiss Hotel Schools Association
1989 Opens Bulle campus
2000 Starts the master's program and launches new bachelor's degree programs
2002 Changes name to ‘‘Glion Institute of Higher Education’’
2002 Becomes a part of Laureate Hospitality Education, a division of Laureate Education, Inc. Based in Baltimore, Laureate is the largest network of international universities in the world, managing more than 80 universities in 28 countries and includes more than 1,000,000 students
2006 Accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
2010 Launches the first online MBA in International Hospitality and Service Industries Management
2011 Launches 100% online postgraduate and professional development certificate and diploma programs
2012 Celebrates 50-year anniversary
2013 Opens new branch campus in London
2014 Launches multicampus options for undergraduate and postgraduate programs, offering student mobility between campuses in Switzerland and London, UK
2015 Wins award for Best Hospitality Management School at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards in Paris.
March 2016 Glion London campus moved to a new building named Downshire House, on the campus of the University of Roehampton.
June 2016 Eurazeo acquired Glion Institute of Higher Education and its interests in affiliated campuses and partners.
November 2016 Wins award for Best Innovation in an Educational Program at the Worldwide Hospitality Awards in Paris.
2018 Glion ranked 1st for employer reputation in Hospitality Management in the QS World University Rankings.