Les Roches Marbella International School of Hotel Management
 | This article contains promotional content. (July 2013) |
| Motto | Les Roches is not just a school, it's a way of life! |
|---|---|
| Type | Private School |
| Established | 1995 |
| Principal | Carlos Díez de la Lastra |
Academic staff | 41 |
| Students | 788 (2013) |
| Undergraduates | 618 |
| Postgraduates | 170 |
| Location | , |
| Campus | Les Roches, ES |
| Website | http://www.lesroches.es |
Les Roches Marbella International School of Hotel Management is a private university located in the Mediterranean coastal city of Marbella, Spain. Since its founding in 1995, the University offers accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs in hospitality management.
History
1954
The institution was originally formed in 1954 as an international boarding school called École des Roches, located in Switzerland's Canton of Valais region.
1979
École des Roches evolved to become the Les Roches Hotel & Tourism School and was recognized as the first hotel management school in Switzerland to offer its courses in English.
1995-1996
In 1995, the Les Roches Hotel and Tourism School founded their first international campus located in Marbella, Spain and under the name Swiss School of Hotel Management and Tourism in Spain. In 1996 the university inaugurated its current campus and soon thereafter became known as the Les Roches Marbella International School of Hotel Management.
2003
Since 2003, the school has been a member institution of Laureate International Universities, the largest private international network of degree-granting post-secondary institutions located around the world. Laureate International Universities comprises 75 accredited universities in 29 countries, training more than 900,000 students worldwide.
2004
Les Roches Marbella International School of Hotel Management became the first school in Spain to receive institutional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) in the United States. NEASC is one of six regional accrediting associations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Also in 2004, the campus continued its expansion with the addition of a new academic wing, an a la carte restaurant and adjoining kitchen operation, as well as doubling its on campus residence capacity and recreational areas.
2010-2013
In 2010 and again in 2013, the University was voted by the hospitality industry as the number one school in Spain for preparing students for an international career in hospitality management.[1][2][3][4] This was the conclusion of a broad industry survey among hiring managers from international hospitality companies around the world. The research was conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Travel & Tourism (U.K.), the world’s largest provider of custom research and analysis. The primary purpose of this survey was to establish the relative ‘ranking’ of the various hospitality management schools who provide university-level programmes in Spain and from which international hospitality companies are likely to recruit staff.
Academic structure
The university teaches undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs that specialize in international hospitality management. Undergraduate courses focus on developing advanced business management skills in hotel, restaurant, and service industry operations. The school places emphasis on combining core academic knowledge with hands-on experiential learning as the basis for its educational model. This is achieved by combining traditional classroom learning with purpose-built learning facilities that are designed to simulate a real world hotel environment. During the first two years of the undergraduate course students alternate weekly between craft-based learning classes in the school's simulated facilities and core business-related lecture subjects taught in the classroom. The postgraduate academic structure is identical in nature to the undergraduate program's, however the curriculum involves an accelerated immersion into key areas that takes into consideration the students' previous educational and professional background. Additionally, as part of the undergraduate programs, students complete between two and three internships in international hotels and hospitality related organizations. The postgraduate degree requires one internship semester to complete the program.
Academic programs
Les Roches Hotel Management Diploma (3 years)
The traditional Swiss hotel management diploma is devised to provide degree holders a fast-track access to entry-level employment after completing an alternation of three semesters of academic study at the school, and three semesters professional supervised internships. Coursework focuses on administration, management, marketing, culinary arts, and guest relations. Students who complete the six semester program can choose to exit and receive the Les Roches Hotel Management Diploma or continue studying towards a bachelor's degree within the institution.
'Bachelor of Business Administration' in International Hotel Management (3.5 years)
Initially this internationally accredited[5] program follows the same curriculum as the Les Roches Hotel Management Diploma, but includes two additional academic semesters and a total of two internships semesters in place of three. During the final year of the BBA degree program, students have the option to study a specialization in Strategic Human Resources Management, Entrepreneurship with Small & Medium Enterprise Management, Events Management or Resort Management.
Bachelor of Business Administration in International Hotel Management with Intensive English Language and Service
This program is geared towards students who lack the English proficiency requirements for entry into the BBA program. In addition to full immersion English courses, the two-semester preparatory program focuses on hospitality operations with practical and academic classes. Upon completion of the two preliminary semesters students are directly admitted into the full BBA program curriculum.
Postgraduate Intensive Diploma in International Hotel Management
The university's postgraduate course is designed for students of diverse professional backgrounds. This is a professional one-year program that provides an intensive academic semester covering hotel operations, administration and general business courses. It is designed for people who already have a university degree or diploma and would like to redirect their careers into the international hospitality industry. Integrated into the program is operational management and craft-based training in culinary arts, food & beverage as well as rooms division. The program culminates with a second semester that includes a management training internship in international hospitality establishments.
Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management for Luxury Tourism (New in October 2015)
This Postgraduate program in Marketing Management for Luxury Tourism is designed for graduates and professionals wishing to fast track their career in marketing management for the hospitality industry. The program aims to provide the expert knowledge and perspective required by professionals and directors in the global and dynamic environment of tourism by understanding the impact of new technologies and new trends.
Internships
Internships in hotels and other hospitality/tourism organizations are core to the university's educational system. They believe that, together with academic semesters, alternating periods of practical training in the field prepares students to comprehend real-world circumstances and gain professional experience well in advance of earning a degree.
In addition there are 400 more students carrying out professional internships in hotels in Spain and abroad throughout the academic year.
International Transfer Program
As a member institution of Laureate International Universities, the school also offers international transfer opportunities to branch campuses located in Switzerland, China, Australia and the United States. 2014 they broadened their program offer by providing students the option of an international transfer program and the opportunity to earn two degrees. The dual degree program, called "Experience The World" offers a BBA in International Hotel Management from the university's campus in Marbella, Spain and a BA in Hospitality Management from its affiliate campus, Kendall College in Chicago, USA. Upon completing the full undergraduate BBA degree program, students have the option to study an additional nine months at Kendall College, in the USA and receive two accredited degrees.
Campus
The campus and joint student residence are located in a residential area in the heart of Marbella’s Golden Mile district, between Marbella city center and the tourist destination of Puerto Banús.
Campus facilities
Les Roches Marbella International School of Hotel Management facilities include:
- Auditorium (capacity for 170 students).
- 23 classrooms, including:
- 15 classrooms with audiovisual technology (25-35 students)
- 4 meeting and conference rooms (10-15 students)
- Computer lab
- Demonstration kitchen classroom
- Demonstration bar classroom
- Demonstration front office classroom
- Study areas
- Student club
- Library and media center
- Wireless (Wi-Fi) Internet access
- Language laboratory
- 3 restaurants
- 3 fully equipped kitchens, each built with its own F&B concept and pastry areas
- Parking facilities
- Printing and laundry facilities
- Student residence
Accreditation
Les Roches Marbella International School of Hotel Management is accredited[6] internationally by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in the United States which is one of the six regional accreditation associations for quality assurance recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Alumni Association
All graduates of the university are eligible to become members of the Alumni Association. The association consists of over 3,000 graduates worldwide, provides news and employment opportunities to members as well as useful networking resources. In addition, annual Alumni reunions are organized both on the school's campus as well as abroad.
References
- ^ "La escuela Le Roches elegida la más prestigiosa en formación hotelera". El Mundo. El Mundo. 2011-02-10.
- ^ "Top 10 Hotel Management Schools in the World". Hotelier Middle East. 2012-09-05.
- ^ "Carlos Díez de la Lastra, Director General de Les Roches Marbella, afirma que Dirigir un hotel es como dirigir una orquesta". La Opinion A Coruña. La Opinion. 2014-06-21.
- ^ "La escuela hotelera Les Roches Marbella, la más prestigiosa de España en formación". Europa Press Turismo. Europa Press. 2014-01-01.
- ^ "NEASC Commission on Instiutions of Higher Education: Accreditation Roster". New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
- ^ "NEASC Commission on Institutions of Higher Educations: Accredited Member Roster". New England Association of Schools and Colleges.