Just recently, I returned from hosting NECHE’s first international summit on the campus of EHL Hospitality Business School (EHL) in picturesque Lausanne, Switzerland. Needless to say, it was an amazing location for our four-day meeting, where we welcomed more than 60 representatives from 27 colleges and universities across the globe, including 12 institutions that are full NECHE members and 15 schools in the process of seeking accreditation.
Representatives from 18 countries flew in to participate, hailing from Bangladesh, Bermuda, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Malta, Mauritius, Morocco, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Vietnam. Wow, it felt like a mini United Nations!
And we couldn’t have had more professional and personable hosts! EHL (which we profiled a few years ago as the spectacular new campus was being constructed) was founded in 1893, making it the world’s oldest hotel school. In 2024, for the sixth year in a row, EHL was ranked as the world’s best hotel management school by QS World University Rankings for Hospitality and Leisure Management. We have a long and proud history with EHL, which was first accredited in 1997 by the New England Association of School and College’s Commission on Technical and Career Institutions, and since 2003 by NECHE.
The EHL campus, having just been completely reimagined, is beyond impressive. In fact, many folks stayed in campus residence halls and were gobsmacked by the style and comfort of their accommodations.
Joining us on the journey were incoming Commission Chair Michaele Whelan and Vice Chair Christine Siegel, as well as NECHE staff members Carol Anderson, Laura Gambino, Paula Harbecke, and Aaron Perkus. Over the course of our four days, the engaged group of staff, commissioners, and international educators discussed the upcoming review of our Standards, our financial monitoring process, the path to becoming a team evaluator or Commissioner, issues around governance, data dashboards, the ever-changing landscape of higher education, and much more!
In fact, it’s hard to believe we still had room to squeeze in any fun, but the gracious receptions at EHL and dinners around town were delightful — not to mention an unforgettable trip to nearby Montreux where the illustrious Jazz Fest was in full swing.
I think everyone felt our time together was rewarding, important new connections were forged, and professional experiences shared. As we departed, we promised that this would not be the last meeting of our international colleagues. (And just this past week, we received inquiries from two potentially new members from two countries new to NECHE!)
Of course, NECHE’s roots are firmly planted in New England and the majority of our institutions are still New England-based, although many have instructional sites across the country and around the globe. Back in 2021, when the Department of Education lifted its regional accreditation requirements, NECHE began to expand its reach and we now accredit more than a dozen institutions beyond our six New England states (including New York, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Florida), with a significant number in the process of joining us. This evolution of our role, coupled with the multiple international institutions now seeking NECHE accreditation, is an inspiring challenge and a vote of confidence in our mission and our dedication.
We are so looking forward to the future!