Teaching and learning lie at the core of our mission. We aim to equip students with the skills and mindset to become responsible, resilient leaders who can navigate diverse cultural contexts and address the evolving challenges of the hospitality industry and beyond.

    Applied Education

    Education is our most powerful lever to create a positive impact. That is why we work hard to ensure that sustainability is embedded in our core curriculum. An internal survey supports this effort by assessing current integration, identifying ways to further support faculty, and highlighting opportunities for continued development. Beyond the core curriculum, several forward-looking specializations and electives offer a more in-depth approach, while sustainability-related Student Business Projects and internships allow students to gain real-life insights and awareness of responsible business practices.

    Kitchens_Lausanne (19)-1200x800-5b2df79

    Innovation opportunities for students

    By encouraging and facilitating student innovation, we empower our students to become active contributors to sustainable transformation. Through dedicated initiatives, students are given opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills, collaborate across disciplines, and turn ideas into concrete solutions with real-world relevance. These experiences reinforce our commitment to fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and impact-driven thinking, equipping future leaders to shape the hospitality industry and beyond.

    Page 44 - Innovation

    EHL Innovation Sprint

    Launched in 2025, the EHL Innovation Sprint is an intensive hackathon-style program designed to foster creativity, collaboration and impact-driven innovation. Open to students from across Switzerland and all academic backgrounds, it brings together diverse perspectives in multidisciplinary teams formed on the first day. Over 24 hours, participants develop innovative solutions supported by coaching and mentorship from industry experts.

    The first edition focused on Human-Centric Innovation, addressing topics such as circular economy, social innovation and sustainable development.

    Page 44 - Innovation2

    Start-Up Pre-Acceleration Program

    Alongside the Innovation Sprint, we offer a 12-week Start-Up Pre-Acceleration Program for students developing entrepreneurial projects across all sectors. Participants receive structured coaching, practical tools and guidance to transform early ideas into viable business concepts.

    In its most recent edition, the program introduced a dedicated workshop on impact, encouraging students to integrate social and environmental considerations from the earliest stages of development. To further promote responsible entrepreneurship, the EHL Innovation Hub also awards an Impact Award to the project that best embeds sustainability at its core.

    Engagement

    Once a year we celebrate Sustainability Week, which brings the entire community together to make sustainability tangible through interactive workshops, conferences, and hands-on activities across campuses in Lausanne and Passugg. From plogging and green IT workshops to expert panels and student-led discussions, the program fosters awareness, dialogue and action on environmental and social challenges in hospitality.

    Alongside these initiatives, student-led committees such as the Sustainability Committee and the Passugg Green Team play a key role in driving engagement, organizing impactful projects, and turning ideas into concrete action. These green initiatives, from fundraising and clothing swaps to industry visits and awareness campaigns, help embed sustainability into daily campus life in a meaningful and collaborative way.

    1746172876485

    Labels & accreditations

    Our commitment to excellence and social responsibility is reflected in the range of accreditations and certifications we have earned over time. These recognitions validate the quality of our academic programs, the strength of our governance, and our ongoing efforts to advance sustainability and impact across all activities.

    EHL_B Corp certification

    Our Other Sustainability Axis'

    icon_international_campus_blue
    icon_entrepreneurship_blue

    Our Social and Environmental Report

    sustainability-week-teaching

    In 2020, EHL released its first social and environmental report, confirming the start of its journey towards sustainability by publishing a set of commitments approved by the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.  The report is now released yearly, covering the actions over the course of the previous year.

    There is still a lot to be done, but we are devoted to take on the challenges of today’s society and develop our metrics for more precise reporting from year to year, to be able to set precise objectives for positive change over the short, medium and long term.

    #sustainability

    More Articles