10. EHL: vive la différence!

One of the main reasons that students give for coming to study at the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne is that it’s exciting - and different. EHL is not like any other campus. You realize this as soon as you step inside the door.

A world of contrasts

The atmosphere is completely different from that of other universities. It’s friendly yet studious, formal yet relaxed. Nowhere else will you find such concentrated energy, and such a sense of shared purpose. EHL is a world of contrasts. Students are in business clothes – the famous dress code that surprises visitors and helps you think and act as though you already had a responsible position in the business world. They are sophisticated and knowledgeable. At the same time they are obviously students: exuberant, active, and bursting with ideas and projects.

Working hard or hardly working?

It’s hard to tell the difference between work and leisure at Lausanne. EHL students are so passionate about hospitality that they practise it for work and for enjoyment. They’re aiming for a top career – but they’d almost do it for free! You’ll find that EHL students mostly just want to be on their feet doing something. Campus life gives them the opportunity to test-drive what they learn in class; and in return, student activities feed back into their hospitality management courses.

The uses of enchantment

Student creativity transforms the campus. The decor and atmosphere change like stage sets, reflecting different events hosted on campus and restaurant themes developed by various student groups. Partitions disappear, or are created, carpets are laid down, amazing props are conjured up with ingenuity and resourcefulness… Every day you will find a complex, subtle interplay between your learning experiences and the continual transformation of your learning environment.

EHL students are different

EHL students are bright, creative, determined, pragmatic, good organizers, resourceful, energetic. They have quick minds and are quick on their feet. They are individualists, and most of them are potential future leaders, but they are never happier than when they are working together creating magical experiences for other people. When they work together, their own talents and personality are not important: the task is important. They are not thinking about their personal goals and expectations. Setting aside individual differences, working towards a common goal, striving for perfection... That's what we call "the EHL spirit".