Since the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic, all schools under the umbrella of Swiss Education Group have acted quickly to respond to this unprecedented situation, adapt accordingly, and ensure the safety and well-being of all staff and students.
When the COVID-19 pandemic first started making headlines, a dedicated SEG Executive team alongside Campus Management teams began monitoring the situation closely and liaising with the relevant Swiss health authorities. As early as January, campuses were equipped with masks and disinfectant solutions. Since then, over 62,000 face masks, 850 litres of disinfectant solution units, and nearly 10,000 gloves have been purchased.
At the beginning of the new semester in February, students’ temperatures were checked on a daily basis and students were monitored for any symptoms of illness. Staff and students were asked to wash their hands regularly and to avoid shaking hands. Routine temperature checks were performed, and when in doubt, suspect cases were isolated. These preventative measures have paid off and, until today, there have been no cases of Covid-19 on any of the campuses.
When the Swiss Federal Government announced their decision in March to close all schools and educational institutions, Swiss Education Group and all five schools followed suit and suspended all in-person classes immediately.
If most of the 6,500+ students made the decision to return to their home countries, 500 chose to remain on campus, after careful consideration and discussion with their family. Students from all schools were accommodated on Caux, Leysin, and Le Bouveret campuses, while the Montreux, Brig, and Lucerne campuses were closed.
Taking care of students means that campuses have committed to rigorously following the Swiss federal protocols. One way to ensure continued protection of students and staff has been to restrict entrances in order to monitor every single person entering campus.
Temperature checkpoints have also been set up where students and staff receive a bracelet after the mandatory daily temperature check. Rooms are cleaned and disinfected regularly, and linen is changed once a week or more when necessary. Floor signage has been put in place all over campuses to indicate safe distances to maintain at the temperature checkpoint stations, the front desk, the cafeteria, etc. Floor plans have also been completely rearranged to allow for social distancing, for example in the dining areas.
For students who would like to eat in their rooms, takeaway service has been made possible.
Student counsellors have also been available 24/7 to support and assist staff and students.
The situation has also led students to deepen their relationships with one another and to look out for each other.
Some students have even reached out to the wider community. One positive expression of this has been the initiative from staff and students from Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland in Le Bouveret to prepare homemade chocolate boxes for the medical staff at a regional hospital.
As a result of the extraordinary preventative measures put in place and the care received from staff, students have felt safe throughout the crisis and feel confident about the future.
Students will be able to travel to Switzerland for the July term, which starts on 6th July 2020. Students can also choose to remain in their home countries and follow the academic programme via the Virtual Learning Environment. Depending on their personal circumstances or restricted travel arrangements, students will be able to choose from both options.Swiss education Group has Hospitality & Culinary schools based across 6 beautiful campuses in Switzerland, which each have partnerships with some of the most prestigious names in the industry. They offer a variety of courses with Bachelor and Master programmes, including Junior Summer Camps for 14+ and Professional Courses. Their schools are:
César Ritz Colleges Switzerland
Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland
Hotel Institute Montreux
IHTTI School of Hotel Management
Swiss Hotel Management School
Swiss Education Academy