10 Years of Swiss Excellence: PIE and SHL Mark a Decade of Partnership in Hospitality Education

Professional Institute of Excellence (PIE) Cambodia) is proud to mark a decade of collaboration with Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern (SHL), a partnership built on shared values of educational excellence, professional standards and a commitment to preparing the next generation of hospitality professionals.

The collaboration with SHL began in 2016, laying the foundation for a long-standing international educational partnership bringing Swiss hospitality education standards to Cambodia. The first semester of the SHL-accredited Culinary Arts programme welcomed students in Spring 2017.

Ten years later, the partnership continues to evolve.

Continuing a Decade of Collaboration

This week, PIE was pleased to welcome Marcel Gabriel, Head of Operations at SHL, and Chiara Segmüller, Food & Beverage Lead at SHL, to Cambodia for a three-day quality assurance visit.

The visit provided an opportunity for SHL and PIE teams to review and assess the implementation of Swiss educational standards across the institute. The review covered a broad range of areas, including classrooms and training kitchens, curriculum delivery, teaching methods, student assessments, facilities, instructors, marketing and student recruitment processes, and internship opportunities.

These regular quality assurance visits are an important part of the partnership, ensuring that the standards and quality associated with SHL continue to be applied throughout the student experience at PIE.

While the formal feedback from the visit is still to be received, the discussions throughout the three days were highly positive and reflected the strong and constructive relationship between the two institutions.

From Culinary Arts to Food & Beverage Management

The partnership began with the accreditation of PIE’s Culinary Arts programme. Over the years, it has grown into a broader educational collaboration involving curriculum exchange, train-the-trainer programmes, quality assurance visits, alumni connections and an international internship network.

The latest SHL visit also marked an important step in the development of PIE’s Food & Beverage Management programme.

With their strong professional backgrounds in Food & Beverage, Marcel and Chiara were able to provide valuable insight and support as PIE continues to develop and strengthen this new programme.

This continued exchange of knowledge and expertise allows PIE to connect its programmes in Cambodia with international hospitality standards and industry expectations.

The Benefit of a Swiss-Accredited Education

One of the most significant benefits of the partnership for PIE students is the opportunity to graduate with a 92-credit diploma issued directly by SHL.

SHL brings more than 100 years of experience in hospitality management education, providing a strong foundation of Swiss expertise and professional standards.

For PIE students, this means they can study in Cambodia while earning a diploma connected to an internationally recognised Swiss hospitality institution.

The diploma provides graduates with a strong foundation to pursue further studies in hospitality, seek employment in Cambodia or overseas, or develop their own entrepreneurial ambitions within the hospitality industry.

It is an educational pathway designed to provide both local relevance and international opportunity.

Live in Cambodia. Study in Switzerland.

The philosophy behind the partnership can be captured in a simple message:

“Live in Cambodia. Study in Switzerland”. Students can build their practical skills and professional experience at PIE in Cambodia while benefiting from the educational standards, expertise and international perspective of SHL.

This connection between Cambodian hospitality education and Swiss expertise is at the heart of the partnership.

Looking Towards the Future

After ten years of collaboration, the partnership between PIE and SHL continues to develop with the changing needs of the hospitality industry.

As PIE expands its academic offering, strengthens its industry connections and prepares students for careers both locally and internationally, SHL remains an important educational partner in maintaining high standards and supporting continuous improvement.

The partnership is ultimately about more than accreditation. It is about creating opportunities for students, exchanging knowledge between educators and professionals, maintaining quality, and building stronger pathways into the global hospitality industry.

PIE would like to sincerely thank SHL Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern for ten years of trust, collaboration and continued commitment to hospitality education in Cambodia.

We look forward to continuing this journey together and to the next chapter of Swiss-Cambodian collaboration in hospitality education.