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Stephen F. Austin State University students in the hospitality administration program can now study abroad at the Business and Hotel Management School in Switzerland during their junior year thanks to a new exchange agreement between the two institutions.

Dr. Lynda Martin, director of SFA’s School of Human Sciences, explained this exchange agreement presents an opportunity for SFA hospitality administration students to experience Switzerland’s prestigious service industry.

“Switzerland is considered the gold standard with regard to fine service in the hospitality industry,” Martin said. “Students will learn first-class service in the classroom with students from around the world and will have hands-on experience at some of the finest levels offered by our industry.”

Andrea Gardner, U.S. representative for B.H.M.S., helped spearhead this partnership.

“We are thrilled to partner with SFA’s hospitality administration program to offer this unique opportunity to SFA students,” Gardner said. “When I visited Nacogdoches last year, I was impressed by the facilities, leadership and level of instruction I witnessed at SFA. Our programs align nicely, and I am encouraged to see that Dr. Martin and her team are committed to providing students with a global, well-rounded understanding of the industry.”

B.H.M.S. offers highly ranked hospitality management and culinary arts programming. SFA students studying at B.H.M.S. will have the opportunity to take a variety of classes from culinary labs and specific areas of hotel operations and management to leadership classes geared toward the service industry.

Students will study two consecutive semesters or one year abroad, and their courses will count toward their SFA degree. The first semester, students will earn the equivalent of 12 SFA credit hours, and the following semester they will participate in an internship where they will have the opportunity to work with one of B.H.M.S’s industry partners.

“With SFA students having the opportunity to do an internship at a Swiss hotel or restaurant, they will truly build credentials that are admired by all within the hospitality field,” Martin said. “Not only will our students’ skills and credentials be enhanced, but they also will become better global citizens and hosts.”

To participate in this exchange, students must have good academic standing, completed at least one year of full-time study at SFA, be eligible to enroll in subjects that constitute a full-time load at B.H.M.S. and have the required language proficiency to take classes at B.H.M.S.

B.H.M.S. is located in the heart of Lucerne, Switzerland, and is within walking distance of the city center.

For more information, contact Martin at (936) 468-2255 or martinlj@sfasu.edu.