On 20 August 2026, the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage and Switzerland’s Swiss Education Group (SEG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in tourism and hospitality education.

The Memorandum provides for cooperation in the following areas:

🔹 development and implementation of joint educational programmes;
🔹 establishment of Foundation programmes for students;
🔹 exploration of 3+1 format educational programmes;
🔹 development of student exchange and academic mobility programmes;
🔹 organisation of summer schools and short-term academic programmes;
🔹 professional development, training and academic exchange programmes for faculty members;
🔹 development of professional retraining and upskilling programmes for tourism and hospitality professionals;
🔹 exchange of experience in quality assurance, international standards and accreditation;
🔹 development of a modern system for training qualified specialists for the tourism and hospitality sector.

Swiss Education Group comprises four leading educational institutions: Swiss Hotel Management School (SHMS), César Ritz Colleges Switzerland, HIM Business School, and Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland (CAAS).

The Memorandum was signed during the visit of Tanja Florenthal, Executive Director of Quality Assurance at Swiss Education Group, who has extensive professional experience in hospitality education, quality assurance and international accreditation.

According to the 2026 QS World University Rankings, the educational institutions within Swiss Education Group achieved outstanding results in the Hospitality & Leisure Management field.

The signing of the Memorandum marks an important step in expanding the international cooperation of the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, introducing advanced Swiss educational practices, enhancing the quality of education, and preparing highly qualified specialists who meet international standards.

The parties plan to further develop cooperation through joint educational programmes, academic mobility, faculty development and other mutually beneficial initiatives.