The EHL Group, a leading global authority in hospitality education, has teamed up with the Confederation of Indian Industry to introduce an innovative vocational training program in India. Over the past year, there has been notable growth in student enrollments. This collaboration utilizes the established facilities of well-known hotel chains, providing students with a combination of theoretical classroom instruction and practical on-the-job experience. Breaking new ground in India's hospitality education sector, this partnership aims to revolutionize training by implementing a hands-on apprenticeship system inspired by the highly regarded Swiss dual education model.

Leading the charge in this endeavor are two influential entities in the hospitality industry: ITC Hotels and The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). These industry leaders contribute outstanding facilities, creating an optimal learning environment. This groundbreaking program allows students to enroll with a Higher Secondary School Certificate, combining the renowned expertise of EHL Hospitality Business School, consistently acknowledged as the world's premier hospitality management university, with the excellence of India's top hotel chains.

Introduced in 2021, this initiative provides students with a distinctive chance to receive training directly supervised by hotel line managers. These managers have undergone specialized training by EHL to implement the unique curriculum. The dynamic program allocates the students' week between traditional classroom sessions and hands-on training in real-time at the hotels. This structure enables students to seamlessly integrate theory and practice, as they function as regular employees for the majority of their week.

Currently, the VET by EHL programme is successfully running in 8 prime locations with ITC hotels and IHCL Hotels. In a bid to broaden its reach and impact, the programme is set to expand to additional cities, building a steady pipeline of top talents for the hotel chains involved in the training programme. “CII's unwavering commitment to providing industry-aligned programmes for India's youth has achieved remarkable success through the VET by EHL programmes delivered at ITC Hotels and IHCL Hotels group. CII's objective is to build a robust talent pipeline for India's thriving hospitality sector, utilizing the expertise of EHL, ITC Hotels, and IHCL. Following this year's outstanding response, we plan to expand by incorporating more hotels next year, welcoming an even larger pool of aspiring talents", said Sougata Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, Confederation of Indian Industry.

Upon completion of the intensive 18-month diploma programme, the apprentices stand a chance to be integrated into the hotel’s workforce, propelling them into promising careers in the hospitality sector. “This collaboration signals a transformative shift in hospitality education, one that values practical experience as a potent tool for training versatile, industry-ready talents. As the VET by EHL initiative gears up for its next phase of expansion, applications are open in 8 cities across the country with more to come throughout the year for trainees registering in the next intake starting in February 2024”, explained Aman Aditya Sachdev, Director and Country Head India at EHL.