Edge Hotel School is our 21st department

Edge Hotel School is strengthening its links with the University of Essex by becoming its 21st department.

Now part of the University’s Faculty of Humanities, Edge Hotel School is looking to build on the exceptional reputation and profile it has established in the hospitality and education sectors over the past six years.

Providing industry-led two year accelerated degree courses covering hotel management, events management and hospitality, Edge Hotel School is the first of its kind in the country and offers hands-on experience in the 4* Wivenhoe House hotel on the University’s Colchester Campus.

• More information for staff on the Vice-Chancellor’s blog

Head of Department Andy Boer said: “We are a very distinctive School both in our focus and in our approach and these characteristics will remain. One of the benefits that this merger brings is the ability for us to recruit international students. This will undoubtedly bring a different, more multicultural perspective into the seminars and workshops which in turn will broaden the thinking and experience of the students.

“We’ve created a brilliant profile over the past six year thanks to the success of our graduates, strong partnerships with the industry, high graduate employment rates and being shortlisted in a significant number of national awards. We were also commended by the QAA for academic enhancement and we’re now looking to take the next steps in our development by maximising our previous accolades and our future potential.

“As part of this we’re continuing to innovate. We will be working through Kaplan International to deliver one of our courses in Singapore from the end of this calendar year. We will also be seeking to validate three year degree courses which we will be recruiting to in September 2019. In the longer term we’re keen to launch a Masters degree particularly aimed at international students which can capitalise on our strong links with Wivenhoe House.”

Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster said: “I am very proud we’re strengthening our relationship with Edge Hotel School through full membership of the University. The School really does lead the way in challenging conventional ideas about higher education – from its accelerated degree option and the focus on professional work-based learning through to the richness of the School’s links with the hospitality industry.

"These all highlight the benefits of thinking differently and I am sure membership of the University as our 21st academic department will create a wide range of opportunities to support the School’s ambitious plans in the next stage of its development.”