The IMI campus is situated on the shores of Lake Luzern with spectacular views over the Alps and the Mountains of Rigi and Pilatus. Our students are housed in comfortable rooms close to the lecture theatres, restaurants and leisure facilities. It is a small campus, with a true family feel which allows our students to develop the caring and friendly spirit so recognisable in our graduates. Our student numbers are kept deliberately small, to allow for a personalised approach to education. All our students are known by name and there is always someone on duty, to look after the needs of the individual and to ensure that each student feels supported and cared for. A regular bus service from the end of the drive connects you to the vibrant city of Luzern and the surrounding areas.
Luzern is a beautiful, medieval, university city with a large international student population. It is in the heart of German speaking Switzerland, a region famous for its quality education. In a recent survey the World Economic Forum placed Switzerland as number two in the ranking of ‘Best Education System’ in the world and number one when it came to ‘Hospitality Education’. Of all the cities in Switzerland, Luzern is considered the most beautiful, but don’t just take it from us. Here are some descriptions of Luzern found in travel books.
‘Where To Go In The World When – The Best Destinations All Year Round’ by Joseph Rosendo
With its fairytale turrets and covered wooden bridges, medieval Luzern is one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Surrounded by mountains on the western shores of the lake that shares its name, there can be few festival towns that enjoy such a setting. The City’s reputation as one of the leading international organisers of classical and contemporary music festivals is well established. There are enough high quality restaurants here to excite the most discerning gourmet and museums to please the most ardent culture seeker. The old town is a good place to stop for a glass of wine or a Kafi Zwetschgen, especially on one of the three main squares which are surrounded by historic houses with colourful frescoes. Visit Mount Pilatus which can be reached by the slow climb of one of the world’s steepest and oldest cogwheel railroads. At the top gasp at the panorama laid out before you – flower carpeted meadows dotted with wooden chalets leading down to the lakeside town, where as night falls myriad lights begin to twinkle.
Legend has it that an angel with a light showed Lucerne's first settlers where to build a chapel, and in good weather even an atheist might describe the city's location as heaven-sent. Lapped by a scenic lake, surrounded by mountains of myth - a picture of this once small fishing village and its wooden Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) is enough to connote the very essence of Switzerland.
Between the 13th and 19th centuries, Lucerne (Luzern in German, or 'the city of lights') made its fortune as an essential stop on the trade route over the Alps. Then its charming medieval centre and its fabulous position began attracting tourists. It has never looked back.
Unquestionably one of Europe's most charming cities, Luzern also has the added virtue of stunning lakeside and mountain sceneries on its doorstep. Its fame as a tourist resort is kept up from year to year by an incredible choice of attractions and activities. The town has a remarkable site at the northwest end of Lake Luzern, where the Reuss River resumes its course.
The centre of Luzern is a pedestrian area of cobbled streets bordered by houses, shops and hotels painted in medieval style or decorated with displays of flowers. Above the old town is the original city wall from which you can admire the splendour and variety of the scenery.
Luzern is ideally situated in the historic and scenic heart of what many believe to be the 'true' Switzerland – picture, mountains, lakes, cowbells, alpine villages and meadows full of edelweiss. Once a simple fishermen's village, this charming town straddles the Reuss River on the western edge of Lake Luzern and makes an excellent base for many excursions in Switzerland. One of the main attractions is crossing the Reuss River on the famous Chapel Bridge.
“Living in Switzerland affords one of the very best opportunities in the world for leading a life rich in security and possibilities”, a Newsweek report has found. A recent edition of the U.S.-based news magazine, included an ambitious package attempting to rank 100 of the world's countries in terms of education, health, political environment, economic dynamism and quality of life.
Switzerland ranked number two overall, behind Finland and ahead of Sweden, with a total of 89 points on a scale of 100. Canada ranked fifth, the United States 11th and Britain 14th.
Looking at individual categories, Switzerland took second in health and quality of life, second in education, seventh in economic dynamism, and 11th in political environment, which tried to measure democratic freedom, participation and relative risk faced by governments, businesses and individuals due to political decision and actions.
So it is not only our beautiful scenery, medieval cities and precision timepieces that lure so many visitors to this beautiful country. In fact, it is a long held tradition among the aristocratic families of Europe to send their children to study in this country which has always been synonymous with excellence and reliability. What better country than Switzerland to send your children for an international education. Safe, stable, beautiful and with a top education guaranteed.
Switzerland lies at the very heart of Europe and is supplied by five international airports and a phenomenal rail and road network. You can be studying in Switzerland in the morning and be lying on a beach in St Tropez in the afternoon. You can be skiing at sunrise and browsing the Louvre by nightfall. You can be shopping in Paris, Milan or London in less than two hours from Zurich airport. Yes, you work hard during the week, but the weekends are your reward and you are free to explore as much of Europe as your time with us allows. Most of our students plan to travel together during the term breaks or at the end of the Semester. This is your chance to see all the wonderful sights you have previously only read about, so do not waste a moment. If you need any help with your travel plans please do not hesitate to ask a member of staff, who will be happy to advise you.
As part of your education at IMI you will learn about the importance of sourcing the freshest and best quality produce available. In Switzerland this is not difficult as our campus in Kastanienbaum is only a short walk away from the finest quality products on the planet.
Our students take it in turns to walk down to the lake side in the early morning to greet the fisherman and to take delivery of his morning catch. Only the freshest and best quality produce makes it to the tables of IMI. Others will walk up to Farm Kastanienbaum to take receipt of milk, fresh from the cow. There is even the opportunity to help in the milking process, although as our students have found, it is not as easy as it looks! The Greenhouse nearby provides the freshest seasonal vegetables and salads and the free range hens are very obliging in their egg production.
You can be assured that in Switzerland you will enjoy the finest in bio foods, at no cost to the environment. Minimal packaging and transport costs are a priority for us. This is all a vital part of your qualification at IMI. You are the future of the hospitality industry and our planet depends on a more responsible attitude to recycling and sourcing of local produce. Switzerland is one of the world leaders in this area and we hope that your time at IMI will inform the responsible decisions you make, as the future key practitioners in the hospitality industry.
