Higher education
International schools
The academic environment includes notably the following international schools and universities:
- the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), postgraduate management school which, like Harvard, sees its MB A programs ranked among the best in the world, year after year, by the specialized press
- the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL), whose excellence in the fields of science and engineering contributed to the victories of the Team Alinghi sailors during the America’s Cup in 2003 and 2007
- The University of Lausanne (UNIL), which counts more than 10,000 students and 2,200 researchers in 7 faculties, one of which (the Faculty of Management and Economics) is one of the most renowned in Europe
- The following schools are part of the University of Applied Science - Western Switzerland (HES-SO) which currently hosts some 15'000 students in 27 schools located in the cantons of Fribourg, Geneva, Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais, Vaud and Berne. Its 33 sites offer courses and other services in six major fields of study: Engineering and Architecture, Management and Services, Design and Fine Arts, Health, Social Work and Music and Theater:
- The University of Arts and Design, Lausanne (ECAL), regularly hailed by the specialized press as one of the best schools of applied art and design in the world
- The Lausanne Hotel School (EHL), the first and most prestigious educational institution for the hotel and hospitality management and related professions ;
- The University of Management and Engineering (HEIG -VD), which houses more than 1,600 students in nine top professional institutes in business studies and engineering.
- The University of Arts and Design, Lausanne (ECAL), regularly hailed by the specialized press as one of the best schools of applied art and design in the world