The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has signed a Global Academic Program (GAP) agreement with HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences in February 2012.

As a participant in EI’s Global Academic Program, HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences will work to advance hospitality education and training by offering the Educational Institute’s eight-course Hospitality Operations Certificate to its students as well as training materials to hoteliers in Finland.

“HAAGA-HELIA is looking forward to working together with EI. Being a Global Academic Partner deepens our cooperation and provides a great value for our students. Especially, those students looking for international careers will benefit. It is also our aim to serve the Finnish hospitality industry together with the national restaurant association. This will provide the companies an easy way to get involved with highly respected certificates and for sure increases the level of their customer services,” said Jouni Ahonen, director of the Hotel, Restaurant and Management Unit of HAAGA-HELIA.

“HAAGA-HELIA has been a long time supporter of EI and a wonderful ambassador of the Educational Institute throughout Europe,” commented John Lohr, EI’s European consultant. “
Our agreement also comes at an ideal time as the city of Helsinki, already a major worldwide tourism destination, has been named as the World Design Capital of 2012. EI looks forward to working closely with HAAGA-HELIA and the Finnish Hospitality Associations to provide education and training to meet the increased demands of tourism in Finland both in 2012 and future years.”