Mountain Education Group and Les Roches to Open State-of-the-Art Higher Education Campuses in China

INDIA: Mountain Education Group (MEG), a leading education group in China, has announced a strategic alliance with Les Roches Global Hospitality Education to develop a unique network of hospitality higher education campuses in China. The partnership aims to provide Chinese talents with world-class hospitality management education, building on the highest standards developed by Les Roches. The agreement foresees pan-Chinese expansion of the Les Roches brand, starting with the first campus opening in Shanghai in 2025. The partners plan to open 3 to 4 campuses across the country, including Shanghai, Wuxi, and Suzhou.

Les Roches has been committed to China and Chinese students, having been a pioneering actor in China with its first establishment in 2003, 20 years ago. With Mountain Education Group, Les Roches pursues its mission to provide Chinese talents with world-class hospitality management education, building on the highest standards developed by Les Roches.

MEG will be responsible for all financial investments, land acquisition, architectural design, campus or project construction, licenses and permits, financial management, student recruitment, and logistical arrangements. Les Roches will be responsible for academic curriculum development, as well as standard policies implementation. Les Roches will also support MEG in the pre-opening phase of the campus with project management as well as with facilities and operations development, marketing, and enrollment.

The first iconic realization of the two partners will be the “Shanghai Mountain Les Roches Campus,” a very ambitious project that brings a unique model of education and architectural design to the city of Shanghai. The campus design is divided into two phases. The project has entered the first phase of the design and planning stage. The campus building will be designed and built by a team of world-renowned and Pritzker Prize winners’ designers. The confirmed Pritzker Prize Winners include Alvaro Siza (Portugal) and Tadao Ando (Japan). In addition, MEG is inviting Peter Zumthor, a Swiss national treasure designer and winner of the Pritzker Prize in 2009, to join the design of this magnificent campus project. The other design team includes Guo Xien and Hu Rushan, founding partners of Ruen Design Research Office, Liu Yichun, the chief architect of Dashe Architecture Design Firm, and Fan Beilei, the founder of Geng Architecture Firm.

Les Roches model hospitality education programs that balance theory with practice, independent learning with strong faculty support and mentorship, providing a solid foundation for lifelong learning. Guided by its mission, Les Roches ensures that students acquire personal and professional skills for immediate employment and progression into leadership positions in the industry.

MEG CEO Mr. Zeng declared: “For many years, MEG has consistently pursued an idealistic approach to education, the schools we invest in and manage in Shanghai and Suzhou have received high praise from parents and students, several campus buildings have won numerous significant domestic and international awards.”

Sommet Education CEO, Benoît-Etienne Domenget shared: “As one of the world’s fastest-growing economies for careers in tourism and hospitality, China is an essential development platform for international education brands like ours to invest in and innovate. This new alliance will seal future opportunities for all of our students and Chinese talents.” 

Les Roches ranks 4th in the world’s higher education institutions for hospitality and leisure management (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023). Part of Sommet Education, the worldwide leader in hospitality education, Les Roches is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).