What happens when the classroom moves from Lusaka to the Swiss Alps? For a group of Rhodes Park School learners, the answer was an unforgettable week of learning, exploration and new experiences.
From 8 to 16 August 2026, our Grade 10, Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners travelled to Switzerland for an A-Level Immersion Programme organised in collaboration with the Swiss Education Group (SEG), Switzerland’s largest private educator and home to four world-ranked hospitality schools.
The programme introduced learners to global career opportunities in Business, Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts, combining academic sessions, practical workshops and professional excursions. For our learners, this meant experiencing these fields not just through textbooks, but through real places, people and experiences.
Each day brought something different. Learners explored Luxury Brand Management, travelled to Glacier 3000 to experience the spectacular Alpine landscape and visited the Culinary Arts Academy and Mosimann Museum. They learnt about the world of hotels and toured the historic Villars Palace Hotel before visiting the Swiss Hotel Management School in Caux for further insight into hospitality and tourism.
There was plenty of hands-on learning too. A practical mocktail class gave learners the opportunity to develop new skills, while a visit to the Cailler Chocolate Factory combined history, culture and, of course, chocolate tasting. One evening even brought an unexpected lesson in science when the group witnessed a partial solar eclipse from the rooftop of their residence.
The learning extended beyond the scheduled classes. Learners travelled using different forms of Swiss transport, observed the country’s strong culture of punctuality and road etiquette, and interacted with students from other schools participating in the programme. French students had opportunities to practise their language skills in real-world settings, while Geography students could connect what they had studied in class with the landscapes and physical features they encountered.
Just as valuable were the opportunities to build friendships and experience different perspectives. Working alongside students from different backgrounds encouraged our learners to communicate, collaborate and become more comfortable in an international environment.
The journey also offered a glimpse into life beyond school. Seeing how business, hospitality and tourism operate in a different country gave learners a chance to think more deeply about their own interests and the possibilities they may pursue in the years ahead.
By the time the group boarded their flight home, they were returning with more than photographs and souvenirs. Their week had included Alpine peaks, hotel corridors, chocolate factories, culinary workshops, boat rides, new friendships and even a solar eclipse viewed from a rooftop.
It was a week in which learning stepped off the page and into the real world, giving our learners plenty to experience, explore and talk about long after they returned home.