Swiss Archives

May 23, 2023

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PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA – Media OutReach – 22 May 2023 – Prince Horology had the honor of hosting Mayor Sokhary Chau of Lowell, Massachusetts, the first Cambodian-American mayor in the United States. During his visit, Mayor Chau had the opportunity to meet local Cambodian watchmakers and students, hearing firsthand about their transformational journeys over the last few years.

Mayor Chau’s rise to his current position, achieved by overcoming adversity as a refugee, echoes the life-changing ventures of the current batch of Prince Horology students and apprentices who have received scholarships to pursue their life-changing career in watchmaking.

In the United States, Mayor Chau pursued his studies and won a scholarship to attend Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He graduated from Macalester College in Minnesota, with degrees in political science and economics, also funded by a scholarship. Before entering public service, Mayor Chau primarily worked in the financial services sector.

During the tour, Mayor Chau stated: “Beyond mastering the latest horological techniques and having the opportunity to learn the trade from Swiss-trained instructors, I resonate with Prince Horology’s core philosophy of the transformative power of education.”

The Prince Horology Vocational Training Center, the only training center of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region, aims to be the finest watchmaking school in the world, operating under the mantra “Swiss Craftsmanship, Cambodian Made”.

Delighted by the training center’s cutting-edge technological resources, Mayor Chau shared his admiration for the art of horology, saying: “A watch is more than just a timepiece; it’s a work of art and a testament to human ingenuity and craftsmanship. It symbolizes time, history, and the passage of life.”

Mr. Gabriel Tan, Chief Communications Officer of Prince Holding Group, commented: “We are honored and humbled by Mayor Chau’s visit. His impressive journey, from humble beginnings in Battambang to becoming a beacon of hope in Lowell, Massachusetts, deeply resonates with our mission at Prince Horology. His dedication to fostering community development and commitment to serving his constituents emphasize the transformative power of leadership.”

Prince Holding Group’s Chairman Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, has taken a keen interest in Prince Horology in his personal capacity, backed by Prince Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Group. Prince Horology serves as a crucial component of the Group’s broader efforts to enhance education throughout Cambodia through scholarship programs, thought leadership training, and other CSR initiatives.

Prince Horology offers students access to Swiss-trained professionals with over 60 years of combined experience in Swiss watchmaking and education. This includes experience with The Swatch Group and Richemont, as well as the world-renowned Watchmakers of Switzerland Training and Educational Program (WOSTEP).

March 23, 2023

Swiss Hospitality & Management Academy (SHMA) of A. Baur & Co. Pvt Ltd., also known as Baurs, a leading conglomerate with diversified business interests, recently signed an MoU with the Vocational Training Authority of Sri Lanka (VTA) under the Ministry of Education to implement its Skills for Sustainable Growth (SSG) project among selected learning centers across the country.

This partnership marks a significant milestone, following its ongoing discussions with VTA since 2019. The planning phase is already underway and SHMA is currently in the process of evaluating and selecting existing learning centers of VTA, building on their infrastructure and reach, with the aim of uplifting learning capacities and aligning the current learning content, curriculums and teaching methodologies to that of international standards.

With its first phase running from last year up until 2025, a total of 2,240 students will be trained and the lecturers at the VTA learning centers will go through a Train the Trainer program, which will enhance their teaching skills to embrace newer and practical approaches that deliver a hands-on learning experience to the students. The focus will go beyond just grasping technical skills to also include personal development and language training.

The aim of the entire SSG initiative, which is based on a public-private funding partnership, is to strengthen and match the learning standards in the country to that of the global industry, to enable fast-track routes to employability in just 9 months with the learning taking a hands-on practical approach, and to minimize or bridge the widening skills gap. The internationally aligned qualification delivered through this initiative will help various unskilled and semi-skilled young men and women in Sri Lanka including providing migrants with a skill set needed for better employment opportunities. The program is developed on a ‘Plug & Play’ basis, giving more practical and feasible learning modules and methodologies for the learner and learning center.

Site visits have already begun, with a pool of total 22 centers across 16 districts across the country, to select the most feasible centers to kickstart the SSG project. By July 2023, six centers will be selected and 240 students will see themselves equipping with the skillset required today in the world of hospitality management over a period of nine months.

The skills development project is established to align and implement a Swiss Vocational Skills Development (VSD) curriculum. The project will take a lead in bridging the skills gap, instill quality education standards, encourage female participation, and make Sri Lanka not just a most sought-after talent destination for hospitality but also one of the best tourist spots. These will undoubtedly go onto strengthen the economy further.

The Swiss Hotel Management Academy is licensed to deliver the VET (Vocational Education Training) by EHL Professional Diploma programme from the pioneer in hospitality education since 1893 with over 25,000 alumni worldwide and over 120 nationalities, École hôtelière de Lausanne. SHMA provides world class education through its VET by EHL Professional Diploma programme, available in Culinary, Food & Beverage and Hotel Operations.

The SSG hospitality certificate provides a steppingstone towards enrolling for The VET by EHL Professional Diploma programs facilitated by SHMA and awarded by École hôtelière de Lausanne EHL, world’s number one hotel management school. Recently, SHMA also partnered with Nestlé Lanka PLC, as part of its private sector synergies aimed at upskilling young and rising talent in the sector. SHMA also facilitates short course programs aimed at corporates, namely the ‘Corporate Etiquette Excellence’ for HoDs, managers, and front office staff such as PAs and those at the front-desk.

March 17, 2023

The Embassy of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and the Maldives together with the International Organization of la Francophonie will be hosting a theatrical performance of French and Swiss songs across three key cities in Sri Lanka with the view of celebrating Francophonie 2023, the annual celebration of the French language and Francophonie cultures with “Les Monsieur Monsieur”, the famed duo Laurent BRUNETTI and Mario PACCHIOLI from the French-speaking Switzerland.

The inaugural performance will be held at the ‘Garden Nuga’, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), on Friday 24^th March from 07.00pm onwards, followed by a performance in Jaffna on Sunday, 26^th March at 07.00pm, and the final event at the University of Peradeniya, Kandy, on Tuesday, 28^th March at 06.00pm. All these events are free and open to everyone on a first come first served basis.

The tour is comprised of original and popular songs, also referring to the great works of the French and the Swiss composers, creating and bringing back memories through their unique theatrical interpretation. The language barrier disappears, and the audience is propelled by the words, emotion and energy of the Artists. The duo will also conduct master classes at selected University venues and for its students.

Laurent BRUNETTI was exposed to music and theatre from a young age marking his career path. Accompanied by a solo piano or a symphony orchestra, BRUNETTI brings to life the lyrics and melodies to a theatrical performance. With five albums to his credit, he also writes for other artists and is actively working to link theatrical art with musical performance.

Mario PACCHIOLI began his classical training as a pianist and opera singer at the age of 7. With a Golden record in Switzerland and four albums to his credit; it is at the Musicians Institute of Technology of Hollywood (Los Angeles) that PACCHIOLI developed his art, having also trained as a theatre actor in France. His latest musical creation “Remas” pays tribute to his mother tongue Romansh. PACCHIOLI is recognized for his symphonic work for orchestra, voice and choir.

First Cambodian American Mayor in the US Visits Prince Horology to Observe Swiss-Style Watchmaking in Cambodia

SHMA and VTA Sri Lanka signs MoU to implement a Swiss-designed learning curriculum

Francophonie 2023 – Performance by “Les Monsieur Monsieur”