Adelaide-based International College of Hotel Management has been acquired from Charles Darwin University by Australasian university pathway provider UP Education.
Offering undergraduate and postgraduate business, hotel and hospitality management degrees, ICHM is the only official Swiss Hotel Association affiliate school in Australia.
“UP Education can support ICHM and its focus on continued student growth”
Vice-chancellor of CDU Simon Maddocks said he is pleased CDU could sell ICHM to a trusted partner like UP Education who operates as a university pathway provider for the university.
“ICHM is a high-quality education provider that has successfully extended its offering to include master programs during CDU’s ownership.
“The acquisition by UP Education at this time of growth will assist ICHM as it continues to attract students in an increasingly competitive education environment,” he added.
UP Education is New Zealand’s largest provider of skills-based learning.
Its university partnerships include Charles Darwin University, University of Tasmania and Swinburne University of Technology, University of Auckland, AUT University, and Victoria University Wellington.
UP Education Group CEO Mark Rushworth said he is pleased to bring a higher education provider of ICHM’s recognition and academic strength into the UP Education portfolio.
“Named the best hotel and hospitality school in Australia for the quality of its student experience, ICHM has a unique offering…[and] with 20 years’ experience delivering leading academic and employment outcomes… UP Education is well aligned to support ICHM as it continues to deliver hospitality excellence in the Australian market,” he said.
ICHM CEO, Natalie Simmons added that UP Education is well placed to support ICHM as it looks to grow domestic and international student enrolments.
“With extensive experience with international student recruitment, UP Education can support ICHM and its focus on continued student growth.
UP Education has given the ICHM leadership team confidence in a shared vision for the future, and with their support, we can continue to build on our mission to be at the forefront of hospitality education.”
Under the new ownership, which comes into effect in January 2020, ICHM will continue its day-to-day operation with its current management and staff.