SWITZERLAND: Business is booming at Switzerland's last original finishing school as the Institut Villa Pierrefeu updates its curriculum to target business women of all ages and nationalities

Record ID: 777429

  • Title: SWITZERLAND: Business is booming at Switzerland's last original finishing school as the Institut Villa Pierrefeu updates its curriculum to target business women of all ages and nationalities
  • Date: 1st July 2011
  • Summary: MONTREAUX, SWITZERLAND (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS VIEWS OF MONTREAUX ON LAKE GENEVA ( 29 SECONDS) SIGN OUTSIDE INSTITUT VILLA PIERREFEU REAR EXTERIOR VIEW OF VILLA PIERREFEU AND SWIMMING POOL STUDENTS OF IVP AND TEACHER STUDENT EATING TEACHER EXPLAINING TO PUPILS ABOUT THE DIFFERENT CHEESES MADAM NERI, IVP'S PRINCIPLE AND OWNER CONDUCTING A LECTURE ON INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL AND DIPLOMACY (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRINCIPLE AND OWNER OF IVP, MADAM VIVIENNE NERI SAYING: "In the Fifties they would learn how to sew and they would sew ball dresses for instance and that was one of the first classes that went out of the curriculum." STUDENTS FEET (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRINCIPLE AND OWNER OF IVP, MADAM VIVIENNE NERI, SAYING: "There were things that were taught in those days because they were necessary but today are considered absurd or not useful or not necessary. I mean for instance we'll teach them how to iron a shirt but most of them will not be doing it because you give it outside, it's so much faster to (have it done) outside." FACE OF UNIDENTIFIED JAPANESE STUDENT TWO STUDENTS LISTENING TO LECTURE ASIAN STUDENT LISTENING TO LECTURE ENTIRE CLASS LISTENING TO LECTURE MADAM NERI ADDRESSING THE CLASS HAND WRITING ON NOTEPAD (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRINCIPLE AND OWNER OF IVP, MADAM VIVIENNE NERI, SAYING: "We have put in more international etiquette, much more international etiquette. We've added more protocol also, diplomatic and also official protocol." VARIOUS OF TRICKY FOODS CLASS ORANGE BEING PEELED WITH A KNIFE AND FORK UNIDENTIFIED JAPANESE STUDENT CHEWING ORANGE BEING PEELED WITH A KNIFE AND FORK
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland, Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: Business,Education
  • Reuters ID: LVA9FT59A6XZB8ASX1I57VHOBC7T
  • Story Text: In the Fifties, Switzerland was home to the finest finishing schools in the world, some of Europe's wealthiest families sent their daughters there to complete their social education.
    However they have been declining rapidly over the last few decades - The institut Alpin Videmanette in Rougemont where the future Princess Diana was a student closed in 1991 and Mon Fertile where Camilla Shand, now the wife of Prince Charles attended is also no longer exists.
    However there is one from of the original group which is still going strong. The Institute Villa Pierrefu, situated high in the hills of Montreaux, on Lake Geneva, is the last of its kind.
    Madam Neri inherited the school from her mother in 1974 and has been teaching young women the art of good etiquette ever since.
    "In the Fifties they would learn how to sew and they would sew ball dresses for instance and that was one of the first classes that went out of the curriculum. There were things that were taught in those days because they were necessary but today are considered absurd or not useful or not necessary," Neri told Reuters Television.
    The Europeans have been replaced by Latin Americans, Arabs, Chinese and Indians and Madam Neri has had to adapt her business model to ensure the school's survival.
    Today's curriculum is geared to the business woman rather than the wealthy house wife.
    Not all the original classes have gone - Tricky Foods is still on the curriculum.
    Pupils learn how to peel an orange, cut an apple and slice a kiwi fruit with a knife and fork and without touching them with the hands.
    "I'm from Mexico City and I'm studying in high school I have 1 more year before I go to college and I want to study hospitality management," said Sophie, an events organiser from Mexico City and IVP student.
    "My parents travel a lot and I go along with them so I wanted to be self assured, regardless of what ever surrounding or culture I was in, I wanted to be confident that I knew what I was doing and I felt more comfortable." said Nigerian student Lara.
    "It doesn't teach you only to be a housewife, it teaches you how to go on to business, how can you be successful in business, you can be a woman in a man's territory but still keep your essence." said Ana Cecelia a student from Mexico.
    The school is still the preserve of the wealthy - with six week courses costing around 20,000 US dollars.
    But more than half the students seeking a diploma in International Etiquette and Protocol are now women with professional careers or considering their first job.
    Polly is an ex investment banker from Hong Kong.
    "It forces us to be in a situation where we learn how to talk to acquaintances from different backgrounds. "It forces us to be in a situation where we learn how to talk to acquaintances from different backgrounds."
    Having that slight edge over a competitor - outside the boardroom as well as in it - is clearly considered a valuable asset.
    Madam Neri's school may be nearly 60 years old but it's still fully booked.
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