Girne Becomes Global Academic Partner School

Orlando, Florida (USA) – October 18, 2012—The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (EI) has welcomed a new Global Academic Partner (GAP) school—Girne American University (GAU) in North Cyprus. The school will offer EI’s 12-course hospitality management diploma to students at its campuses in Kyrenia, North Cyprus, and Istanbul, Turkey.

Founded in 1985 as an independent, nonprofit institution of higher education, GAU describes itself as a “traditional university with a nontraditional setup.” Many of its programs are offered online and students are offered many service-learning opportunities in addition to classroom experiences.
GAU’s Tourism School of Applied & Social Sciences (GAU TSASS) is accredited by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO TEDQUAL). It has international membership from AMFORHT France (World Association for Hospitality Tourism Education and Training), EURHODIP Belgium, IH&RA Switzerland, and the Institute of Hospitality (IH) England. The school has regular contact with industry and is in the perfect location to be abreast of new developments in tourism. With more than 90 hotels in Girne, tourism students are in an excellent location and conditions to be learning about tourism and hospitality.

“Focused exclusively on international growth and needs of tourism education qualifications and certification, GAU identifies the standard of tourism education in North Cyprus. GAU TSASS will initially provide innovative tourism education training and certification, e-learning educational solutions at the undergraduate and graduate level, international congress, and INTEB consulting services to emerging tourism markets worldwide,” said Professor Serhat Akpinar, chancellor. “Our Istanbul campus will be delivering EI programs to both professional and academic industry towards the middle of October. As the INTEB founder and GAU chancellor, I am very proud to work and collaborate with high caliber tourism educational services and leading institutions such as the Educational Institute and enjoy benefiting from the educational opportunities of this prestigious institution.”

For more information about EI’s international hospitality education and training opportunities, please visit www.ahlei.org or call +1 407-999-8100.

About the Educational Institute
Established in 1953 as a nonprofit educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Educational Institute’s mission is to continue being the preferred provider to the lodging industry, hospitality schools, and related hospitality industries by developing and providing quality resources to train, educate, and certify hospitality professionals worldwide.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Johnson
Senior Public Relations & Marketing Manager
517-318-2359
ejohnson@ahla.com
www.ahlei.org