QMU Global partnership showcases the impact of employability-focused transnational education in Nepal
Students in Nepal are gaining practical experience, industry connections and entrepreneurial skills to help them build careers in the hospitality, tourism and culinary sectors through a long-standing partnership between Queen Margaret University (QMU) and the Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management (SMSH).
The collaboration delivered through QMU Global has been recognised in a recent Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) case study which highlights how the partnership embeds academic quality, employability, entrepreneurship and social impact throughout its BA International Hospitality and Tourism Management and International Culinary Arts degree programmes.
Established in 2011, the partnership enables students in Nepal to gain a QMU degree without having to relocate overseas. Bringing together QMU’s academic expertise with SMSH’s deep understanding of the local context and industry needs, the programmes combine UK academic standards with practical, industry-focused learning.
The QAA case study highlights the success of the partnership in preparing graduates for employment. Graduate employment rates for cohorts between 2016 and 2021 ranged from 65% to 75%, with around half of employed graduates securing international career opportunities. Many others progressed to postgraduate study or established their own businesses in Nepal and overseas.
Graduates have gone to work in leading hotels, hospitality groups, tourism enterprises and culinary business while others have launched entrepreneurial ventures including restaurants, cafés, resorts, travel companies and hospitality start-ups.
This partnership is a strong example of what we want QMU Global to achieve - bringing together QMU’s academic expertise with the knowledge, experience and priorities of our partners around the world. By working closely with Silver Mountain, we have developed programmes that are academically rigorous while remaining relevant to Nepal’s growing tourism and hospitality sector. Most importantly, students gain a UK degree alongside practical experience, industry connections and the confidence to pursue employment, further study or entrepreneurship.
Practical experience is embedded throughout both degree programmes. Students undertake structured industry internships that allow them to apply their learning in professional settings while building valuable industry networks.
Students also develop entrepreneurial, organisational and problem-solving skills through projects based on real-world challenges. These include developing business ideas, planning and delivering live events and supporting Pack for Purpose, a student-led initiative that combines fundraising, community engagement and experiential learning. The project raises funds and collects educational resources for under-resourced schools across Nepal and in 2026 alone, students raised more than $10,000.
For International Culinary Arts students, experiential learning extends beyond the classroom through field visits to local markets and producers, alongside opportunities to develop and showcase their skills through SMSH’s student-run Papillon Rose restaurant, which provides students with experience of working in a professional hospitality environment while serving members of the local community.
The partnership has also become a strong example of capacity building through collaboration. QMU and SMSH have worked closely on assessment design, quality assurance, and curriculum development, supported by staff development opportunities through QMU’s Learning Enhancement and Academic Development (LEAD) Centre and selected postgraduate academic practice programmes.
This exchange of knowledge benefits both institutions. SMSH staff have gained opportunities to engage with UK higher education practice and QMU has benefited from SMSH’s expertise in hands-on, locally relevant curriculum design and industry-led learning.
The partnership has expanded significantly since its launch and now enables students to complete all four years of the degree programme in Nepal. This development reflects both the strength of the partnership and QMU’s confidence in SMSH’s academic standards and capacity to deliver the programmes. Students also benefit from access to QMU learning resources and are welcomed into the wider QMU community from the beginning of their studies.
The collaboration reflects QMU’s long-standing commitment to social justice and widening participation. Students who may face financial, cultural or mobility barriers to studying overseas can gain a UK higher education qualification while remaining within their local communities.
Student satisfaction across the two programmes reached 98% in 2025, following rates of 93% in both 2023 and 2024.
The QAA case study identifies the partnership as an example of how transnational education can successfully combine international academic standards with local expertise and priorities, creating benefits for students, staff, institutions and the wider community.
Looking ahead, QMU and SMSH will continue to build on the success of the partnership through new opportunities for knowledge exchange, research collaboration and innovation. As the partnership continues to evolve, both institutions remain committed to providing high-quality, internationally recognised learning experiences that equip students with the skills, confidence and connections to thrive in a global hospitality and tourism industry.
For further media information contact Emma Reekie, Media and Content Officer, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, E: ereekie@qmu.ac.uk (copy to E: pressoffice@qmu.ac.uk).
