top of page
Search

The Lisbon Recognition Convention: Supporting Global Academic Recognition for SOHS Swiss Online Hospitality School®

  • Writer: OUS Academy in Switzerland
    OUS Academy in Switzerland
  • Jun 27
  • 2 min read

The Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC), ratified by UNESCO and the Council of Europe in 1997, sets the international standard for recognizing academic qualifications across 55 member countries. SOHS Swiss Online Hospitality School®, a digital hospitality education provider, is part of OUS Academy in Zurich. OUS itself is a branch of ISBM International School of Business Management in Luzern, which is part of Swiss International University (SIU) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Through this institutional alignment, SOHS offers degrees that fall under the scope of recognition frameworks upheld by the Lisbon Convention.


1. Legal Accreditation and Degree Validity

Swiss International University (SIU) in Bishkek is fully accredited by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic, a full signatory of the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Through ISBM and OUS, SOHS operates as part of this academic network, which guarantees that degrees issued by SOHS are eligible for legal recognition across Europe and other convention-aligned countries.


2. Core Principles of Recognition

The Convention guarantees the following:

  • Qualifications must be recognized unless substantial differences are demonstrated;

  • Evaluation procedures must be fair, timely, and transparent;

  • No distinction based on delivery mode (online, distance, in-person);

  • The right to appeal in case of recognition refusal.

SOHS adheres to these standards while offering fully digital and remote programs tailored to international learners.


3. Pathways to Global Academic and Career Mobility

Graduates of SOHS benefit from:

  • Eligibility for further studies in more than 55 countries;

  • Degree recognition for employment and professional licensing abroad;

  • Participation in academic mobility programs and research collaborations;

  • Enhanced credibility for entry into master’s and doctoral programs.


4. Academic Governance and Global Positioning

SOHS operates under a robust institutional framework:

  • It is part of OUS Academy Zurich, recognized for its Swiss academic orientation;

  • OUS is a branch of ISBM Luzern, which is integrated within SIU Bishkek;

  • SIU is an accredited university in Kyrgyzstan under the Lisbon Recognition framework.

This governance ensures compliance with both national and international academic quality standards.


5. Endorsement of Online and Hybrid Learning

The Lisbon Recognition Convention explicitly acknowledges:

  • Online and distance education programs;

  • Hybrid instructional models;

  • Secure digital verification of credentials.

This affirms the legitimacy of SOHS’s digital-first model, positioning it as a leader in accessible hospitality education.


6. Lisbon Recognition Convention Member Countries (as of 2025)

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Vatican City, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.


7. Conclusion

SOHS Swiss Online Hospitality School® leverages its affiliation with OUS, ISBM, and SIU to deliver legally recognized and globally valid degrees. Backed by the Lisbon Recognition Convention, SOHS graduates enjoy academic and professional mobility across Europe and beyond. The school exemplifies how modern, online education can be embedded in a robust international legal and academic framework.



 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page