Though it was still a very young institution, IHM became involved in cooperating with universities abroad soon after its foundation in 1999. The first years involved close mutual contact with Slovakia, but as the Czech Republic came closer to entering the European Union, contacts with other member states increased. Even before the Czech Republic became a full EU member state, IHM had begun participating in the European educational program known as ERASMUS (2003).

IHM currently holds contracts with 16 university institutions in 11 member states which annually exchange both students and teachers within the framework of the ERASMUS program. (ERASMUS coordinator: Zuzana Roldánová, e-mail: roldanova@vsh.cz).

IHM still maintains very close ties with its colleagues from Slovakia, and especially with Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica and the Hotel Academy in Piešťany. In addition to regular participation in student and teacher exchange programs, our colleagues from Matej Bel University are also members of the IHM research team and publish regularly in the professional journal issued by IHM.

From its inception, IHM has worked with the Hotel School in the Hague in the Netherlands and Lausanne, Switzerland, and for the second year offers students two one-year scholarships for the International Fast Track program, whose successful graduates earn both a bachelor’s degree from IHM and the Hotel School in the Hague.

IHM also offers the possibility of participation in the Norway Grants program. This program offers students the chance to study at universities in Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein. Teachers and staff at IHM are eligible for funding from this program as well. International relations at IHM also extend beyond European borders. In 2008, IHM entered into a contract for a double-degree with both Southern New Hampshire University in the USA the Yakut Institute based in Moscow.

In the 2008/2009 academic year we entered into a mutual agreement with Tecnico en Alimentos y Bebidas, a Mexican School in Monterrey, regarding a reciprocal exchange of six students. The first student exchange took place in the summer semester of the 2009/2010 academic year.

The Institute of Hospitality Management is also open to international cooperation regarding work experience. In 2008, for example, we arranged a week-long professional training course for hotel managers from the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, including field trips to hotels in and around Prague. The school can arrange similar training courses custom-tailored for professionals from the public.