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The Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies (Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril – ESHTE), created in 1991 (Law-Decree no. 374/91, dated 8th October), is a public polytechnic higher education institution under the tutelage of the Ministry of Education and Science. ESHTE’s statutes, published on 1st September 2008, reinforce its nature as an institute with management autonomy and emphasize ESHTE’s role in the development, transmission, and dissemination of highly qualified knowledge and training in the areas of tourism, hospitality, and catering. As a center for the development of tourism and hospitality activities, both in education and applied research, ESHTE has always been actively engaged with the business sector to adapt its teaching/learning practices to the requirements of the labor market and thus facilitate the employability of its graduate students. ESHTE’s cultural and vocational training aims at preparing future professionals that can successfully respond to the challenges and opportunities of the tourism sector, in a context of strong competitiveness and underlying uncertainty ESHTE’s location in the tourism area of Lisbon, Cascais, and Estoril, as well as the exceptional training facilities in which it undertakes its activities, contribute to reinforce its training and research offer in the areas of tourism, hospitality, and catering. ESHTE’s curricula include compulsory internships at public and private sector companies and institutions, which ensure that students have the opportunity to consolidate their experience and know-how through on-job training. This contributes to the establishment of a closer link with the business sector and allows for the constant adaptation of curricula and methodologies to the requirements of the labor market. These links with business are also strengthened by regular research visits undertaken throughout the academic year and the organization of thematic conferences, talks, congresses, and workshops with speakers from different tourism segments. In addition, ESHTE has established various agreements with public and private institutions such as hotels, travel agencies, catering and entertainment companies, city councils, as well as other local, regional, and national public entities, which have generated the development of joint projects, events, and strategies that contribute to students’ employability and enable students to transfer knowledge acquired at ESHTE to the work environment and vice-versa. Moreover, the fact that ESHTE has an Advisory Board composed of members of tourism’s institutional, business, and vocational areas ensures a more formal and permanent relationship between the school’s activities and those conducted in the market. This concern has also led to the creation of a careers and employment service (ESHTEmprego) that disseminates job and training offers to alumni and students. This rationale of opening ESHTE to the external community is further emphasized in the development of applied research (e.g. European funded projects or agreements with the public entities in the tourism sector). ESHTE has established bilateral agreements with over 20 European institutions that promote student and staff mobility exchange within the scope of the Socrates/Erasmus programs, as well as other agreements with universities in Brazil, Macao, and Camerino. ESHTE is also a member of different associations, both as a regular institutional member and as a member of their executive committees. These include AMFORHT (World Association for Hospitality and Tourism Education and Training) ATLAS (Association for Tourism and Leisure Education) EURHODIP (International Association supporting Hospitality and Tourism Education and Training) and EUHOFA (International Association of Hotel Schools). Additionally, and at a national level, ESHTE is a member of AULP (Association of Portuguese Language Universities) and ReCLes.pt (the Portuguese Association of Language Centres in Higher Education). View full university