Institut Villa Pierrefeu

Viviane Néri bought Pierrefeu from her mother (the school's founder) in 1971 and manages it today.[14] She expanded from the dwindling gap year market of the U.K. and Germany, to women from global economies, including Asia and South America. The curriculum language changed from French to English, with Pierrefeu being one of the first to institutionally teach non-Western customs (including those of BRIC countries).[3] House management has become a more peripheral subject. Art history, interior decorating, sewing (applicable in designer fashion), and proper childcare are no longer taught.[20]

In the 1980s, Pierrefeu accommodated up to 34 students. In 1987, the Los Angeles Times reported that it reached full occupancy annually. The school was threatened by a law proposal that summer, which would have limited the ability of global students to board in Switzerland. The government restriction did not pass.[15]

In the 1990s, Pierrefeu was primarily occupied by students from North America and South America, with a decrease in Japanese and European attendance.[14] Around this time, it was common for Néri to conduct daily room inspections, as posters were not allowed on bedroom walls. Brochures read: "A complete universe dedicated to the instruction of the art of living. The school of life."[14]

In 2012, Néri reported that enrollment from the U.K., the traditional finishing school population, was rising again, along with Hong Kong and China.[2]

In 2013, Pierrefeu opened up to hosting a five-day seminar for men and women in the professional service industry. Her son, Philippe Neri, led the process, along with administration and strategy today as third-generation management.[2] [20] The alumni network comprises 4,200+ Pierrefeu women from 120 countries across the world.

Today, Institut Villa Pierrefeu offers three programs at its Swiss boarding school: an intensive summer school program of courses for an International Etiquette and Protocol (IEP) concentration for ladies, and five-day co-ed seminars on the European art of dining, and efficient home management (co-designed by the Charles MacPherson Academy, which instructs highly-skilled, professionally trained butlers and household managers). Diplomas require a 70% average or higher across intensive, theory and practical exams (thrice weekly) covering 36 class periods per week (totaling 18 exams), while certificates only require attendance in 26 class periods. All instruction occurs on-campus.

Historically, Pierrefeu offered a gap-year, boarding program beginning in autumn, targeting girls between secondary school and college education. In 1987, students had 38 hours of classes weekly.[15] Lessons ran from 8:15am to 5:00pm.[21] A 7pm curfew was enforced on weekdays, 9pm on Fridays and Sundays, and 11pm on Saturdays.[15]

Néri claimed that drug problems were minimal. One or two girls were expelled every year.[15]

Subjects taught over 12-14 hours per weekday have included:[21][20]

(Professionalism and social etiquette)

• business etiquette and public relations (including crisis management),
• French language,
• European etiquette and protocol,
• international savoir-vivre (history, culture, and customs of 20+ countries across all continents),
• advanced etiquette (mandatory for the IEP diploma) and appropriate conversation

(Event organization, applicable for nonprofit benefits etc.)

• hosting,
• art history,
• floral art design (winning 3 of 6 historical rankings in the local L'Art De La Table Competition at Touzeau),
• table decorating and service,
• culinary arts,
• oenology,
• ballroom dancing

(Life)

• personal presentation (image consulting)
• efficient house management (including interior decorating),
• sewing (applicable in designer fashion),
• proper childcare

Reference books and a workbook in the corresponding subjects authored by the school are purchasable exclusively by students.

In alignment with Switzerland's standing as an international country (having three official languages, the World Economic Forum in Davos, a leading Swiss bank secrecy industry as a tax haven, Swiss luxury watch industry, with the in-state Rosey an hour away being the "School of Kings" globally,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]), Pierrefeu's key philosophy is multiculturalism for cultured, global citizens, implementing a hands-on pedagogy.[3]

One teaching method Pierrefeu has long-used includes regular, practice formal dinners. Roleplaying as either guests, hosts, or servants (requiring the proper dress),[14] students learn how to cook and serve at least five, diversified cultural dinners, with the final exam involving formal dinner prep and hosting.[15] Additionally, it is ensured that students leave the school knowing how to properly make their own beds, iron their own clothes, and keep their own private bathrooms clean.[15]

The school also features classrooms, two professional kitchens, a chef for weekday breakfast and lunch, formal dining room, sitting rooms, balcony rooms with Lake Geneva views, washer and dryers, irons and ironing boards on each floor, outdoor swimming pool, and private park, with two full-day excursions to Geneva and Zurich historically.

Excluding application fees and school-authored reference books, in 1986, parents paid Fr.44,000 ($26,000 USD) tuition for the gap-year program in international savoir-vivre.[21]

As the most expensive finishing school, Pierrefeu increased tuition to $30,000 just a year later, compared to all of the average similar institutions at the time charging $18,000 (approximately half).[15]

In 1990, tuition further increased to $33,000 for a 7.5 month gap-year program.[14]

In 2012, tuition for Institut Villa Pierrefeu increased to $36,387 for a summer school diploma (a higher cost of attendance for a more compact instruction period, mirroring college tuition increases).[2]

In 2013, application fees were CHF 600 ($687 USD), in addition to an application from fluent English-speakers, detailed CV, school or work reference, strict dress code adherence, no-social media policy during summer school, and other policy agreements. Approximately 30-40 students are admitted each summer.