If you are someone who has a passion and love for food, who is artistic, creative, enjoys variety and working with people, and would like to travel. If you have any one of these traits or desires, then Culinary Arts is a good option,” says TJ O’Connor, a senior lecturer in the Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism Department of the Institute of Technology Tralee (ITT).

“Studying culinary arts gives people a great foundation to enter the hospitality and food industry and start their journey to becoming a professional chef, where they will develop their skills further while working within the industry. The level 6 programmes offer a very strong base of practical skills and knowledge, which is vital for graduates,” he continued.

For many, on first viewing, culinary arts is fancy slag for a chef. However, studying the programme evidently offers far more than just this option. While TJ acknowledges that the predominant career of choice for his graduates may be working in professional kitchens, the variety of career paths from graduation is extensive.

“I suppose, to define the programme, it is the wider study of food, not just one’s ability to cook.

“This encompasses all food-related businesses as well as the hospitality sector. This means the career paths students can take are wide and varied.”

For a curious parent wondering what career options are available for their child after completing the programme, the list of options is re-assuring.

What can I be

after I graduate?

A professional chef is the obvious option. Currently, employment opportunities in this sector are huge. The Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) revealed there’s a shortage of 5,000 trainee chefs every year.

There are currently 1,800 chefs qualifying each year from certified culinary training programmes, leaving a deficit of 5,000 trainees annually. For this reason, TJ confirmed that any graduate entering the industry from ITT would more or less have an employment opportunity of 100%.

Food product design and food product development in food companies is also an option for graduates, according to TJ, as these topics are taught in ITT in the third year of the culinary arts programme.

Food product design and food product development may refer to designing a new food product for the retail sector, to include packaging and shelf life testing or working in kitchens developing new recipes for hospitality businesses/food companies.

This is where the creative, artistic and practical knowledge comes into play. Some ITT graduates are currently working for Unilever and La Rousse Foods in such areas.

Other opportunities can be seen in marketing or business development. As all programmes include the marketing and entrepreneurial side of this sector, this can provide opportunities for graduates as food marketers in both national and international food markets as well as those interested in setting up their own food business.

What do students learn on the programme?

The range of subjects taught across the discipline depends on what level you study, but for the most part is practical and skills-based.

“Years one and two in ITT are predominantly skills-based, but there will also be a focus on food safety, food science and nutrition as well as the very important cost factors,” TJ explains.

“On completing the two-year Higher Certificate Qualification (Level 6) you will have the practical skills and knowledge you need to start your journey to becoming a professional chef.”

Level 7 and Level 8 programmes will take this knowledge to a new level. While still practically based, there will also be a focus on food product design and development, food photography and social media, food blogging and marketing, kitchen technology, as well as food in different cultures. The variation in a culinary arts programme represents the variation in the industry, according to TJ It is important to note, the Level 8 at ITT is a follow-on to the Level 7 and not available on CAO application.

Wages

While employment prospects are very high, wages can vary. They start at minimum-wage level and increase dependent on numerous factors.

When applying

As previously mentioned, when applying on the CAO, students must be vigilant that they understand which culinary arts programme they wish to apply for.

Some offer a BA in Arts, others a BA in Science or in Business. This may not be obvious on the CAO, so contact the college and ensure you find out, or www.qualifax.ie is also a good source of information.

It is suggested that you visit the various college web pages and look into the detail on the programme.

Culinary arts in available on the CAO from Levels 6, 7 and 8. Both ITT and DIT offers master’s degrees and postgraduate research degrees.

Where can I study culinary arts & what are the points?

Culinary Arts as a programme is readily available all over the country and in different forms and levels. Currently at third level at the various institutes of technology, there are four Level 8 programmes and 17 Level 6 and 7 programmes (See Table 1). CL

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