StudyAbroad: ICCA Dubai hopes to sponsor 52 chefs next year

StudyinDubai:The International Centre for Culinary Arts Dubai (ICCA Dubai) hopes to increase the number of young chefs it offers a culinary scholarship to, as part of its AED 1 Million Continuing Education Award.

The center recently hosted the graduation program of 24 young chefs who were selected to be part of the AED 1 Million Continuing Education Award – the first of its kind annual 100% Culinary Scholarship Programme by ICCA Dubai.

Speaking at the ceremony, Cuthbert said: “We are here to celebrate the 24 young people who have worked for the last 52 weeks to complete a certification which brings hope and gives them an opportunity to change their lives.

“In this market, we talk about succession planning, so it fills me with great pride to be involved with something like this.”

He said the program will continue next year, and Micheel and ICCA Dubai director and CEO Sunjeh Raja revealed that they hope to double the number of chefs taking the program in its second iteration to 52.

The idea for the program was born a decade ago, but it was only in 2014 when both Raja and Micheel were able to realize their dream.

“When Sunjeh was in the old school in Satwa, I said the school was too expensive. It was great but those who really need schools cannot afford them. My dream was to get an education for the guys who have no money to pay for this,” he said.

Raja approached Micheel two years ago saying the infrastructure was in place, and after planning out logistics with Cuthbert, the program was launched in collaboration with Emirates Culinary Guild (ECG), WorldChefs and the City & Guilds London.

“It is great to be here and to see what they have achieved – it’s fantastic. I’m motivated to go double next year,” added Micheel, who said chefs in the UAE who gave their time to train the young students every week is why the program was a success.

The graduates of the class of 2016 included young chefs from JW Marriott Marquis, Ritz-Carlton, Shakespeare & Co, Shangri-La, Emirates Flight Catering, The Address, Madinat Jumeirah, Fairmont, Atlantis The Palm, JA Resorts, Marriott Courtyard, Radisson Blu, Media One, and Unilever amongst others.

Study Culinary Arts in Dubai 

There are several Culinary Arts courses in the UAE. You can choose from a variety of Baking and Cooking Classes primarily located in Dubai to help you learn either for business or pleasure.