Jordan culinary school to boost F&B industry

The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, set up in 2008 in conjunction with Les Roches – one of the top three hospitality and culinary schools in the world, hopes to increase to full capacity in the next couple of years.

Currently the school has 130 students, but organisers hope that figure is set to increase to the maximum capacity of 200 students.

Speaking to Caterer Middle East magazine, public relations manager Tamir Shaaban said: “It typically takes universities the same amount of time just to reach up to 30% of their capacity. We are doing very well, and you have to consider that this is a discipline that’s relatively new to Jordan and the Middle East.

“ Also, given the fact that curriculum is administered in English, there is an impediment to enrolling. There is an English language requirement, but the way we mitigate this is to offer an in-house intensive English language course that students complete first.”

The Academy offers a two-year culinary diploma accredited in Jordan and Switzerland, and Shaaban believes the academy will have a big impact on the Jordanian F&B industry: “Sixty percent of our graduates have entered the labour force directly after graduating, be it in Jordan or another country,” he revealed.

“Those who have left us and gone to work in Jordan start off in middle-level management positions. Others have opted to obtain a further degree from one of our la Roche campuses in Spain, Switzerland, Australia or the United States.”

When asked if he’s worried about training students that will then take their skills to work in other countries, Tamir said: “It’s not a worry at all. We encourage them to go and gain experience anywhere they can, and we are confident at the end of the day, when they have gained their relevant experience, they will come back to Jordan and have a stronger impact on the industry.”

Read more about the F&B industry in Jordan in the November issue of Caterer Middle East magazine.