The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts graduates 63 students from the Vocational Education Training Program funded by EBRD and FCDO

The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts (RACA) celebrated the graduation of 63 Syrian and Jordanian students from its Vocational Training (VET) Program, which was funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This three-month VET Program aims to develop the professional competencies needed from youth in order to be employed in the hospitality and culinary sectors.

The graduation, which was held at RACA’s campus, was attended by representatives from the EBRD, FCDO, and more than 12 employers including hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets, in addition to the graduating students who benefited from the program.

The ceremony included a welcoming speech by RACA’s Director Mr. Jacques Rossel, where he thanked the funding entities and the employers who participated in the program, hoping for more cooperation in the future due to the importance of these vocational programs in preparing the youth for employment and empowering them with the basic skills, in addition to helping the employers save the effort and time of training upon hiring.

Rami Samain, Regional Head of Gender and Economic Inclusion at the EBRD, added that the EBRD is proud to have worked with RACA to develop and deliver this new offer of short term VET courses, tailored to the market’s needs in the culinary arts industry, and that such courses provide opportunities for youth to better access vocational education and employment in the sector.

This VET Program included eight theoretical subjects specialized in professional and career development, food safety, and sales, in addition to practical subjects specialized in the basics of kitchen and service, and a two-week on-site training opportunity with employers.