Course Summary
Course Category: CAO (Higher Education - HET)
The Higher Certificate in Arts in Culinary Arts establishes a direct path into the food service industry. This programme provides an extensive understanding of culinary techniques, kitchen technologies, the operational business aspects of culinary enterprises, and the scientific principles and nutritional foundations of food. Students actively engage in daily kitchen environments, both individually and as part of a team.
Throughout the programme, there's practical experience in operating and managing an event within the universities training restaurant. The programme also offers participation in national food industry competitions and organises culinary excursions to local, regional, and national food producers, including an immersive gastronomic meal experience.
Complementing the academic curriculum, a series of guest lectures feature Ireland's leading culinary experts, providing students with valuable opportunities to learn from and interact with industry practitioners.
Course Details
What will you study?
Progression to CAO Courses
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
