The Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts aims to train experts who will make the most fundamental need of humanity, nutrition, more enjoyable and healthier by following systematic approaches in accordance with food safety rules. Graduates of this field learn the intricacies of food and beverage production, as well as theoretical and practical training that a manager in the food and beverage industry should have. During the training, the aesthetic aspect of food presentation and serving, which will appeal not only to the palate but also to the eye, is taught to the students with an artistic approach, and the focus is not only on the taste factor in food and beverage preparation.
As the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department of Istanbul Gedik University, our goal is to educate our students with a multidisciplinary approach, enabling them to graduate with the skills of a competent executive chef candidate. To achieve this goal, we offer our students both theoretical and practical education with our specially selected curriculum. Starting with professional kitchen practices in the practical education process, our students learn basic cooking techniques and then gain unique experiences in both Turkish and international cuisine; they also receive detailed practical education in pastry making, ranging from basic to advanced pastry making practices. In addition, our students receive practical education in bread and bakery production, Turkish desserts, Istanbul cuisine, and mezze culture throughout their 4-year education. Along with practical courses, our curriculum includes many courses on food and beverage production, gastronomy history and culture, restaurant and kitchen management, food science and safety, nutrition, and tourism. Due to Turkey being one of the world’s major tourist destinations and our graduates having the opportunity to work in both Turkish and international kitchens, we attach great importance to foreign language education. Within the framework of our curriculum, we provide English education up to the B2 level and education in another foreign language up to the A2 level, so that our graduates can meet the language requirements of an executive chef.
As the Istanbul Gedik University Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department, we believe in the importance of university-industry cooperation and do not limit our education only to our curriculum. Additionally, we invite industry representatives to our university every academic year and conduct numerous practical-theoretical workshops and seminars. This way, we provide our students with the opportunity to learn the latest trends in gastronomy directly from industry representatives.
One of the most important opportunities we offer to our students as the Istanbul Gedik University Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department is the possibility of doing an internship in their 8th semester. Indeed, our students who successfully complete the first 7 semesters carry out their final semester by doing an internship in a business, which provides them with the opportunity to be employed with a high percentage immediately after graduation. Additionally, we also offer our students the opportunity of a voluntary internship at “Healin Restaurant,” one of Istanbul’s prestigious venues, throughout their education. For students who wish to continue their education with graduate studies and an academic career, we provide lessons in which they learn scientific research methods by writing a thesis instead of doing an internship in their 8th semester.
As the Istanbul Gedik University Department of Gastronomy and Culinary Arts, we are delighted to see students who aim to become executive chefs who possess knowledge of kitchen theory and practice, understand the product they are processing in terms of food science and safety, equip their products with superior sensory characteristics and present them in the most appropriate way, are in contact with the umbrella organizations of the food and beverage sector, have high communication and management skills, and closely follow innovations in the gastronomy sector in our department, and we are waiting for you to join us.
Asst. Prof. Barış YALINKILIÇ
Head of the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department