BA (Hons) International Gastronomy Management

Program Overview

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), situated in the United Kingdom, offers a distinctive BA (Hons) International Gastronomy Management program designed for individuals passionate about food and eager to build a career within the dynamic global restaurant and gastronomy industry. This degree is structured to provide students with the essential skills and knowledge to manage confidently and creatively in the food sector, emphasizing a deep understanding of restaurant operations, international culinary traditions, and sustainable and responsible practices. A unique feature of the program is that a significant portion of the learning is delivered through practical placements in professional restaurants, alongside academic modules, ensuring a strong connection between theory and real-world application. The program aims to develop graduates as "global citizens" who can think critically and creatively while understanding the intricacies of the dining experience and service encounters.

Curriculum: The BA (Hons) International Gastronomy Management curriculum at UWTSD is typically a three-year program with a blended learning approach, integrating online theoretical modules with extensive practical placements. In the first year (Level 4), students divide their studies equally between taught modules (60 credits delivered online) covering foundational areas like "Introduction to Gastronomy," "Effective Management," and "Produce, Provenance and Sourcing," and restaurant-based practical placement modules (60 credits) focusing on "Culinary Skills," "Customer Experience and Service Skills," and "Restaurant Management." This pattern of delivery continues in Levels 5 and 6, advancing to development and implementation modules. At Level 6, students are encouraged to specialize, choosing a specific career path within the industry, such as kitchen (chef skills), front-of-house service (including wine and bar skills), or restaurant management (covering new openings, marketing, HR, and general management). The program is designed to be hands-on, with assessment predominantly through coursework and practical tasks, rather than traditional exams, though external qualifications like those from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) may be integrated.

Research Focus: The research focus within the BA (Hons) International Gastronomy Management program at UWTSD is primarily applied and practical, directly addressing the needs and challenges of the international gastronomy and restaurant sector. While specific research modules are not explicitly detailed as standalone components beyond the general development of intellectual skills, the program's emphasis on critical reasoning, analysis, creativity, and reflection encourages students to approach industry problems with an inquiring mind. Students delve into topics such as the characteristics of dining guests, implications for managing service encounters, effective management strategies, and the sourcing and provenance of produce. The structure, management, and marketing of international gastronomy are also key areas of study. This practical, problem-solving approach effectively serves as a form of applied research, preparing students to investigate and adapt to evolving industry trends and consumer demands.

Industry Engagement: UWTSD places a paramount emphasis on industry engagement for its BA (Hons) International Gastronomy Management program, ensuring graduates are highly employable and possess the practical skills demanded by the sector. A distinguishing feature is that half of the program is delivered through ongoing placements within professional restaurants, providing invaluable real-world experience from day one. All teaching staff have close links with industry, many being former operators of restaurants themselves, offering authentic insights. The course content continuously evolves based on feedback from industry leaders. The university maintains strong working relationships with prominent restaurant groups like The Seren Collection, The Cygnus Group, The Secret Hospitality Group, and Jessica Rice Events, alongside support from leading chefs. This extensive industry collaboration ensures students gain hands-on experience, build professional networks, and develop transferable skills like innovation, resilience, problem-solving, and an enterprising mindset, further supplemented by guest lectures and frequent field trips to restaurants, food producers, and artisan beverage producers.

Global Perspective: The BA (Hons) International Gastronomy Management program at UWTSD inherently embraces a strong global perspective, preparing students for careers in an industry that transcends national borders. The curriculum develops an in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the nature of international gastronomy and restaurant management, recognizing the diverse culinary traditions, dining guest characteristics, and management implications across different cultures. The program aims to produce graduates who are "global citizens" and who approach their personal and professional lives from a sustainable 1 and responsible perspective within a global context. By providing exposure to a variety of international culinary and management concepts through its curriculum and practical placements, the program equips students with the adaptability and cultural awareness essential for pursuing wide-ranging career opportunities in the international gastronomy and restaurant sector worldwide.