25 February 2014 (Tuesday)

Groundbreaking of VTC International Culinary Institute Asia’s World Culinary School to nurture talents

With an aim to nurture more quality manpower in international cuisine, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) establishes the International Culinary Institute (ICI) and The groundbreaking of the ICI was held today (25 February). Mrs Carrie LAM, Chief Secretary for Administration, HKSAR, officiated at the Ceremony and witnessed a new milestone of the development of vocational education and training of Hong Kong. The institute will admit its first intake in 2014/15 academic year. Construction of the ICI complex is expected for completion in 2016.

Mrs Carrie LAM, the Chief Secretary for Administration, praised the VTC for providing high quality vocational education and training and achieving impeccable records throughout the years. She said, "I believe the ICI, upon completion, will provide advanced and all-rounded training for students and prepare them for their future development in an internationalised culinary industry. May I wish the ICI every success in nurturing outstanding culinary talent for Hong Kong."

At the Ceremony, VTC Chairman Clement CHEN said, “Backed up by the staunch support from the Government and the industry, the VTC trains up talents for the catering and hospitality industries, contributing to the economy and development of Hong Kong. With completion of the ICI complex in 2016, synergy will be developed among the ICI, the Chinese Cuisine Training Institute and the Hospitality Industry Training and Development Centre, which will fashion into a cluster of excellence in the catering and tourism industries within the region. In the future, we will groom more quality manpower required for promoting tourism, catering, retail and wine industries of Hong Kong and reinforcing Hong Kong as the Gourmets’ Paradise.”

ICI will offer a variety of culinary arts training including those of Europe, Mediterranean, South America, the Middle East and Asia. Students will be primed for a career in the catering industry which is getting more internationalised. The ICI will also focus on the wine and MICE-related (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) programmes to buttress Hong Kong’s position as the Gourmets’ Paradise and education hub, advancing the competitive edges and sustainable development of Hong Kong.

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The ICI will admit its first intake in 2014/15 academic year, and offer programmes of various levels including the new Higher Diploma in Culinary Arts. The higher diploma programme are tailored for students at Secondary 6 level or above. The ICI will provide about 2,000 training places annually at full operation. (Details in Annex)

Established in 1982, the Vocational Training Council（VTC）is the largest vocational education, training and professional development group in Hong Kong with some 250,000 students and trainees each year. The mission of VTC is to provide a valued choice to school leavers and working people to acquire the values, knowledge and skills for lifelong learning and enhanced employability, and also to provide valued supports to industries for their manpower development. VTC has 13 member institutions including the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), the Institute of Professional Education And Knowledge (PEAK), the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE), the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), Pro-Act by VTC, Hospitality Industry Training and Development Centre (HITDC), Chinese Cuisine Training Institute (CCTI), Maritime Services Training Institute (MSTI), Youth College, Integrated Vocational Development Centre (IVDC), Yeo Chei Man Senior Secondary School and Shine Skills Centre.

Photo Caption:

Photo 1: Mrs Carrie LAM (centre), Chief Secretary for Administration, HKSAR, Clement CHEN (fifth from right), VTC Chairman, Mrs Carrie YAU (third from right), VTC Executive Director and the Honourable Andrew LEUNG (fifth from left), Chairman of the Steering Committee of International Culinary Institute officiated at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the International Culinary Institute, signifying a new milestone of culinary arts education.

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Photo 2: Dressing the cupcakes, Hospitality Industry Training and Development Centre (HITDC) students demonstrated the preparation of western dessert with Mrs Carrie LAM (second from left).

Photo 3: The ICI Complex is designed with the theme of salt crystal. The institute will provide state-of-the-art facilities to train up expertise conversant with the international cuisines and wine-related knowledge, promoting the catering industry.

Media Enquiries: Angel YU, External Relations Office, VTC Tel: 2836 1714 / 6655 0120 Tammy YIM, External Relations Office, VTC Tel: 2919 1439 / 6136 1504

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Annex

Facts about the International Culinary Institute (ICI)

Design of ICI Shape of complex reminiscent of the salt crystal, referring to the complex: “salt” as that universal ingredient A 6-storey campus, adding 2 basement floors

Net operational About 6,600 sq.m floor area:

Facilities: Training Kitchen, Training Restaurant, Food and Beverage / MICE Training Workshops, Food Science Laboratory & Research Kitchen, Wine Appreciation Room, Computer Room & Classrooms

Expected date of 2016 completion:

Training places 2,000 training places at full operation leading to qualification awards at different levels, 400 of which will be pre-employment opportunities with the remaining 1,600 for in-service personnel

In 2014/15 1st intake to be admitted in 2014/15 academic year, offering academic year: programmes of various levels including the new Higher Diploma in Culinary Arts