Gastronomy and Culinary Arts

Hello. I am Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan POLAT, the Department Chair of the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department at Istanbul Medeniyet University's Faculty of Tourism. Our Gastronomy and Culinary Arts program started admitting students in the 2017-2018 academic year. As of this year, we will graduate our third batch of students. In our department, practical and theoretical education are conducted together. In addition to courses related to management in the food and beverage industry, our students also take practical courses to develop their skills and advance in their professions. These courses include menu planning, nutrition principles, service-related courses, and practical kitchen courses. We have a dedicated practical kitchen where students can carry out their practical training. It is equipped with 18 stoves, accommodating up to 3 students per stove. We provide education to around 30 to 40 students simultaneously in the kitchen. We also have an area for serving the prepared dishes, where students have the opportunity to serve the dishes they have prepared. Our students are required to complete a 75-day mandatory internship before graduation, either in national or international hotel establishments or independent food and beverage businesses. If desired, our department students can also participate in ERASMUS agreements, international collaborations, and collaborations with overseas educational institutions in the private sector. They have the opportunity to pursue 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year education programs abroad related to their fields, as well as the chance to explore foreign countries and experience foreign cuisines. Our department encourages the participation of both faculty members and students in national and international events related to our field. For example, we recently participated with two teams in the culinary days event organized by the World Association of Chefs Societies in December 2022. Our department was awarded two gold medals and achieved first place, both individually and as a team. The quality of our department is also evidenced by our reputable stakeholders with whom we have agreements. Additionally, as academic staff, we continue to participate in conferences, lectures, and academic publications as attendees, presenters, and listeners. Graduates of the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts department primarily work in kitchen-related areas. Students can work independently in privately operated establishments, as well as in the kitchens of national and international chain enterprises or hotel establishments. Furthermore, they can develop their skills and interests in areas such as food styling, food blogging, food history, and food sociology. Moreover, they can pursue an academic career by completing doctoral studies. For instance, one of our graduate students continues their academic career as a research assistant at our university. Our department primarily accepts students from the humanities field, so they often face challenges in numerical courses. To overcome these difficulties, our faculty members strive to provide individual support through face-to-face communication during office hours and advisory sessions. For students who choose our department from outside Istanbul, we have a girls' dormitory located in the Cevizli Campus. It is operated by the private sector. Additionally, we offer a meal scholarship to assist those facing financial difficulties. I wish success to all candidates preparing for university entrance exams, and we look forward to welcoming you to the Istanbul Medeniyet University, Faculty of Tourism, Gastronomy, and Culinary Arts.