Culinary vocational training expansion in Turkey

Vocational culinary training initiatives are expanding across various regions in Turkey to support employment and professional development.

In Buca, the municipality and the Buca Public Education Center have implemented three-month practical training programs at the Türkan Saylan Contemporary Life Center. These courses aim to help participants transition into professional roles, such as assistant cooks, or start private businesses through certified instruction in basic and advanced cooking techniques.

Further expansion has occurred with the opening of new facilities in Biga and Afşin. The Biga Public Education Center launched a Food and Beverage Services Workshop covering pastry making, regional cuisine, and food hygiene. In Afşin, the ‘From Tradition to the Future Gastronomy Center Project’ was established through a partnership between the Turkish Red Crescent and the local Directorate of National Education. This project, designed to aid regional recovery following the February 6 earthquakes, provides extensive facilities including application kitchens and an 88-person restaurant. The Afşin program targets students and adults aged 18 to 40, offering training in culinary skills alongside entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and food safety.