Gastronomy study course

Croatia has been successfully building the status of one of the fastest growing Mediterranean gourmet destinations. Its growth and development are based on a rich gastro-oenological tradition, as well as on an increasing offer of a variety of restaurants with a high-quality selection of local gastronomy and oenology. For a gastro-oenological product to develop, it takes a high-quality staff trained to create top-quality products which keep pace with the latest developments in preparing and presenting the methods of preparing meals, in accordance with the requirements and needs of the tourist market. With this new course College Aspira encourages excellence in gastronomy and, as the only such higher education institution, educates students to be the holders of the development of Croatian gastronomy.

Along with a very attractive training program for Food and Beverage Managers, within the undergraduate study program of the International Management in Hospitality and Tourism, the study program which previously offered students to choose between two major courses: Hotel Management and Destination Management, Aspira has now launched the new major course – Gastronomy.

The study course Gastronomy was created in cooperation with renowned experts with rich international experience, who are the lecturers at this very attractive study program fully suited to market requirements. Education of the future carriers of the development of the Croatian gastronomy and oenology follows current world developments and trends.

One of the key predefined features is excellence in every segment of the study that results in training top-quality staff which, at the end of their study, obtain the most important theoretical and practical knowledge that meets the highest world standards in gastronomy and in general in this economic segment.

During the course of their study, students learn the importance of gastronomy and oenology in creating a comprehensive tourist experience, they are introduced with the techniques and history of various world cuisines, they work on forming top-quality gastronomic products, they are introduced with modern culinary trends, and they learn how to apply them. In the modern courses, students meet reputable chefs and participate in their seminars and workshops, and they have the opportunity to apply the mastered knowledge and skills in modernly equipped kitchens, while in the field classes they acquire the necessary experience in exploring traditional Croatian gastro-oenological products.

Cooperation with the distinguished Swiss Education Group provided the students of Aspira the opportunity to continue their education in Switzerland, and to obtain swiss and american diploma, which is undoubtedly one of the greatest advantages this kind of a program has to offer.

Opportunities provided by the profession

The aim of the study program of Gastronomy is a quality advancement of professionals to work in hospitality and tourism by introducing new knowledge and skills through specialization.

Students of the study program of Gastronomy have possibility to work as: manager of food and beverage department, restaurant or hotel chef, manager of catering establishment, gastro fair organizer, catering manager, banquet manager, menu creator, brand manager in gastronomy, marketing manager in gastronomy, critic for gastronomy magazines, food critic, food-beverage pairing specialist, cook, culinary school teacher, sommelier, food quality manager, HR manager in gastronomy, expert in making business plans for catering establishments…

What do students get by enrolling in the study program of gastronomy?

• lectures by high-quality Croatian and foreign experts
• practical training in top restaurants and hotels and job opportunities
• workshops in the kitchen with prominent professional mentors
• participation in the Careers Day
• meeting the employers and top experts from the field of profession
• culinary trips in Croatia and abroad
• learning for sommeliers
• learning of Italian language
• learning of French language
• work clothes for the kitchen
• sanitary certificate
• all teaching materials
• free use of the University Library
• discounts for various sporting events in the city

The learning outcomes of the study program of gastronomy:

• create a unique tourist product and place it on the international market,
• apply managerial functions and techniques in catering,
• create a financial plan and systematically monitor the turnover and costs of the hospitality facility,
• apply modern marketing concepts to the international tourism industry,
• use modern IT technologies in catering,
• manage the procurement process and the offer of food and drinks within the hospitality facility,
• manage service quality through various ways of collecting information about guest satisfaction,
• recognize the importance of gastronomy in creating a complete tourist experience,
• apply modern gastronomic trends when creating the entire food and beverage offer in accordance with HACCP standards,
• prepare dishes according to modern culinary standards,
• create individual menus according to the principle of the pyramid of proper nutrition,
• create a menu respecting modern marketing concepts,
• organize the work of employees in the food and beverage department,
• devise a plan for the development of human resources in the organization in an optimal way
• use modern techniques in serving food,
• communicate in an appropriate way with guests,
• apply legal acts and laws in international tourism business,
• combine applied mathematical methods for making strategic business decisions.

Study as you work

Studying while working is suitable for employed persons who are not able to regularly attend lectures due to their professional commitments. Part-time students are provided with individual consultations with mentorship, and the teaching materials are available on our web site.

The distance learning system ‘Merlin’ provides high quality participation in classes and long-distance interaction with teachers, and the lectures can be followed via video streaming. Furthermore, College ASPIRA enables part-time students with a remote place of residence to take certain exams via teleconference.

The Bologna process

In accordance with the characteristics of the Bologna Process, the main objectives of this program are: individualized work in small groups with a direct mentoring supervision by assistants and teachers; high level of vertical and horizontal student mobility; a large number of elective courses that students may choose at any other higher education institution; and flexible organization of the study, i.e. adjustment of contents of the study program to student preferences while maintaining the professional title. Moreover, the study program is compatible with related study programs at famous and reputable foreign universities.