Gurugram, India, 18 June 2022: Alain Ducasse, founder of École Ducasse and the world’s most-awarded Michelin-star chef is visiting India to inaugurate the first École Ducasse campus in the country. The campus is located at Indian School of Hospitality (ISH), Gurugram which is founded by hospitality veteran, Dilip Puri. Alain Ducasse’s visit will strengthen the partnership between ISH and École Ducasse, both part of Sommet Education’s global network of schools.

Alain Ducasse recognizes the potential in Indian students passionate about culinary arts and his visit is an important milestone for the future of gastronomy in South Asia. India has seen phenomenal growth in the culinary space over the last few years. As per the Food and Beverage Services Global Market Report 2022, the global F&B services market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% by 2026. Consumer behavior is evolving rapidly and so is the number of students who are keen on pursuing a career in culinary and pastry arts.

Culinary programs taught at École Ducasse in India include undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate courses. Each of these combine technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills which enable culinary aspirants to master more than cooking. The practical, hands-on training methodology of the programs offer food enthusiasts, career-changers and professionals the perfect platform to establish themselves in the global F&B industry. The programs also offer students the opportunity to articulate to École Ducasse campuses in France and study semesters as well as pursue internships abroad. An education with École Ducasse makes students highly employable upon graduation and opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities in the culinary industry at a worldwide level.

The École Ducasse ISH Gurugram campus features 75,000 sq. ft of state-of-the-art facilities including modern training kitchens, sophisticated classrooms and student experience areas. This campus marks the start of a broader rollout in India that will see the establishment of École Ducasse Studios across key cities and a second campus over the next few years. The programs offered will jointly celebrate the rich heritage of French and Indian cuisine, while echoing global trends in contemporary gastronomy and the philosophy of the institute’s founder.

Talking about his first visit to the country, Chef Alain Ducasse, Founder, École Ducasse said, “India holds one of the greatest culinary traditions in the world. The mission of our school is to give this asset the worldwide recognition it deserves. India must become one of the influential voices on the global culinary scene. We want to offer to Indian culinary aspirants, new horizons abroad as well as in India”.

Dilip Puri, Founder & CEO, Indian School of Hospitality, also shared his thoughts on the occasion, “Culinary education in India is getting its due recognition, and we’re proud to be the disruptors of this transformation. By introducing École Ducasse in India at ISH, we’re bringing the best of global education for students. Through international programs and pathways, and a state-of-the-art campus, we’re not just sharing the vision of Chef Alain Ducasse with culinary aspirants in India, but also reimagining culinary education in the region”.