University of Barcelona and WIT have announced they are working together, giving Culinary Arts students the opportunity to enhance their studies abroad
Waterford Institute of Technology has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Barcelona.
The MoU will see the two organisations working together as the Department of Arts has this month signed an exchange agreement with the College of Tourism, Hospitality and Gastronomy at the University of Barcelona.
Semester abroad
The agreement will enable students from WIT’s BA (Hons) programme in Culinary Arts to spend a semester studying abroad at the university’s specialist state-of-the-art campus in the Catalan capital.
WIT students can choose from a selection of modules taught in English such as ‘Catalan, Spanish and Global cuisine’, or ‘Mediterranean Cuisine’. Students can also opt to take modules in Spanish if they wish. The first four WIT students will begin their studies at the University of Barcelona this September.
Develop global network
Welcoming the new agreement, the Head of School of Humanities, Dr Suzanne Denieffe said that “internationalising the curriculum is of key strategic importance for the Institute as it develops its global network with like-minded partner universities. Enabling students to spend time studying abroad as part of their undergraduate programme is something we value greatly.”
Career benefits
Head of Department of Arts, Dr Seamus Dillon, added that “our students benefit in a variety of ways from spending a period abroad as part of their studies. Such opportunities enable students to gain different perspectives in their core area of study, while also affording them the chance to develop a myriad of transversal skills which will be of great benefit in their future career.”
Referring to the benefits of the exchange to the BA (Hons) Culinary Arts programme, Dr Don O’Neill, Senior Lecturer, who initiated the link, commented that, “the new partnership adds greatly to the range of exchange options on offer for our students.”
Dr O’Neill added that “other exciting destinations available include leading universities in the USA, Canada, Northern Ireland, France and The Netherlands, all which offer rich and stimulating culinary-related programmes, ensuring that our students have an exciting and rewarding experience as part of their studies.”
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