ISPARTA UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES, ISPARTA VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL, RESTAURANT AND CATERING SERVICES
The Culinary Arts Program
The Culinary Arts Program at Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Services, aims to provide students who want to pursue a career in the culinary field with practical training in a culinary culture ranging from traditional to global. In the program, students learn food and beverage production processes, basic and advanced cooking techniques, kitchen organization, and hygiene rules by working directly with professional equipment in modern application kitchens. Thanks to the 3+1 education model, students spend their final semester in the industry as part of vocational training, gaining real work experience. Additionally, a mandatory 60-day internship allows students to gain firsthand experience in various establishments. The costs of practical training courses are covered by the university, and students enter the application kitchens with appropriate attire. Opportunities for education and experience abroad through the Erasmus program are also offered. The program lasts four semesters, and graduates receive an "Associate Degree in Culinary Arts," providing them with wide job opportunities in the hotel, restaurant, and catering services sector. This program offers an educational model that provides not only theoretical knowledge but also practical application in the kitchen, preparing students for the industry.
Communication regarding the academic and professional processes of Culinary Arts Program students is conducted through Instructor Mehmet Anıl KÜÇÜKYAMAN (mehmetkucukyaman@isparta.edu.tr). Students can communicate quickly and effectively via email on all academic matters related to the department, including course content, practical kitchens, internship processes, and on-the-job vocational training applications. In addition, current announcements, academic updates, and information about departmental activities can be regularly followed on the official website and corporate social media accounts of Isparta University of Applied Sciences. This communication structure facilitates students' access to academic processes, ensuring effective and continuous interaction with the department.
The Culinary Arts Program at the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Services Department of Isparta Vocational School, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, is a full-time associate degree program. The head of the department is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Günsel Güçlütürk Baran (gunselbaran@isparta.edu.tr, Tel: 0246 214 67 05). The ECTS coordinator is Lecturer Mehmet Anıl Küçükyaman (mehmetkucukyaman@isparta.edu.tr, Tel: 0246 214 67 05). The department is located at Isparta Vocational School, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Çünür/Isparta. The Culinary Arts Program started in 2009 with 40 student places and offers students theoretical training as well as a mandatory 60-day internship and practical training opportunities. Students are admitted to the program through the YKS (Turkish University Entrance Examination) and can also benefit from horizontal and vertical transfer opportunities. The program utilizes student-centered teaching methods, applied learning techniques, and laboratory/kitchen-based courses. Graduates, with the title of "Culinary Professional," can work as cooks, chefs, and managers in hotels, restaurants, catering, hospitals, transportation sectors, and various food and beverage businesses. They also have the opportunity to transfer to undergraduate programs such as Nutrition and Dietetics and Gastronomy and Culinary Arts. The main objective of the program is to train qualified kitchen personnel who meet the needs of the sector, possess advanced professional knowledge and skills, and adhere to hygiene and quality standards. Graduation requires successful completion of all courses, internships and practical applications, and a minimum overall GPA of 2.00, along with the completion of 120 ECTS credits.
The academic staff of the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Services Department at Isparta Vocational School, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, consists of the Head of Department, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Günsel Güçlütürk Baran, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Umut Can Öztürk, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hamza Kandemir, Dr. Gürkan Kalkan, Lecturer Mehmet Anıl Küçükyaman, Lecturer Cemalettin Güven, and Lecturer Cengiz Han Alabacak. The academic staff in the department work to support students' education and training processes, conduct practical culinary training, guide internships and on-the-job vocational training processes, and provide sectoral competences. Up-to-date contact information for academic and administrative staff is available through the university's official website and the department secretariat. Institutional communication channels are actively used to ensure students and stakeholders have quick and accurate access to information.
Isparta University of Applied Sciences is a well-established higher education institution with a long history dating back to the Isparta Vocational School founded in 1976, combining vocational and technical education with a practice-based approach. The university stands out particularly for its sector-integrated education model, strong practical infrastructure, and its goal of directly providing qualified human resources to the business world. The Culinary Arts Program within the Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering Services Department at Isparta University of Applied Sciences is a significant part of this approach. The program provides students with practical training in a hands-on environment, combining traditional and international culinary cultures with modern culinary techniques. The training process takes place in the university's practice kitchens, ensuring students develop professional culinary skills and are ready for the sector. The Culinary Arts Program at Isparta University of Applied Sciences employs a 3+1 education model, with students spending their final semester in a vocational training program within the sector, gaining real-world work experience. Additionally, a mandatory 60-day internship allows students to observe different types of kitchens and businesses firsthand. Graduates of Isparta University of Applied Sciences receive a diploma and the title of "Culinary Arts Professional," gaining access to a wide range of employment opportunities in the hotel, restaurant, catering, hospital, and transportation sectors. They also have the opportunity to advance their academic careers through the possibility of transferring to undergraduate programs. In general, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, with its practice-oriented education approach, aims not only to graduate its students but also to train them as individuals who are ready for the sector, well-equipped, and highly competitive.
How to Apply
Admission to the Culinary Arts Program is based on achieving the minimum score set for the Culinary Arts Program in the Higher Education Institutions Examination (YKS) conducted by the ÖSYM (Student Selection and Placement Center) and placement through the ÖSYM placement system. International students register online through the university's application system, upload the necessary documents (diploma, transcript, passport, etc.), receive an acceptance letter after evaluation, and complete registration and visa procedures. Students who have the right to return to higher education under the Amnesty Law and those wishing to transfer horizontally are evaluated and accepted into the program if they meet the relevant regulations and quota requirements.
The education and training process in the Culinary Arts Program is conducted entirely face-to-face and is heavily focused on practical application. Students develop their professional skills through hands-on practice in modern application kitchens; theoretical knowledge is supported by practical applications to ensure lasting learning. In this way, students are trained to directly meet the needs of the sector and are prepared for a professional kitchen environment.
For detailed information and contact:
mehmetkucukyaman@isparta.edu.tr
Academic counseling and guidance can be obtained through the department.
Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Services
Students can access detailed information about all academic processes, application stages, and the education model directly through the communication channels.