10 November 2017
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Cork’s Market Lane Group has developed an exciting scholarship valued at €3,000 for a culinary student to advance their studies within the Department of Tourism & Hospitality at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT). The Market Lane Group comprises some of Cork’s most notable eateries including Market Lane Restaurant, Orso Café, the Castle Café and Elbow Lane Brew and Smokehouse.
This year is Market Lane’s 10th year in operation, and in order to celebrate their continued success in business, they are offering a CIT culinary student this fantastic opportunity to further enhance their education by contributing to the cost of their education. This is the first scholarship offered by a private enterprise within CIT’s Department of Tourism & Hospitality, highlighting Market Lane Group’s commitment to educational development coupled with the professional offering available within the state of the art facilities at CIT.
Conrad Howard, Director of Market Lane Group said “We are delighted to strengthen our connection with CIT who are leaders in our field and whose reputation in the hospitality industry becomes stronger with each passing year. Training, development, and innovation, is a huge part of what our company offers colleagues and we’re anxious to support students on their journey through education. We intend this to be a yearly scholarship and are very pleased to work with such a progressive department”.
Dr Margaret Linehan, Head of School of Humanities CIT, Conrad Howard, Director of Market Lane Group, Dr Noel Murray, Head of Dept of Tourism and Hospitality, Breda Buckley, Lecturer Head of Dept of Tourism and Hospitality and Gerard O’Donovan, Head of Faculty of Business and Humanities at the launch of a new scholarship by Market Lane Group and CIT.
Picture Darragh Kane
Conrad Howard, Director of Market Lane Group at the launch of a new scholarship by Market Lane Group and CIT.
Picture Darragh Kane
The Scholarship is open to all final year culinary students in the Higher Certificate in Culinary Studies programme. The fees can be used for a student to advance to the Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts programme, which is a level 7 programme on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). Applying for the scholarship consists of 2 stages; firstly students must complete a written component, which is aptly titled ‘Is the Future of Irish Food Sustainable?’ along with a 10 minute presentation to a judging panel next January. Based on this, students will be shortlisted and selected to cook a designed menu within three hours to be judged by a panel of experts in February, 2018.
Speaking at the launch of the scholarship, Dr Noel Murray, Head of Department of Tourism & Hospitality at CITsaid “we are delighted to collaborate with Market Lane Group on this fantastic opportunity for a culinary student to continue their educational development, which will no doubt enhance their career trajectory. Coupled with this, is the recognition by one of Cork’s most notable group of restaurants, of the educational offering available at CIT, which is recognised both nationally & internationally. I’m delighted that Market Lane are marking their 10th year anniversary with this initiative by recognising the value of formal education for the hospitality industry. I have no doubt that their business success will go from strength to strength in the future.”
The Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts provides students with a knowledge and understanding of kitchen technologies, the business aspects of culinary operations, product development and food entrepreneurship. Advanced culinary technical studies are combined with a wide range of learning opportunities, designed to develop the students’ innovative, artistic and managerial capabilities. This is a unique (part-time) programme, which runs one day per week, over 2 years, which develops higher technical and artistic skill and knowledge amongst professional chefs who can study whilst also working in the industry.
The Department of Tourism and Hospitality at CIT encompasses the areas of Culinary, Tourism, Hospitality and Beverage Management. It has over 650 students and a team of dedicated student-centred industry experienced Lecturers across these disciplines and is located in a modern purpose-built building on CIT’s Bishopstown Campus.
