Fáilte Ireland is funding a two-year part time National Traineeship in Professional Cookery programme in Crumlin College of Further Education in Dublin. The programme is for chefs already in full-time employment and it is a QQI award level 5 or 6. “Crumlin College has been providing culinary programmes to professionals and new entrants since 1979, so we are pleased to now offer students stage one of the National Traineeship in Professional Cookery,” says Mark Leonard, Head of the Catering Department at Crumlin College. “Upon completion, learners can progress to stage two with a BA in Culinary Arts at participating Institutes of Technology. The traineeship programme is designed to enable chefs to learn on the job while formalising their training on a day release basis in Crumlin College. The course is based on a solid foundation of practical culinary skills and techniques reinforced by a formal academic qualification – Advanced Certification in Professional Cookery. Trainees work full time as a chef in the kitchen of an approved tourism and hospitality establishment and attend Crumlin College one fixed day a week, with a one week block period in college in September and May. Employers support the trainee in paid employment for the duration of the course and must nominate a dedicated mentor to support the trainee. All work-based learning is supported by the college programme.” Meanwhile, GMIT has launched a new honours business degree in International Tourism Management. The level 8 programme (CAO code GA381), which will commence in September 2017 in the College of Tourism and Arts (CTA), has been developed by CTA staff in partnership with industry stakeholders, including Fáilte Ireland. The new course includes two mandatory accredited work placements, the first in Ireland for 12 weeks between first and second year, and the second 12-week placement in an international destination between second and third year.