Digital Transformation in Gastronomy Education: A Novelty by Istanbul Gelisim University in Erasmus+ VET

Istanbul Gelisim University has achieved a significant milestone under Erasmus+, one of the European Union’s most important programs in education, youth, and innovation. The university submitted its first project application as a coordinating institution to the KA220-VET program, the Cooperation Partnerships in Vocational Education and Training call, with a focus on Gastronomy and Culinary Arts education in the Faculty of Applied Sciences. This initiative presents an international cooperation model aimed both at advancing digitalization in gastronomy education and at developing innovative solutions to the infrastructure and cost challenges encountered in vocational training processes.

Strong Partnership through an International Consortium

The project was prepared under the leadership of Dr. Nevruz Berna Tatlısu, Chair of the Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department at Istanbul Gelisim University’s Faculty of Applied Sciences. The project team includes IGU Vice Rector Prof. Necmettin Maraşlı, IGU Erasmus Coordinator Dr. Alisa Usubova, and Chair of the Software Engineering Department Assoc. Prof. Serkan Gönen.

The project carries a budget of 250,000 euros and features a consortium structure that extends beyond the national scale to a strong collaborative network across Europe, involving institutions from Italy, Spain, Germany, and Ireland, in addition to Türkiye.

Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, one of the key contributing Turkish institutions, participates as an associate partner with particular expertise in technology development and design, contributing to the development of virtual reality-based training content.

An Innovative Approach to Structural Challenges in Gastronomy Education

The project aims to develop an innovative solution model to address the infrastructure, cost, and sustainability challenges frequently encountered in gastronomy education. This model not only supports students' learning processes but also enables educational institutions across different countries to collaborate through a shared digital training infrastructure. The modules to be developed are intended to serve as a sustainable digital training resource for vocational training institutions, universities, and gastronomy education centers.

A Strategic Step for Istanbul Gelisim University

This project application marks the first time Istanbul Gelisim University's Faculty of Applied Sciences has applied to the KA220-VET program as a coordinating institution. IGU’s assumption of a leading role in international projects makes a significant contribution to strengthening the university's institutional capacity in research and education.

By bringing together gastronomy education and digital technologies, this initiative aims to pioneer the development of innovative approaches in vocational training while also contributing to the wider adoption of sustainable and accessible educational models.
With its international partnership structure, interdisciplinary approach, and technology-driven content, the project enhances Istanbul Gelisim University's visibility in the global academic network, demonstrates the university's commitment to developing sustainable vocational training models, and once again underscores IGU’s identity as a higher education institution with an innovative, practice-oriented, and internationalization-focused vision.