Culinary apprenticeship opportunity in Dubai

The International Centre of Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality Education (THE-ICE) is thrilled to announce an unmissable opportunity for aspiring chefs. Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), a dynamic member of THE-ICE, has partnered with Emirates Flight Catering to offer an exciting Culinary Operations Apprenticeship, designed to give aspiring chefs the chance to earn, learn, and build an international career – all while living and working in Dubai.

Earn while you learn

This prestigious apprenticeship, starting in August 2025, offers the perfect blend of hands-on experience and accredited training. For two years, selected applicants will be employed by Emirates Flight Catering, where they will rotate between different kitchen roles, gaining invaluable practical experience. Alongside this, DCT will provide an accredited education programme that will equip apprentices with the skills and knowledge to excel as professional chefs.

Key details:

  • Program Duration: 2 years (starting August 2025)
  • Eligibility: Applicants aged 18 years old and above with high school completion
  • Cost: Only 2,000 AED towards course fees (with 10,000 AED sponsored by Emirates Flight Catering)
  • What’s included:
    • Monthly salary
    • Accommodation, meals, transportation, uniform, employment visa, and medical insurance
    • Subsidised course fees
    • Industry experience with Emirates Flight Catering
    • Nationally recognised qualification upon completion

Why should you apply?

This is an excellent opportunity to learn from one of the largest and most prestigious catering services in the world while earning an income and developing your culinary expertise. The chance to be trained by experts in one of the world’s leading food industries will set your career on a fast track, and the qualification you’ll earn is recognised both nationally and internationally.

How to apply

  1. Complete the free application form and select ‘Apprenticeship – Level 4 Culinary Operations’. Application deadline: 11 July 2025.
  2. Pass a numeracy and literacy assessment, followed by an interview with DCT.
  3. If successful, you’ll then attend an interview with Emirates Flight Catering, and if all goes well, you’ll receive an official offer.

Join our live information session

Interested but want to know more? Join us for a free online information session hosted by THE-ICE and presented by DCT. This live webinar will walk you through the details of the apprenticeship, the application process, and give you the chance to ask questions directly to the experts.

Where: Online via Zoom
Date: Wednesday, 2 July 2025
Time: 4:30 PM AEST (Brisbane Time)
Register: Click here to register

Manila Central University becomes the newest Observer of THE-ICE

THE-ICE is delighted to welcome Manila Central University (MCU), Philippines, to its global network as the newest Observer of THE-ICE. With the addition of MCU, THE-ICE now comprises 37 members, including 27 accredited institutions, further strengthening our commitment to excellence in tourism, hospitality, events, and culinary education worldwide.

Located in Caloocan, Metro Manila, MCU is a private, non-sectarian higher education institution with a proud heritage dating back to 1904. Originally founded as Escuela de Farmacia del Liceo de Manila, MCU has become one of the Philippines’ leading private universities. Throughout its long and storied history, the university has remained deeply rooted in its legacy while embracing a forward-looking, dynamic approach to higher education.

Guided by a spirit of innovation and excellence, MCU continues to transform education through cutting-edge programmes, state-of-the-art facilities, and a firm commitment to continuous improvement.

MCU’s School of Business and Management offers comprehensive four-year degree programmes in Hospitality Management and Tourism Management, equipping students with the theoretical foundations and practical skills needed for success in the global hospitality and tourism industries. These programs emphasise customer service excellence, operational efficiency, sustainability, and cultural awareness, preparing graduates to lead in dynamic settings such as hotels, resorts, restaurants, event venues, and tourism organisations.

MCU logo

Visit the MCU website for more information about the institution, including the courses and training they offer.


See the full list of THE-ICE Non-accredited Member Institutions.


FHM joins THE-ICE as its newest Accredited Institution

THE-ICE is delighted to welcome the National Training Center for Facilities and Hospitality Management (FHM), Saudi Arabia, to its global network as the newest Accredited Institution. 

FHM is an independent, non-profit training center that works in partnership with international educational institutions to redefine the concept of practical training by employing international quality standards to meet the needs of the local market. 

FHM offers a wide range of industry-relevant programmes in the tourism, hospitality, events, and culinary sectors. These include vocational certificates and diploma-level qualifications, all designed with a strong emphasis on hands-on, competency-based learning. Courses are developed in collaboration with international awarding bodies to ensure graduates are workforce-ready and globally competitive. 

Programmes are aligned with international standards and certifications, including those from the Confederation of Tourism & Hospitality (CTH) and City & Guilds, providing graduates with globally recognised credentials. 

THE-ICE is proud to welcome FHM to our dynamic network and looks forward to supporting its continued contribution to excellence in hospitality and culinary education. 

FHM
FHM

Visit the FHM website for more information about the institution, including the courses and training they offer.


See the full list of THE-ICE Accredited Institutions.


HTMi Saudi Arabia Joins THE-ICE as an Accredited Institution

THE-ICE is delighted to welcome the Higher Institute for Tourism and Hospitality (HTMi Saudi Arabia) as its first Accredited Institution from Saudi Arabia.  

Established in 2015 through a strategic partnership between HTMi Switzerland and the Higher Institute for Tourism and Hospitality (HITH), HTMi Saudi Arabia has campuses in Riyadh, Jazan and Al Baha. The institute offers internationally accredited programmes in hospitality, tourism, events, and culinary arts, providing students with dual diplomas recognised both locally and internationally. 

HTMi Saudi Arabia is committed to excellence in education, aligning with global standards and developing a highly skilled workforce for the hospitality and tourism sectors. The institute’s programmes are accredited by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and are designed to meet the evolving needs of the industry. 

THE-ICE is proud to have HTMi Saudi Arabia as part of our global network and looks forward to supporting its continued contributions to excellence in tourism, hospitality, and culinary education.

HTMi Saudi Arabia

Visit the HTMi website for more information about the institution, including the courses and training they offer.


See the full list of THE-ICE Accredited Institutions.


Fellow of THE-ICE nominations are now open for 2025






On behalf of THE-ICE Chair, we are delighted to announce that nominations for Fellow of THE-ICE 2025 are now open. This distinguished status is awarded to individuals in recognition of their significant contribution in any one of the following three categories: 

  • Outstanding TH&E Academic
  • Outstanding TH&E Academic Industry Professional
  • Exceptional contributor to THE-ICE

Representatives of accredited member institutions of THE-ICE are cordially invited to nominate an outstanding individual whose significant contribution in any of the above categories may be considered deserving of the prestigious status of Fellow of THE-ICE.

To nominate outstanding individuals, please complete the nomination form and submit it to accreditation@the-ice.org on or before 6 June 2025.

All nominations will be presented to the THE-ICE College of Fellows for consideration and decision. Successful nominees for the 2025 Fellow of THE-ICE will be conferred during THE-ICE 18th IPoE Forum, to be proudly hosted by Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) from 19 – 21 October 2025 in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Please refer to the Frame of Reference document for full details of the nomination and selection process. Please note that nominations may only be made by representatives of currently accredited THE-ICE member institutions.

Thank you in anticipation for nominating appropriately qualified individuals for the Fellow of THE-ICE award. If you have any questions about the nomination or selection process, please do not hesitate to contact THE-ICE Operations Manager, Elise Lawrence, at elise@the-ice.org.


View the previous Fellow of THE-ICE recipients.


Announcing the winners of THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2025

THE-ICE is delighted to announce the winners of THE-ICE Global Revenue Management (GRM) Challenge 2025, our global student competition exclusively for students of THE-ICE accredited member institutions.

Now in its fifth year, THE-ICE GRM Challenge brings together students and staff across our global network, providing an opportunity to engage and build international skills and experience.

THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2025 attracted 52 students and 14 staff members representing 7 institutions, who were grouped into international and inter-institutional teams. Together, they competed in an innovative and exciting challenge designed to test and develop their hospitality and tourism revenue management skills.

We congratulate the winning teams of THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2025, who demonstrated significant skill and international collaboration. It is our pleasure to reward their achievements with the following prizes, generously supported by our Business Alliance Partners, Russell Partnership Technology and CoStar SHARE Center:

1st Place – Team 6

  • Cris Joshua de la Cruz, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines
  • Maxime Fourcade, Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, Australia
  • Win Pyae Thu (Bella), Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand
  • Charisse Lee, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines

With thanks to Staff Advisor Ms Anna Pamela Johnson, Far Eastern University, Philippines.

All participating students on the team will receive:

  • $AUD1500 bursary towards study offered by any member of THE-ICE.
  • Free registration for the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) or the Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Industry Analytics (CAHTA) (for those already CHIA-certified), provided by CoStar SHARE Center.
  • Free registration for the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme, provided by Russell Partnership Technology.

2nd Place – Team 10

  • Thet Hnin, Dusit Thani College, Thailand
  • Nona Tsai, Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, Australia
  • Shin Min Thit (Min), Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand
  • Ivana Amor Briones, Far Eastern University, Philippines

With thanks to Staff Adviser, Ms Nova Amor B. Castillo, Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines.

All participating students on the team will receive:

  • Free registration for the Certification in Hotel Industry Analytics (CHIA) or the Certification in Advanced Hospitality and Tourism Industry Analytics (CAHTA) (for those already CHIA-certified).
  • Free registration for the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme.

3rd Place – Team 7

  • Ly Im, Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School, Australia
  • Naw Deborah Mu Yei Htoo (Deborah), Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand
  • Thipsuda Saimai, Dusit Thani College, Thailand

With thanks to Staff Adviser, Mr Ryan Joseph, Far Eastern University, Philippines.

All participating students on the team will receive:

  • Free registration for the Hospitality Business Acumen (HBA) Certificate programme.

Russell Partnership Technology has prepared a video explaining the 2025 Challenge results. Watch the video here.

Thank you to all the dedicated staff members who made THE-ICE GRM Challenge 2025 possible for the students.

We look forward to launching the next GRM Challenge, set to take place in March 2026. Stay tuned for more details!


View the previous winners of THE-ICE Global Revenue Management Challenges.


THE-ICE welcomes first accredited member from China

THE-ICE is delighted to welcome Hangzhou City University as its first accredited member from China and the newest Accredited C2Q Member of its global network. The addition of Hangzhou City University sees THE-ICE membership grow to include 34 members in 16 countries. 

Dedicated to advancing tourism education, the university’s International School of Cultural Tourism (ISCT), established in 2022, is the first of its kind in Zhejiang Province, positioning itself as a leader in academic excellence within the digital era. 

The school builds upon a strong foundation, evolving from the university’s tourism management programme, which has been recognised as a first-class undergraduate construction site in Zhejiang Province and a first-class discipline in Hangzhou. Since its inception in 1999, the programme has provided 20 years of undergraduate education and trained nearly 2,000 professionals for the tourism industry. 

ISCT boasts a highly qualified faculty, with 20 full-time members. The school also benefits from the expertise of industry consultants and visiting professors from prestigious universities worldwide. 

With a strong emphasis on digital cultural tourism, international collaboration, and innovative education models, ISCT is committed to producing high-calibre tourism professionals equipped with cutting-edge knowledge in cultural and tourism integration. Its goal is to establish a first-class tourism discipline in China, with a multidisciplinary approach and a globally recognised reputation. 

THE-ICE is proud to welcome Hangzhou City University to our distinguished network and looks forward to supporting its ongoing contributions to global tourism education. 


Visit the Hangzhou City University website for more information about the institution, including the courses and training they offer.


Click here to see the full list of THE-ICE Member Institutions.


Recipients of THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme (RGS) 2025 announced!

THE-ICE is delighted to announce and congratulate the recipients of THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme (RGS) 2025:

  • Dr Kijung Choi and Dr Marcela Fang (William Angliss Institute), Dr Myla Medrano Loreto (Dusit Thani College) and Dr Princes Abad (Lyceum of the Philippines University), for their proposal titled Transforming Hospitality and Tourism Education Through Challenge-Based Learning.
  • Dr Ryan A Gamoso, Dr Joella N Nolasco, Ms Jonna D Dotimas, and Dr Abram Emmanuel R Peralta (Lyceum of the Philippines University) and Dr Harold Bernardo Bueno (Far Eastern University) for their proposal titled Bridging Sustainability and Education: Integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Tourism and Hospitality Curricula.

As always, we were impressed by the high calibre of research and ideas being produced, as well as the collaboration between THE-ICE member institutions and their networks.

THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme (RGS) was introduced in 2019 with the purpose of facilitating and promoting research by THE-ICE member institutions, supporting THE-ICE objective to enhance the quality of higher education in tourism, hospitality, events and culinary arts (TH&E). The outcomes of the selected RGS 2025 research projects will be presented at the International Panel of Experts (IPoE) Forum 2025, to be proudly hosted by Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand, with the theme Adapting to Global Shifts: Innovating Tourism and Hospitality Education for a Sustainable Future.


For information about THE-ICE Research Grant Scheme, click here