Category Archives: Education

Education, Education News, Food & Drink, International News, News

Founder of École Ducasse visits India to inaugurate first campus in the country

The first École Ducasse campus in India has been inaugurated by Alain Ducasse, founder of the network of schools dedicated to the transmission of outstanding French expertise and excellence in culinary and pastry arts, and the world’s most-awarded Michelin-starred chef.

The campus is located at Indian School of Hospitality (ISH), Gurugram, which is led by hospitality veteran Dilip Puri. It features 75,000 sq. ft of state-of-the-art facilities including modern training kitchens, sophisticated classrooms and student experience areas. Ducasse’s visit further strengthens the partnership between ISH and École Ducasse, both part of Sommet Education’s global network of hospitality institutions.

Culinary programs taught at École Ducasse ISH Gurugram include undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate courses. Each combine technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills which enable culinary aspirants to master more than cooking. The practical, hands-on training methodology of the programs give food enthusiasts, career-changers and professionals the perfect platform to establish themselves in the global F&B industry. The programs also offer students the opportunity to study semesters at École Ducasse’s campuses in France, as well as pursue internships abroad.

This campus marks the start of a broader rollout in India that will see the establishment of École Ducasse studios across key cities and a second campus over the next few years. The programs offered will jointly celebrate the rich heritage of French and Indian cuisine, while echoing global trends in contemporary gastronomy and the philosophy of its creator.

Alain Ducasse, Founder of École Ducasse, said: “India holds one of the greatest culinary traditions in the world. The mission of our school is to give this asset the worldwide recognition it deserves. India must become one of the influential voices on the global culinary scene. We want to offer to Indian culinary aspirants new horizons abroad as well as in India.”

Dilip Puri, Founder and CEO of Indian School of Hospitality, added: “Culinary education in India is getting its due recognition, and we are proud to be the disruptors of this transformation. By introducing École Ducasse in India at ISH, we are bringing the best of global education for students. Through international programs and pathways, and a state-of-the-art campus, we are not just sharing the vision of Alain Ducasse with culinary aspirants in India, but also reimagining culinary education in the region.”

India has seen phenomenal growth in the culinary space over the last few years. As per the Food and Beverage Services Global Market Report 2022, the global F&B services market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% by 2026. Consumer behaviour is evolving rapidly, as is the number of students keen on pursuing a career in culinary and pastry arts. Ducasse, the only chef to hold 20 Michelin stars, recognises the potential in Indian students passionate about culinary arts and his visit is an important milestone for the future of gastronomy in South Asia.

An École Ducasse education makes students highly employable upon graduation and opens doors to a wide range of career opportunities in the culinary industry at a worldwide level.

Education, International News, News

2,300 m2 extension of École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie gets underway

The École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie (ENSP), a world-renowned reference in pastry arts located in Yssingeaux in the Haute-Loire department of France, has begun an exciting 2,300 m2 extension, including new laboratories and student accommodation adding to the historic castle that houses the prestigious school.

The work began on 10th June in the presence of Alain Ducasse, founder of École Ducasse, Benoît-Etienne Domenget, CEO of Sommet Education, Laurent Wauquiez, President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, and Pierre Liogier, Mayor of Yssingeaux, and the project is scheduled for completion in September 2023.

Created in 1984 and taken over in 2007 by Messrs Alain Ducasse and Yves Thuriès, over nearly 40 years the ENSP has established itself as the ultimate school of excellence in the world of the confectionary arts when it comes to training in pastry, chocolate, confectionary, ice cream and baking. With its 17 pastry chefs and 25 teachers for its academic courses, the school currently trains around 1,500 students from 60 nationalities throughout the year.

Its broad portfolio of programs meets all training needs in the field: post-baccalaureate courses such as the three-year Bachelor’s degree in French Pastry Arts, or the CAP, intensive courses for people in retraining, such as the two-month Essentials of French Pastry Arts program or the eight-month Diploma in French Pastry Arts. In addition to these programs, a catalogue is offered of 68 professional training courses held on site by Meilleur Ouvrier de France award-winners, world champions and well-known experts. The great names in French and international pastry-making have trained here and return to fine-tune their techniques.

The real estate project, managed by Atrium developers in partnership with Alliade Habitat for the lodging section, caters to the ENSP’s need to expand due to the exponential demand for pastry training which has been accelerating for the past several years. Housing three new classrooms and four laboratories as well as the creation of 36 apartments for students, this extension of the ENSP will allow École Ducasse to host a larger number of French and international students while responding to increasing requests for professional training.

Elise Masurel, Managing Director of École Ducasse, a network of schools dedicated to the transmission of outstanding French expertise and excellence in culinary and pastry arts, said: “After the opening of our campus at the gateway to Paris in 2020, this new project allows us to embed the excellence of our schools even more strongly on French soil, in parallel with its international development.”

Luc Debove, Director and Executive Chef of the ENSP, World Ice Cream Champion and Meilleur Ouvrier de France Glacier, winner of the Ordre National du Mérite Agricole, and project leader, explained: “This extension is the result of a wonderful group project supported by Laurent Wauquiez, Regional President, Isabelle Valentin, Member of Parliament for Haute-Loire, and our mayor of Yssingeaux, as well as by the private companies Atrium and Alliade. It is not only about the ENSP that is becoming the largest French school dedicated to the pastry arts, but Yssingeaux and a whole region that is becoming a strategic centre in the world of pastry-making.”

École Ducasse, part of Sommet Education, runs three schools in France – Paris Studio, Paris Campus and the École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie – as well as international schools in the Philippines, Brazil, Thailand and India.

Education, Education News, News

ESCP Business School’s Master in Finance ranks 2nd worldwide in Financial Times ranking

For the fifth year in a row, ESCP Business School’s Master in Finance has been ranked 2nd in the world by the Financial Times in its annual ranking.

Taught at both ESCP’s Paris and London campuses, the programme is 1st in the UK and 2nd in France, reaffirming the school’s competitive reputation in both countries.

The programme also ranks 1st worldwide for its international experience, careers service, and international work mobility.

In addition, an impressive 100% of programme alumni are known to be employed within three months after graduation and 97% confirm ‘aims achieved’. These strong results lead alumni to give the course an outstanding overall satisfaction rate of 9.93 (out of 10), the highest among the schools ranked this year.

This ranking recognises the programme’s international position as well as the technical and professional dimensions that help establish its cutting-edge reputation.

“We continue to train professionals with an international outlook and strong technical competency. Combined with academic expertise, this has been achieved by building strong relationships with top financial institutions, giving our students the skills that they need in order to succeed in Investment Banking, both in the fields of Financial Markets and Corporate Finance” – Professor Philippe Thomas, Academic Director of the Master in Finance.

For more information about ESCP Business School’s Master in Finance: https://www.escp.eu/programmes/specialised-masters-MScs/MSc-finance

Education, Education News

Has Covid Changed the Way We Study?

Covid has changed the world. We have lost some of our favourite restaurants, developed a newfound gratitude for our freedom, and learned to appreciate the ability to be able to freely spend time with our loved ones. But what has the impact been on the way we learn, and how has it impacted our children’s education?

The pandemic saw schools, colleges, and universities close, and many of them opted to shift their lessons online, but what is the long-term effect of this on our nation and how can we improve it moving forward? This article explores how we have manoeuvred through online education, and what the future holds when it comes to the possibilities of remote learning.

The Big Switch

The pandemic saw many teachers desperately trying to teach classes of 20 plus kids on platforms like Zoom. This was an extremely difficult task, as it meant there was little personal support for the students and therefore many children fell behind in their studies. This was largely down to the fact that teachers had no time to adapt to the new remote learning regime.

Whilst online learning works extremely well in some circumstances (for example, undergraduate courses for adults who wish to study flexibly) studies have shown that the school closures have had a negative impact on most children’s core subject skills, and also on their mental health, with a particular impact on younger children.

What Does the Future Hold?

The longer term impact of the Covid school closures on our children is still yet to be determined; however, in response to the studies so far, schools and colleges are now starting to put in place better provisions for remote learning. The pandemic was unprecedented, and with this in mind, the nation had little time to prepare or plan a robust learning system that could see our children thrive.

In truth, remote learning is a wonderful opportunity for students to learn more flexibly and at a pace more suited to them, and so creating better experiences in this area is going to be important to our future, both for young children and for older learners.

Remote learning is a great opportunity for employers to enhance their employee skills as well, so having good technology and platforms for online learning is crucial to futureproofing against any further worldwide crises like the pandemic.

Luckily, the impact of the pandemic on remote learning had led some companies, like Soapbox  to create inspired new technology which makes online learning more fun and personal. Their speech recognition software, for example, allows children to learn to read, with interaction from their online learning platform. This is going to improve education no end.

Remote learning is a powerful thing which is great news for employers and allows flexibility for those wanting to study. The pandemic, unfortunately, showed that current systems were not working well, but the good news is that in response to this, lots of businesses have now jumped on board the challenge of making online learning as productive as possible. This bodes well for our future!

Education

Advice For Starting An Educational Business

Are you planning on starting an educational business? Whether this is a nursery, college training course, or any other kind of educational business, you will find that it can be hard when getting started, as people are more likely to go with an educational provider that has experience. With this in mind, keep reading for a few tips that will help when it comes to building and launching your education business and hopefully help you to go on and achieve great things. Running an educational business can be rewarding, and there is always the opportunity for success, but it can also be competitive, so read on to give yourself the best chance of success.

 

Bring Something New To The Table

Once you have established the kind of educational business that you want to start, you need to think about how you can bring something new to the table and appeal to your target market. Education is changing, which can provide a level playing field and the ability for a new business to thrive. You can find something new to bring to the table through market research, including careful analysis of your competitors to determine weaknesses.

 

Know Your Target Market

Following on from this, you also need to know your target market so that you can find ways to engage this group and build trust. If you are starting an educational facility for kids, keep in mind that it is the parents that you are actually targeting, and you will need to know how to appeal to this group.

 

Offer Flexible Learning

Like many industries, the pandemic has transformed the education sector and businesses in this industry must adapt in order to succeed. Offering flexible learning with remote classes is smart and could help you to find students from much further afield. You may want to use a combination of online and offline learning depending on the subjects that you are teaching, but flexibility is key moving forward.

 

Build A Strong Online Presence

Leading on from this, you must also have a strong online presence for your educational business. You need to be easy to find online and have a high-quality website with detailed information about your services. For the best results, you will want to use a digital marketing company like www.clickintelligence.co that has experience in the educational sector. They can use SEO, PPC and other marketing disciplines to build a presence online that will help you to get noticed and build trust with your target market.

 

Take Your Time With Recruitment

The success of any educational facility falls on the shoulders of the teachers. This is why you need to take your time with recruitment to find teachers that will understand and be able to engage with your pupils so that they will enjoy lessons and find success in the classroom.

 

Hopefully, these tips will be useful if you have plans to start any kind of educational business. Educational businesses are different from your regular business, and you need to know how to hit the ground running with an educational startup.

Education, International News, News

NEOMA Business School’s ‘Master in Management’ programme enhanced by new international network

The start of the 2022-2023 academic year will see the continued development of NEOMA Business School’s Master in Management (MiM) programme. This will be enhanced by the growth of its international network by 18 new universities.

The French business school is currently linked with 390 higher education institutions in 58 countries, 88 percent of whom are accredited partners. The school is broadening its network following analysis of the most desired destinations to study among its current students.

Among the universities to join the network are HEC Montréal, University of Pretoria, and Universidad de Monterrey.

The expansion in places to study is accompanied by six new double degrees offered as part of the Master in Management (MiM) programme. Students will have the option to learn at MCI Innsbrück in Austria, University of Limerick in Ireland, and Elon University in the US, among others.

The MiM will also feature a new Sustainable Transformation curriculum path, including a “Global 2 in Corporate & Social Responsibility” track which provides students with two exchange semesters at two universities recognised for their CSR expertise.

Those on the MiM programme will also benefit from enriched career and wellbeing services.

NEOMA will integrate key career building experiences into the MiM through the introduction of mandatory credits, and career guidance will be provided throughout the programme for all students for up to 300 hours over three years.

NEOMA also plans to accompany its course expansions by adding two new tools to its Wellness Centre, which is now active on the school’s three campuses.

D-Stress on demand offers virtual reality workshops to help students overcome fears that can interfere with their learning and social life, such as a fear of air travel or public speaking.

Feel good on demand makes interactive online modules available to students 24/7 and covers various aspects of wellbeing including sport, nutrition, personal development, and more.

“The strategic dimension of student well-being is at the heart of the lessons we learned from the pandemic“, emphasises Delphine Manceau, Dean of NEOMA Business School. “It remains a reality even after the crisis has subsided“.

Awards, Education, Health, News, Wolverhampton

Outstanding achievements recognised by University of Wolverhampton Students’ Union

Students, staff and work placement providers have all been recognised for outstanding efforts at an awards ceremony in Wolverhampton.

Organisers of the 11th Wolverhampton University Students’ Union Awards received a record 250 nominations for people and organisations who went above and beyond.

 

The awards recognised placement providers for the first time this year, to honour employers which offer students vital work experience opportunities.

 

Rapid Response Team – Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust won Placement Provider of the Year.

Claire Watkins, Advanced Clinical Practitioner, (pictured above) who has been responsible for overseeing placements for five years, said she was overwhelmed by the award.

“This is amazingly rewarding,” she said. “We always strive to treat our students as colleagues and get great feedback.”

 

Presenting the Placement Provider of the Year award, Academic Lead on Mental Health, Clare Dickens, paid tribute to nominees for “restoring faith in humanity” for the way they had looked after students.

She praised the rapid response team for tailored support for students that wasn’t rushed, which she said was a ‘rarity’ in a clinical environment.

 

Outstanding Contribution for the Student Placement Experience

The award for Outstanding Contribution for the Student Placement Experience went to teacher Adam Richards, from St George’s CofE Primary School, Telford. Professor Julia Clarke described Adam as an ‘outstanding and inspiring practitioner.”

Adam, of Ketley, said that he enjoys his role so much, he doesn’t see it as work.

He said that he had always wanted to be responsible for placements at the school and was shocked but delighted to receive an award.

 

Other Award Winners

Among the other winners were Clare Dickens who won an award for best pastoral care, Panagiota Balatsou who scooped School Rep of the Year and Sarbani Mookarji who won Student Diversity Champion and Angel Morphew who won Staff Diversity Champion.  Gioan Peloumpi won Student Staff Member of the Year for his role at the Students’ Union. Nirmla Devi, CEO of the University of Wolverhampton Students’ Union, revealed he only learned to speak English in 2019 after joining the university from Greece but was universally liked and respected for his work ethic and welcoming nature.

 

Nirmla added it was a fantastic event overall and brilliant to see all the nominees and guests in person.

She said: “We are all inspired by the winners and this year, more than ever, we know that recognition is important.

“The two exciting new awards this year reflect how important work placements are for our students, as well as recognising what a challenging year it has been.

“The Students’ Union Awards is already an opportunity for students to show recognition and celebrate the achievements of University staff, SU staff and their fellow students that have helped make their life at the University better so it makes perfect sense to add placements into the mix when a placement is such a key part of university experience.

“It’s with this in mind that two new categories have been introduced this year to recognise placement providers that have a life-changing, far-reaching positive impact on the student journey.

“We are proud of the impact our students are having in diverse working environments as part of their courses and grateful for the welcome support and inspiration they benefit from ”

 

Business, Education, News

Punter Southall Aspire’s Steve Butler appointed as Visiting Industrial Fellow at Oxford Brookes Business School

Steve Butler, author and Chief Executive of Punter Southall Aspire, a national retirement savings business, with offices in Oxford, is joining Oxford Brookes Business School (OBBS) this month for a two-year tenure as part of the Visiting Industrial Fellow scheme[i].

The scheme, which started in 2021, was set up to strengthen ties with local, national and international entrepreneurs and businesses, and for industry experts to share real-world knowledge and experience with those starting their careers in business.

Steve will be sharing his knowledge, insights and the challenges involved in running a growing professional services organisation. He will focus on supporting staff and students on topics around entrepreneurship; SME funding; equality, diversity and inclusion; and managing intergenerational teams.

Steve said: “I’m honoured to be joining Oxford Brookes Business School as a Visiting Industrial Fellow, and to be able share my experiences and insight of building a successful business. I’m looking forward to engaging with the students at the business school and supporting links in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley.”

Professor Tim Vorley, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Oxford Brookes Business School said: “I am delighted to welcome Steve as a Visiting Industrial Fellow to Oxford Brookes Business School. His extensive experiences as an academic researcher, author, business leader, and industry diversity campaigner make him an invaluable addition to the school, and my colleagues and I look forward to working with him.”

Steve is a Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute. He gained his Master’s in Business Administration from Southampton, Solent University and is currently researching for his Doctorate in Business Administration at Winchester University, Centre for Responsible Management.

He is a campaigner for developing an inclusive culture in the workplace, regularly writing and speaking on intergenerational working, retirement and older worker business management issues. He has written four books:

 

 

[i] https://www.brookes.ac.uk/business/about/visiting-industrial-fellows

Education, News

“Confident and highly competent teachers” developed by CTSN SCITT, as Ofsted awards ‘Good’ judgement to teacher training provider

CTSN SCITT, which provides initial teacher training (ITT) to primary and secondary school trainees throughout Cambridgeshire, North Essex and West Suffolk, has been rated ‘Good’ – with ‘Outstanding’ leadership and management – in its newly-published Ofsted report.

The School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) provider, which involves 86 partnership schools, was visited by an Ofsted inspection team in February and March and its report was released on 18th May. Every year around 120 trainees undertake a variety of routes, both salaried and non-salaried, leading to qualified teacher status with CTSN SCITT. Most trainees are non-salaried – supported by a student loan – and complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Anglia Ruskin University.

Led by The Cam Academy Trust, and supported by Teaching School Hubs in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Saffron (North Essex) and Unity (West Suffolk), the CTSN SCITT Ofsted report noted high-quality training centred around four training hubs at Bottisham Village College and Trumpington Park Primary School, in Cambridge; and Abbots Green Primary Academy and Kind Edward VI School, in Bury St Edmunds.

Positive comments in the Ofsted report included:

  • Primary and secondary trainees receive a good quality of education and training.
  • Trainees access a well-designed curriculum that supports them to develop the knowledge and skills to become effective, reflective and thoughtful teachers.
  • Trainees and their trainers share a passion and commitment for learning.
  • Trainees are well prepared to become confident and highly competent teachers.
  • Trainees are taught how to adapt learning effectively for pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and pupils who speak English as an additional language, so these pupils can access an ambitious curriculum.
  • Trainees speak very positively about the pastoral support they receive.
  • Trainees are given effective guidance and support to manage their workload.
  • Outstanding leadership has brought about good and improving quality of education and training.
  • As a result of their highly skilled leadership, school leaders and staff across the partnership wholeheartedly embrace leaders’ vision for excellence.
  • Leaders ensure that trainees place pupils’ learning and welfare at the heart of all they do.

 

“We are delighted with the Ofsted report which is the result of a great deal of hard work, from a wide range of people, drawn from a very wide network of partnership schools,” said CTSN SCITT Director Martin Lee. “I am particularly pleased that the inspectors noticed that the SCITT always puts the education of children and young people first, even in the training year. The sector has seen significant changes in the last two years, so it particularly satisfying that this report reflects our efforts to not only implement the requirements expected by the Department for Education, but also our ambitions to go beyond those minimum expectations to ensure our trainees become the best teachers they can be.”

 

Since it was formed in 2010, the SCITT has established an enviable reputation among education leaders across the region, who not only recognise the high-quality teacher training but also employ teachers directly from CTSN.

 

Stephen Munday, CEO of The Cam Academy Trust, explained:

“Training the next generation of teachers is absolutely fundamental to our work as a Trust and our partnership with local Teaching School Hubs. Teachers are the single most important contributory factor to the quality of education received by young people in our country so providing a high-quality supply of future teachers for our own organisation and for others is crucial. It is really encouraging to have the work in this area so strongly vindicated by the recent Ofsted inspection of our CTSN SCITT, our School Centred Initial Teacher Training provision. High-quality provision is overseen by outstanding leadership according to this inspection and that is great for everyone. We are very grateful for all our partners in this work who make this possible and congratulate the leadership of the SCITT for their excellent work.”

 

Lesley Birch, Strategic Lead for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Teaching School Hub and Deputy CEO of Meridian Trust, said:

“CTSN SCITT is one of three ITT providers in the region that partner with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Teaching School Hub. Through the Hub, and also CTSN SCITT’s delivery of ITT with schools in Meridian Trust, I have seen at first-hand how the team put children and young people at the heart of everything. Trainee teachers are very well supported, there is a real team approach with continuous improvement always the end goal, and this has led to a steady supply of teachers locally, regionally and nationally for the past 12 years. This Ofsted outcome is testament to the dedication of staff, excellent leadership, and the commitment of local multi-academy trusts to the system. We are also seeing the opportunity for staff in schools to become involved in CTSN SCITT in a variety of ways, including as mentors and as professional tutors, bringing a continuous CPD offer. Not only does CTSN SCITT collaborate effectively with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Teaching School Hub, its relationships extend to three other Teaching School Hubs. It is a major influencer of teacher supply and development.”

 

Jonathan Culpin, CEO of Anglian Learning, added:

“We are absolutely delighted by the extremely positive report from Ofsted. Anglian Learning is proud to be working in partnership with the SCITT to deliver high-quality teacher training, which in turn leads to excellent outcomes and opportunities for the children and young people in all of our schools.”

 

Places on CTSN SCITT programmes beginning in September are still available, and Martin encouraged anyone with an interest in becoming a teacher to get in touch with him. “Whether you are an undergraduate seeking your first career or someone looking to change direction, teaching is an incredibly rewarding career,” he said. “Opportunities for young people really are limitless, and helping to prepare them for endless horizons is extremely satisfying. It is also an intellectually stimulating profession, allowing both creativity and rigour. It is not too late to start training to become a teacher this year; the classroom door is most definitely open.”

Business, Education, International News, News

ESCP Business School’s executive education programmes ranked 12th worldwide by The Financial Times

In the latest Financial Times Executive Education rankings, ESCP Business School has climbed the prestigious table to a combined global position of 12th (+10 places). The school was ranked 12th worldwide for Custom Programmes and 19th worldwide for Open Programmes, with strong gains in both rankings.

The school, which has campuses in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Turin and Warsaw ranked 2nd in Italy, 3rd in Germany and Spain, and 4th in France and the UK, demonstrating how ESCP continues to have a strong presence and impact across a competitive European market.

ESCP’s Customised Executive Education Programmes, which are run for specific clients or consortia, improved their global position by 2 places overall, with an 11 place jump for value for money. They were also ranked as 5th best worldwide for follow up. ESCP’s Open Executive Education programmes were also recognised amongst the best in the world, ranking within the global top 20 at 19th position. The School’s Open Programmes were scored in the global top 10 for international location and faculty diversity.

Simon Mercado, Executive Vice President/Directeur Général-Adjoint for Business & External Relations, comments:

“Executive Education at ESCP Business School has been recognised in these new rankings for its quality, impact and innovation. Our programmes in both custom and open category continue to fulfil the needs of clients and professionals with a deep commitment to excellence and responsible leadership in its broadest sense”.