Why culinary arts courses are the ideal choice for Gen Z
That is constantly changing and witnessing unprecedented trends across sectors, one sector that continues to grow at a rapid pace is the hospitality industry. For young people entering higher education today, hospitality is no longer a niche profession. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), it is one of India’s largest employment generators, expected to support over 48 million jobs this year alone. Within this sector, there is growing demand for qualified culinary professionals.
What makes this demand even more interesting is that many people still believe pursuing culinary education leads only to becoming a chef in a restaurant or hotel. Today, culinary professionals are choosing unconventional yet rewarding fields, including food technology, food styling and photography, entrepreneurship, and cruise liners. Gen Z wants purpose, not just a profession. Culinary education is becoming more widely accepted by this generation as it offers more than just a career. It connects directly with causes they care about, including sustainability, healthy eating, cultural preservation and community impact, while providing opportunities for creative expression.
Additionally, Gen Z is increasingly opting for hands-on training over traditional degrees, recognising that the future lies in skilling and employability. Globally, chefs continue to be in high demand. Australia’s hospitality industry, for instance, has reported a critical shortage of chefs, with insufficient numbers of trained culinary professionals entering the workforce despite continued growth in accommodation and food services.
Culinary education also goes beyond recipes. Students develop leadership, teamwork, communication, time management, adaptability and resilience — transferable skills valuable across professional settings.
The profession is also increasingly considered ‘future-proof’. While AI is transforming many professions, hospitality and culinary arts continue to depend on creativity, taste, human connection, emotional intelligence and individuality.
At the International Institute of Culinary Arts (IICA), New Delhi, culinary education has evolved through global exposure, international qualifications from the UK and Australia, entrepreneurship, employability-focused programmes and an adaptive curriculum.
Gen Z today is not merely measuring success through salaries but seeking purpose, creative expression, flexibility and freedom to shape their careers. Culinary education uniquely combines these aspirations, making it a natural choice for a generation eager to innovate and make its mark in an ever-changing world.
The writer is Managing Director & COO, International Institute of Culinary Arts, New Delhi; Views presented are personal.
