Prue Leith / ALMA – International Partnerships & Joint Programs

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The Prue Leith Chefs Academy is very proud to offer a joint-program in partnership with Italy’s premiere Culinary Academy, ALMA – The International School of Italian Cuisine (La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana, in Colorno) Parma – Italy. In July 2011, Prue Leith and ALMA will embark upon this Joint Program, the likes of which have never before been seen in the South African Culinary Industry. The program will give enthusiastic young South African chef students, the opportunity to train both locally and abroad, with a level of convenience and a similar cost structure to a course taking place entirely in South Africa.

Effectively, for any prospective student with the desire to follow a career focussed more on Italian cuisine and culture as well as the Culinary cornerstones such as French Classic techniques, this international collaboration will open the door to 7 months of full time study and practical experience in Italy, with 6 months of City & Guilds accredited foundational training in South Africa first.

ALMA has indentified Prue Leith Chefs Academy as the benchmark Academy in Southern Africa, and has opened its doors to South African Culinary students now for the first time.
ALMA is successfully carrying out six cooperative programs of Italian Cuisine with renowned international culinary schools such as:

• The Italian Culinary Academy (New  York)
• Il Cuoco Italian Culinary Institute (Seoul)
• George Brown College (Toronto)
• Institut de Tourisme et d’Hotellerie du Québec (Montréal)
• MSA –Mutfaki Sanatlari Akademisi (Istanbul)
• CESSA Universidad- St.Angel- Mexico City

These partner schools automatically become an integral part of the network into which Prue Leith Chefs Academy students and faculty are welcomed. Furthermore, ALMA is developing cooperative programs with other International Schools and Institutions: the VTC (Vocational Training Council) – Hong Kong, the Ecole d’Art Culinaire de Miyagi (Sendai- Japan) and the Northern Melbourne Institute of Technology (NMIT).

This Joint Program will give our students who qualify according to the criteria laid down by Prue Leith and ALMA, the opportunity to undergo 2 months of tuition at ALMA in Colorno, followed by a 5 month practical release or STAGE at leading italian restaurants, many of which have achieved Michelin Star status. Culminating in the qualification “ALMA – Prue Leith Joint Certificate of   Professional Cook of Italian Cuisine”. This Certificate is held in the same regard by ALMA as is their own full-time advanced Diploma course by the same name.