With a total investment of THB 300 million, and covering 3,000 square metres, the new school will be located on the 17th to 19th floors of the Zen Tower, CentralWorld Shopping Centre, Ratchadamri Road. It will be the best-equipped and most modern culinary institute in the region. Instruction at the new facility will officially start on 14 January 2019.
Mr Siradej Donavanik, Managing Director of Dusit Hospitality Education, said that Dusit was delighted to be part of this long-term relationship and co-operation over the past eleven years, and added that the upcoming renovation and expansion of Dusit Thani Bangkok, where the school is currently located, has provided a great opportunity to build on this partnership by moving Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School to a new site with extended facilities.
"Since we made the decision to collaborate with Le Cordon Bleu International to establish Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School in 2007, the school has continuously developed and we are very proud to see its progress," said Mr Donavanik. "The success of Le Cordon Bleu Dusit, which has so far produced over 10,000 qualified personnel for the service and food industries, reflects the commitment of our company to emphasise the importance of education in developing a talented and capable workforce. It is also proof that the path laid down by Dusit's founder, my grandmother, Thanpuying Chanut Piyaoui, is not only the right guideline, but also a valuable approach to sustainably develop the country's economy through the food and service industries.
"With this in mind, Le Cordon Bleu Dusit will continue to develop curriculums that go in line with global changes in which both consumption patterns and lifestyles of people shift according to their quality of living. The school is determined to expand learning opportunities in culinary arts that students can use to build a career and generate income, and ultimately deliver a better quality of life to consumers around the world."
Michel Peters, Joint Venture Director and Management Representative of Le Cordon Bleu International, said he was very happy with the partnership between Dusit and Le Cordon Bleu International, which co-established this cooking school in Thailand. He commented that the invitation he received from Dusit reflected the vision of its executives to drive sustainable development through education. Since its inception, Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School has continued to meet its objectives.
On behalf of Le Cordon Bleu International, we are proud to help develop this school to become a leading culinary school in Thailand and in the ASEAN region," said Mr Peters. "And we remain committed to constantly improving our teaching and learning methods to continuously produce quality graduates."
Ms Suchada Sathapitanont, School Director, revealed that new curriculums and relocation of the school are in line with a strategic plan to produce quality personnel for the food industry and to return profits to partners in the joint venture. This will be achieved through the development of new courses and curriculums and the relocation, which will allow the school to accommodate more students.
"With the new school offering an additional 1,000 square metres of space (3,000 sq m in total), Le Cordon Bleu Dusit will be able to welcome approximately 600 more students each year," said Ms Suchada. "We will also introduce new savoury cuisine and dessert courses, and management courses such as a programme in culinary management, which will start in April 2019. We will also introduce short courses in culinary arts, Italian foods, sugar, and chocolate work, as well as wine, cheese, and food pairing courses to meet the demands and trends in the market."
The new Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School will preserve the same look and feel of the current school in terms of decor, classroom layout, and kitchen labs. Its city centre location will also provide easy access to local transportation (including two BTS stations – Siam and Chidlom), and ample parking for students. Surrounded by shops, restaurants, department stores, hotels, and other landmarks, the new site will also provide plenty of inspiration for students.