A personal narrative linking a chef's journey with the development of Canada's first applied degree program in culinary operations

This study is a personal narrative linking a chef's journey with the development of Canada's first Applied Degree Program in Culinary Operations at Holland College, Prince Edward Island. It illuminates how the author's development as a professional chef, researcher/practitioner and adult educator has impacted the formative development of a new degree program for culinary students, chef instructors and community college administrators. An interpretation of the full learning cycle and the way it honours four types of learners and teachers (McCarthy, 2000) is presented as a model for guiding faculty and students in working together to create new programs. Topics such as the impact of change, culinary leadership and new employment opportunities for chefs are explored as key elements in this investigation. This paper identifies how the new Applied Degree Program in Culinary Operations aligns itself in a well established culinary school and offers recommendations for others involved with new program development.