Italian school Apicius to bring international hospitality standards  to Armenia - Apicius Armenia representative office launched in  Dilijan

ArmInfo. The international school of hospitality Apicius Florence, founded in Italy in 1997, has opened its official representative office in Armenia. The initiative was implemented within the framework of cooperation between the Green Rock Foundation and Apicius Florence. The new educational  institution, Apicius Armenia, which is located in the city of Dilijan, has already welcomed the first cohort of students.

The school offers academic and professional development programs, as well  as amateur courses in  hospitality management, cooking, winemaking  and healthy lifestyle. It aims to become an important international  educational center in  hospitality in the region, focused on  developing gastronomic culture, hospitality and promoting a healthy  lifestyle.

The director of the Green Rock Foundation and part-time director of  the Apicius Armenia school, Katya Bredikhina, told journalists, they  intend to train specialists in two areas: front of the house - those  who work directly with the client and back of the house - cooking,  gastronomy, winemaking and a healthy lifestyle.

The training will last for two years - the first year in Armenia, the  second - in Florence. For students unable to go abroad to continue  their studies, the course will take place entirely in Dilijan. She  also noted that the educational programs used in Armenia and Italy  are identical, and classes will be taught by Italian specialists,  combining international experience with the specifics of Armenian  hospitality and tourism. A year of study in Dilijan will cost  students 3.5 thousand euros, significantly less than in Florence.

Upon completion of the course, graduates receive international  certificates, as noted by Bredikhina, which are recognized in Europe  and the USA. The Green Rock Foundation intends to help students find  employment by involving them in their own projects. "At the moment,  we have big plans for the development of Dilijan in terms of tourism  infrastructure," the head of the Foundation emphasized.

In response to a question from an ArmInfo correspondent, she noted  that the school has an international student body, where in addition  to Armenians (who make up the majority), students from India,  Tanzania and Bangladesh will also receive specialized education. "For  Armenian students, we have created a special scholarship fund so that  everyone can afford to study at the school, regardless of their  financial situation," Bredikhina emphasized.

The decision to open the school in Dilijan, according to her, was  primarily based on its status as an educational hub. The school  director emphasized that tourism in this city is actively developing  in terms  of quantity, and this project aims to enhance its quality  as well. Answering a question from an ArmInfo correspondent,  Bredikhina highly praised Armenia's hospitality potential, but noted  the importance of introducing international standards. "This is an  amazing nation, for whom hospitality is at the genetic level.   However, we  want to introduce international standards so that any  person would want to come here, stay longer, or even permanently,"  she noted.