Sweetening the Deal with Türkiye: A New Pastry Kitchen for Future Chefs
NUST is raising the bar (and the whisk!) in its partnership with Türkiye. In a delightful milestone, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) officially handed over a brand-new, Pastry Kitchen to the NUST Hotel School.
This exciting development builds on last year’s Memorandum of Understanding with Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University (NEVÜ) in the magical region of Cappadocia, Türkiye. The agreement set the stage for a strategic partnership focused on academic excellence through joint research, student and staff exchanges, and innovation-driven collaboration.
Tourism and hospitality are at the heart of this partnership, with e-Tourism and skills development taking center stage. Thanks to TİKA, these priorities are now a reality, giving students hands-on access to top-notch resources.
At the official handover, NUST Vice-Chancellor Prof Erold Naomab emphasised that the Pastry Kitchen is more than just bricks and equipment. “This facility is an investment in people – our students, our staff, and ultimately our nation,” he said. Future chefs, bakers, and entrepreneurs can now hone their skills, boost creativity, and build confidence – all while preparing for thriving careers in Namibia’s growing culinary and hospitality sector.
TİKA Country Coordinator, Mr Ömer Özbey, echoed this vision, noting that the initiative also aims to “curb Namibian youth unemployment and address skills gaps in the labour market.”
Her Excellency Feral Oruçkaptan, Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye, shared that the collaboration began with a highly successful Turkish Cuisine Workshop at NUST. She also hinted at the next sweet chapter: staff and student mobility programmes that will further enrich the partnership.
With the Pastry Kitchen now fully operational, NUST Hotel School is whisking up more than just desserts – it’s building a platform for Namibia to shine on the regional and global culinary stage.
