Chef Himanshu Priyankar has been working as the Center head & Head of Department at Tedco Goodrich Chefs Academy, New Delhi. At TGCA, he plays a crucial role in shaping the curriculum and ensuring the delivery of high-quality education and Training with his wealth of knowledge and industry experience. As part of his education, he graduated from IHM Gwalior and then began his career as a Management Trainee in the Kitchen Department of Radisson Hotel. Later on, due to his passion for Culinary Arts and Education, Chef Himanshu transitioned into academia and joined Kurukshetra University as an Assistant Professor in the Food Production Department.

He later worked at MDU and SRM University, where he served as the Head of Department, leveraging his extensive knowledge in continental and Indian cuisine. And to further enrich his skill set, Chef Himanshu pursued a Master’s degree in Marketing and Finance, showcasing his versatility in both culinary arts and business management. Also, his dedication to the hospitality industry led him to become a certified Hospitality Trainer by MCG, solidifying his expertise in training and developing aspiring professionals.

Tedco Goodrich Chefs Academy

Being the Head of Department at TGCA, what are your key responsibilities towards students?

As the Head of Department at TGCA, my prime responsibility is to ensure effective classroom teaching and provide academic advising to my students. Apart from this, I need to counsel students to fix their academic and non-academic issues, participate in departmental committee work and make sure curriculum is developed in accordance with industry standards, developments and trends etc. 

Taking care of students' training and placement, fostering a positive learning environment on campus, encouraging students' engagement in extracurricular activities of college and keeping myself updated on advancements of the field to provide relevant insights during lectures are also part of my day-to-day job.

How do you bring in a practical and industry-oriented approach towards subjects?

For the purpose of enforcing a practical and industry-oriented approach towards subjects, I have integrated case studies and real-time projects in the curriculum of our courses. Guest lectures are also organized on a regular basis to provide real-world contexts and knowledge of how people and processes work together to accomplish a goal to students. In other words, the approaches I use not only ensure students grasp theoretical concepts but also understand their practical applications.

Which best practices have been adopted by your department to help students gain necessary skills?

We have prioritized hands-on projects for students and also provide them amazing internship opportunities in renowned companies from time to time so that they can apply their classroom learning in real-world scenarios. Other than this, we collaborate with top-notch industries as and when needed to ensure students timely skills development and professional growth. Last but not the least, our focus on continuous assessment and feedback loops ensures students are well-prepared for the demands of the industry.

How do you prepare your students to confidently deal with the outside competitive world?

I always make sure that students don't feel any kind of pressure from the outside world to win any competition and encourage them to believe in their unique skills and individuality. Additionally, we organize career counseling sessions, mock interviews, and networking events to enhance their confidence and professional skills, making them more competitive in the job market.

What hurdles do you usually face while uplifting the education quality of your department?

The most gruesome challenge for us while upgrading the educational quality of our department is to shift the focus of our students towards studies, because most of them are not serious or concentrate properly during lectures and still live in a dreamy world. Hence to overcome this hurdle, we have implemented interactive teaching methods, offer personalized support to those who struggle in their studies and have also promoted a culture of academic responsibility on campus.

Check Tedco Goodrich Chefs Academy Courses & Fees

What do you see as the greatest strengths of your college and how it can be enhanced?

The greatest strengths of our college is our stellar training and placement records as many of our Alumni are not only working in good national Companies but also earning well outside India in countries Gulf, US, France and Australia. And to enhance our strength, we regularly work on enhancing our industrial partnerships, expand global connections, and continuously adapt our curriculum to meet evolving industry needs.

Any valuable advice which you would like to give to students for a prosperous career ahead?

I would advise my dear students and ambitious youths of our society to believe in themselves, live in the real world and work dedicatedly on enhancing their skills and knowledge by getting in-depth exposure to the latest technologies and focusing on the subject's core concepts. Also, keep yourself up to date with the latest happenings of the outside world, stay focused towards your life goals and maintain a balance between your personal and professional lives. 

How does your department enhance the faculty skills and prepare them as per industry standards?

Being the Department Head, I regularly encourage my teaching staff to improve their teaching and lecture delivery methodologies through active participation in ongoing professional development programs. Apart from this, faculty of our department coordinate and collaborate with each other from time to time to make necessary changes in curricula. Additionally, fostering a culture of peer collaboration and regular performance assessments contribute to faculty development.

What approaches do you bring in apart from curriculum to teach the students?

We organize workshops and provide counseling services to students to address their behavioral challenges. In addition to this, I motivate them to work with each other through group projects, team-building activities and participating in industrial tasks. Last but not the least, personalized mentorship is provided to students to help them overcome both academic or personal challenges.

How do you ensure that the courses offered by your college are up-to-date and aligned with industry demands? 

The courses which we offer to students in collaboration with the City & Guilds UK includes best teaching practices, and are industry-oriented too. Also, to make sure that curriculum of these programs is up-to-date, we consult with corporate experts to take their suggestions and feedback and incorporeal the same in curricula in the form of new programs, certifications and training programs for students.