On November 18-19, 2019, for the first time in Georgia, 21 professional students of Dual Vocational Education Program - Culinary Arts took the qualification exam. The aforementioned dual vocational education program has been implemented in the fall of 2017 with the support of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) at three state colleges: Blacksea, New Wave and Mermisi. The peculiarity of dual vocational education program, is that the private sector is actively and directly involved in all stages of its development.

Theoretical part of the qualification exam was held at the vocational colleges, whilst the practical part was in the Hotel Paragraph, where the students prepared the dishes according to the skills gained within their two-year curriculum.

Representatives of the National Center for Educational Quality Enhancement and the Georgian Tourism Association were observing the exam in order to share their experience on the qualification exams and ensure institutional sustainability.

Culinary arts program was prepared with the support the private sector and professional education in the South Caucasus" (PSD TVET SC), which is carried out in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia in partnership with German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). The program is co-funded by the European Union.