Culinary Skills Vocational Education Training Exchanges Between Schools in Taiwan & Belgium
COOVI Secondary School in the Flemish Region of Belgium, and Chung Shan Industrial and Commercial School in Taiwan have been implementing technical and vocational education exchanges since last year (2025), with the support of the Education Division of the Taipei Representative Office in the EU and Belgium, and the Flemish Department of Education and Training. The two schools formally signed an MOU on November 14, 2025, as the foundation for closer educational cooperation.
That same month, COOVI organized an exchange group comprising two teachers and eight students to visit Taiwan, and Chung Shan Industrial and Commercial School arranged a two-week culinary practicum program for the Belgian students. It was complemented by some Mandarin language classes and cultural visits to give the Belgian teachers and students a deeper understanding of Taiwan and the local culture.
From June 2 to June 14 this year, a group from Chung Shan Industrial and Commercial School—15 students and a teacher, Lee Yi-Zheng—made a return visit to COOVI Secondary School in Belgium to participate in Belgian culinary practicum courses. The program covered the preparation of iconic Belgian specialties such as chocolate and waffles, and included hands-on culinary training sessions on traditional Flemish cuisine, pastries, and other local specialties. Their itinerary also included an introduction to the local culture, language, and daily life.
Apart from the practical professional training, the group also visited Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent and experienced Belgium’s historical context, cultural heritage, and food culture firsthand. The visit broadened the students’ international horizons and demonstrated the important value of cross-border cooperation in culinary education, where practical skills, creativity, and intercultural understanding are all essential components of vocational training.
On June 12, the 15 Chung Shan students prepared a luncheon at COOVI Secondary School featuring Belgian dishes they had cooked, and showcasing their learning outcomes and practical skills. A closing ceremony was held during the luncheon, at which certificates were presented to the Chung Shan students to recognize their learning achievements during the exchange program. The Chung Shan students then spoke about what they had learned and their experiences in Belgium, and they expressed their gratitude to all the COOVI teachers by singing You Are My Sunshine.
The teachers and students at each of the schools gained a deeper understanding of the practical operations and professional standards of the hospitality and culinary industries in Taiwan and in Belgium, and they look forward to continuing to promote each other’s food culture and strengthening their bilateral friendship and educational cooperation.
The exchange visits made by a group from each of the two schools— to Taiwan and to Belgium respectively—were supported by the K–12 Education Administration of Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, and by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme for international mobility, with the promotion and mutual support of the Education Division and the Flemish Department of Education and Training. These exchange visits represent a pioneering step for bilateral vocational education cooperation at secondary school level.