Alumni Spotlight - Priya Sudarshan
Employing some 220,000 workers and accounting for 8.6 per cent of all jobs, hospitality is a major section of the Scottish economy. With highly commended programmes delivered in partnership with the very top industry professionals, we offer invaluable skills to prepare you for your career. Now successfully working as a chef, Priya chatted to us about her experience of studying at UHI Perth.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Priya, and I am from India.
What course did you study at UHI Perth?
I completed HND Professional Cookery with Management and I am currently working as a Chef.
How did you hear about UHI Perth?
My family encouraged me to join the college course as I was interested in cooking and this would benefit me in learning the skills and techniques required to develop my professional career in the culinary field.
What were you doing before you came to UHI Perth?
I was studying HNC Professional Cookery at Dundee and Angus College and working as a part-time Chef.
Why did you decide to pick this course?
I chose this course to further my technical and management skills to progress in my career.
What was your favourite thing about the course?
The practical sessions which involved cooking and baking for real customers who came to the training restaurant to enjoy our freshly prepared food and hospitality service which was up to fine dining standards.
I particularly enjoyed organising for my Cuban themed dinner night, as part of my practical project for the course.
Were there any standout/memorable moments from your course?
Our educational trip to London was an outstanding experience where I was able to experience the food and hospitality service at some of the best hotels in the world. I was also able to get a tour of the commercial kitchens and other areas of the hotels to get an insight of the industry.
What knowledge, skills and experience did you gain from your course that have helped you since leaving UHI Perth?
This course helped me gain an understanding of not only the cookery side but also the management aspect of the food and beverage industry. Human Resource Management classes gave me an insight of various staffing requirements, the labor market, and the regulations that must be considered during employment process.
I gained confidence in baking variety of cakes, biscuits and did pipping and decoration work. I gained an understanding of the importance of catering to special dietary requirements. This course helped me to understand how to critically evaluate a dish based on the visual appearance, colour, taste, texture, and balanced diet.
You were awarded the Gleneagles Scholarship for Culinary, can you tell us more about this opportunity?
The Gleneagles scholarship was offered to students at UHI Perth, and I was chosen for the culinary scholarship. The scholarship gave me a fantastic opportunity to have two weeks of work experience at The Gleneagles Hotel.
My trainer prepared a rota, where I was able to have taster sessions at various restaurants across The Gleneagles Hotel and a day at the Gleneagles Townhouse in Edinburgh. I had the chance to do different kinds of vegetable and fruit preparation in organising for the lunch and dinner service.
During these two weeks, I learned about the importance of taking care during preparation and handling of food when dealing with orders with special requirements, and communication with the service team so that these are handled separately.
I saw a very high standard of professionalism throughout my work experience where all the chefs acknowledged the team with pride and respect.
There was briefing and debriefing before and after service sessions by the head chef / sous chef. During these sessions, the team members discussed any issues that were faced and how it could be resolved to do a better service. There was so much attention to detail when preparing, portioning, cooking, and serving food.
I would highly recommend the scholarship programme for anyone who is wanting to pursue their career in food and hospitality industry.
Were your lecturers supportive during your studies?
I had an amazing team of lecturers who were very helpful and supportive throughout the course. They were very encouraging and very good in giving me constructive feedback and giving me the confidence to get better.
Any other achievements you have gained on your journey?
I gained immense confidence that I was able to work and study at the same time. It was hard work, but I was able to make it with better time management and prioritising college work first.
I have made good friends and built industry contacts through college and lecturers.
I have also improved my organisational and time management skills and managing people when I took the role as a general manager for my themed dinner night.
What did you like about the campus/facilities?
The college campus is big with good parking facilities, different varieties of dining areas and library facilities which were very helpful for studying and researching for assignments. I was also able to enjoy some of the services offered by the hair and beauty department at a discounted price. There is a very good gym facility which also runs regular exercise sessions. The college also provides complimentary breakfast in the morning which includes tea, coffee, cereals, and toast for a great start.
Have you enjoyed studying at UHI Perth? Any highlights?
I thoroughly enjoyed my course while studying at UHI Perth. I had a very enthusiastic and energetic team of lecturers who were friendly and approachable.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of your work?
I love dancing and enjoy cooking. I have done various stage performances for cultural shows. I have also done dance, cooking and yoga workshops in schools and community centres. I travel regularly which allows me to experience different culture, customs, and food habits of different countries.
What are your future career plans?
I would like to continue to work and learn from different chefs, gain more experience and progress to the next level in the culinary field, and over time, be able to advance to more senior roles.
And finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about studying at UHI Perth?
Definitely go for it and enjoy your studies without any second thoughts as UHI Perth has an amazing number of courses in various fields and have experienced staff, amenities, and facilities that you will have an opportunity to learn from.
