China's First Barbecue College Graduates First Class of 30

China's first barbecue industry college, the Yueyang Barbecue College in Hunan Province, has graduated its first batch of 30 students after a one-month intensive training program, People's Daily reported on Thursday.

The 30 trainees were selected from more than 4,000 applicants. They came from eight provinces, including Qinghai, Hebei and Zhejiang. The group included young college graduates, a 50-something career-switcher, professional cooks, and people with no prior kitchen experience.

The college, jointly set up by Yueyang Open University and the Yueyang Barbecue Association, officially began enrollment in March. Students can choose between two tracks: a two-and-a-half to three-year academic program combined with one month of intensive skills training, or a shorter one-month practical skills course.

The one-month training follows a full‑chain training model: theory in the morning, hands‑on practice in the afternoon, and real‑shop work in the evening.

In theoretical classes, students learned barbecue techniques, restaurant management, and new media operations. Practical sessions were taught by veteran chefs from more than 30 leading local barbecue restaurants, covering charcoal grilling, iron plate cooking, ingredient selection, marinating, and heat control. In the evenings, trainees worked in busy barbecue outlets, experiencing the business side of a high‑traffic restaurant.

All 30 students passed their final practical exams and received a professional skill certificate for "Chinese Chef (Barbecue Specialist)."

According to Meng Yinshuai, president of the Yueyang Barbecue Industry Association, the city is now home to more than 3,000 barbecue restaurants, with an annual output value exceeding 3 billion yuan (US$442 million).