Baking and Pastry Arts Management Vancouver Island University

Overview

Upon entering the program, baking students are registered as apprentices, gaining technical training while accruing apprentice hours and also participate in two ten-week paid co-operative work placements. 

The Baking and Pastry Arts Management Diploma program from Vancouver Island University prepares students for careers in baking, baking management, and entrepreneurship.  

This full-time, cohort program provides rigorous hands-on technical baking training combined with theoretical management courses. 

Utilizing current baking trends and the most up-to-date curriculum, the BPAM program develops a student’s technical baking skills, as well as skills in leadership, communication, human resources, business planning, and financial management to satisfy industry demands for well-rounded, highly employable graduates.

Students in the first year Baking and Pastry Arts Diploma program learn basic and advanced techniques in yeasted products, pastry, sugar, chocolate, and wedding cakes. Students also learn to bake in our wood-fired brick oven. The first year culminates in a ten-week paid co-operative work placement. The second year is designed to teach baking students the advanced skills they will need for a management position in the baking industry. It is delivered over two semesters, followed by a 10-week paid co-operative work placement. 

Students will take two advanced pastry courses, learn basic culinary techniques, plan and open a pop-up bakery, and take several management courses through VIU’s Department of Hospitality Management. Completion of VIU’s BPAM diploma provides students with advanced credit when applying to the VIU Bachelor of Hospitality Management degree.

BPAM graduates receive a number of credentials including:

• Vancouver Island University Diploma in Baking and Pastry Arts Management

• Vancouver Island Certificate in Baking and Pastry Arts

• Credit for Baker Levels 1 and 2 Technical training

• 1740 hours of ITA recognized work-based training hours towards a Baker Red Seal qualification 

Career Opportunities

• Graduates of the Baking and Pastry Arts Management Diploma can pursue entrepreneurship and employment opportunities in the following areas:

• Small business development (bakeries, pastry shops, bakery cafes, chocolate shops);

• Micro-business development in the gig economy (pop-up bakeries, cake decorating businesses);

• Supplying quality baked goods to hotels, resorts, in-store bakeries, cruise ships;

• Managing businesses that provide quality baked goods; and

• Working in tourism and hospitality businesses as bakers, pastry chefs, cake decorators, chocolatiers.