Culinary and Welding Fall Break Study Abroad in South Africa

This interdisciplinary program combines culinary arts and welding to create a unique, immersive experience in Cape Town, South Africa. Students engage with the region’s rich history and culture through hands-on activities and site visits, including a Cape Malay cooking workshop, sustainable welding collaborations, and volunteering with local community kitchens. The program aims to foster intercultural competence as well as social and environmental awareness through engagements with inspiring individuals and community-led initiatives such as exploring life on Robben Island with former freedom fighter Lionel Davis, visiting the !Khwa ttu San Heritage Centre, and delving into sustainable food systems with Veld & Sea.

Travel Dates 

Fall Break: October 10-19, 2025 

Program Eligibility 

  • For the Welding cohort: Must be a Welding, Culinary, Baking and Pastry Arts, NDE, Construction, Skilled Trades, HVAC, or Hospitality student with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • For the Culinary cohort: Must be a Culinary, Baking and Pastry Arts, or Hospitality curriculum student with a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
  • All participants must be over 18 or accompanied by a guardian. 

Associated Courses  

  • Culinary Course options (pick one):

    • CUL 287/CUL 287A Cultural Experience* 
    • CUL 230 / CUL 230A Global Cuisine* 
      * Please note, both of these courses require pre-requisite courses (D), please meet with your advisor to see if you are eligible before applying.  
  • Welding Course option: WLD 143 - Metallurgy 

Program Leaders 

Culinary 

Welding 

Program Highlights 

  • Interactive engagement with Welding and Hospitality students at False Bay College in Cape Town.

  • Visits to beautiful Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront, and an African penguin colony.

  • Take part in an exchange with local welding students both prior to traveling to South Africa and while in country.

  • Learn about Sustainable Welding Practices at the South African Institute of Welding (SAIW) with a focus on how the welding industry addresses global challenges and advances sustainable development initiatives. 

  • Engage in urban sustainable farming workshops at the Oranjezicht City Farm to learn about supporting food ecosystems, a kelp cooking workshop with Veld & Sea, and an interactive Cape Malay cooking experience with a family in the Bo Kaap community. 

  • Visit Robben Island and Khayelitsha Township, and participate in an interactive discussion with Dr. Lionel Davis, a former freedom fighter and political prisoner during South Africa’s apartheid era.  

  • Visit the !Khwa ttu San Heritage Center. The San guided experiences offer fascinating insight into the culture, heritage, knowledge, skills, and contemporary life of the San people - Southern Africa's earliest hunter-gatherers. 

Predeparture Engagement Requirements 

  • This will be a hybrid study abroad program.  Central Piedmont students will participate in a virtual exchange with South African students at False Bay College prior to travel. 

Money Matters 

Estimated Cost of the Program: Coming soon

This estimated cost includes:  

  • Airfare and transportation 
  • Lodging 
  • Some meals 
  • Program costs 
  • Travel insurance 

*Scholarships are available for students.  Contact the Center for Global Engagement for more information.

Additional Expenses 

The following expenses are not included in the program fee: 

  • Passport and visa fees (if applicable) 
  • Personal expenses, such as meals not included, souvenirs, activities outside of itinerary  
  • Course registration fees at Central Piedmont that are associated with the program 

Application Instructions

  1. Apply for the program through the Campus Community link. 
    You will need to create a new account to log in. Make sure that you use your Central Piedmont email and save your password in a secure location. 

  2. Create an account or log in to Campus community with your Central Piedmont email through the link above.  

  3. Pay the $100 nonrefundable application fee and follow the instructions to submit proof of this payment in Campus Community.  

  4. Complete the Study Abroad application thoughtfully and in its entirety including the video submission and essay questions. Studying Abroad is an educational opportunity; your application should demonstrate your commitment to and interest in this program. 

Note: If any of these steps are not completed, your application will not be considered. 

Please direct any questions to The Center for Global Engagement at global.learning@cpcc.edu.

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