“You’re not just creating desserts, you’re creating memories,” Chef David Milburn shares as we discussed his journey as a chef and educator. He discovered his love for baking and pastries later in life. Chef Milburn serves as Associate Professor in the Baking & Pastries department at Howard Community College (HCC). Chef Milburn and the Office of International Education share the responsibility of planning and guiding students through this summer semester’s short term Study Abroad Program for the Baking & Pastries department – Passport to Pastries: France.
The first biennial study abroad trip to France was planned for the summer of 2020 — but due to the pandemic, it was postponed until the summer of 2023. Chef Milburn first visited France with an interpreter to explore various places to incorporate in the program.
“Part of the adventure of going abroad is seeing how different cultures work,” Chef Milburn states as he described the experience of traveling with HCC students.
The picturesque town of Yssingeaux, in the heart of France’s Haute-Loire region is the destination for a group of ambitious Howard Community College students who will be trading textbooks for baking pans and lecture halls for exquisite patisseries. Chef David Milburn describes the program as no ordinary study abroad experience — Passport to Pastries: France is a unique international education program that combines cultural immersion with hands-on culinary training.
France has been hailed as the epicenter of baking and pastries, and the École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie (ENSP) has been home to many of the world’s finest pâtissiers. HCC students will visit La Cité du Chocolate Valrhona and Le Puy-en-Velay to explore pastry and chocolate shops. The program also plans to visit Paris, where students will learn about (and enjoy!) pâtisseries, boulangeries, and chocolatiers.
If you are excited by the idea of combining international exploration with cultural education, there are even more opportunities such as learning about Art and History in Italy, Criminal Justice in Kenya, or Culture and Language in Taiwan.
To learn more about upcoming opportunities, requirements, and to discuss how international education can help in your academic journey, students are encouraged to reach out to the Office of International Education. They are equipped to provide detailed information, guidance on the application process, and support in helping you achieve your study abroad goals.
