On March 21, 2024, the inaugural meeting of the Council of the Non-Public Industry Skills Center in the field of catering and waitressing (BCU) took place in Tarnow. The event was presided over by the President of the Chamber of Crafts and Small and Medium Enterprise, Mr. Andrzej Kuta, with the participation of the Director of the Non-Public Sector Skills Center, Ms. Sylwia Podlawska. The purpose of the meeting was to determine the strategic directions of the BCU's development.
During the meeting, the members of the Council were officially appointed and entrusted with the task of actively contributing to shaping the future of BCU. In terms of the activities undertaken, the Council focused on adopting rules of operation, approving work plans and a data protection policy. A discussion was also initiated on the current situation in the food service industry and the market's needs and expectations from the BCU. The meeting provided an opportunity to present and approve the results of past activities and the substantive products developed, which is significantly part of the BCU's operating procedure.
In addition, the members of the Council were officially appointed for a three-year term, receiving the relevant Acts of Appointment, which emphasizes the formal dimension of their commitment to the development of the BCU.The Council, consisting of 9 voting members, represents a wide range of institutions and organizations, including, among others, the district and provincial labor market council, the body that runs the BCU, organizations of employers, direct employers and entrepreneurs in the catering and waitressing industry, as well as the Center's lecturers. With such a diverse composition, the Council provides a multidisciplinary approach to the formulation of BCU's educational policy.The participation in the Council, in an advisory capacity, of representatives of local and regional authorities and social partners, ensures a comprehensive perspective and support in the implementation of BCU's strategic goals. The integrated governance model enables the Council to respond effectively to changing market conditions and introduce innovative educational solutions that meet the current needs of the food service sector and its students.
The Board is responsible for a wide range of tasks and competencies, including planning and analyzing BCU's activities, approving action plans and substantive products, and initiating innovations. It also performs opinion-forming functions with regard to the subject matter of ongoing activities and the final versions of content products, which is key to ensuring that BCU's educational offerings remain at a high level and are relevant to the industry's requirements.
The BCU Council included:
- Janusz Kowalski - Representative of the Provincial Labor Market Council in Cracow (Vice President of the Board of the Polish Craft Association in Warsaw, President of the Malopolska Chamber of Craft and Entrepreneurship in Cracow, Master of Arts and Crafts)
- Lucyna Krzemińska - Representative of the District Labor Market Council in Tarnów (Head of the Office of Career, Projects and Cooperation at the Tarnów Academy, vocational counselor)
- Barbara Blacha - Representative of the Body that runs the Industry Skills Center in the field of gastronomy and waitressing (Director of the Chamber of Crafts and Small and Medium Enterprise in Tarnów)
- Krzysztof Gawlik - Representative of the employers' organization - Polish Academy of Culinary Arts Association (Award-winning chef, culinary expert, experienced trainer and advisor to many catering outlets)
- Wojciech Wołosowski - Representative of employers' organization - Association of Lesser Poland Cooks and Confectioners in Cracow (Co-organizer and juror of many culinary competitions, Experienced Lecturer, Director of international relations between the Republic of Egypt and Poland)
- Agnieszka Wolińska-Kulpa - Employers' representative in the field of gastronomy and waitressing (Owner of the restaurant "Half in Half" and "Downtown" in Tarnow)
- Adrian Kijowski - Employers' representative in the field of gastronomy and waitressing (Owner of the restaurant "Piwiarnia Warka" and "Browar Tarnowski".
- Mateusz Plodzien - Representative of the instructors at the Industry Skills Center in the field of gastronomy and waitressing (Chef, Experienced Trainer in the field of gastronomy, Co-founder of one of the first Sushi restaurants in Rzeszow)
- Jakub "Komar" Antoniszak - Representative of those teaching at the Industry Skills Center in the field of gastronomy and waitressing (Experienced sushi chef, Finalist of the 2015 Polish edition of the Global Sushi Challenge, Trainer for chefs, students of culinary schools and amateurs, Member of the Association of Malopolska Cooks and Confectioners, Juror in gastronomic competitions).
Additional persons in an advisory capacity:
- Andrzej Kuta - President of the Chamber of Crafts in Tarnów
- Sylwia Podlawska - Director of the Industry Skills Center in the field of gastronomy and waitressing
- Ewa Gryc - Deputy Director of the Industry Skills Center in the field of gastronomy and waitressing
- Anna Urbaś - Representative of Local GovernmentDirector of the Department of Economic Development of the Tarnów City Hall
- Dariusz Styrna - Representative of the Provincial Government, Director of the Department of Education of the Marshal's Office of the Małopolska Region
- Katarzyna Podraza - Representative of the Additional Partner - Podkarpackie Academy of Entrepreneurship
- Piotr Bassara - Representative of the Additional Partner - Podkarpackie Academy of Skills
- Jan Filipczyk - Representative of the Additional Partner - Polish Academy of Culinary Arts Association
- Tomasz Jarczyk - Legal Counselor of BCU
- Marcin Hebda - Representative of employers in the field of gastronomy and waitressing
- Adrian Murczek - RODO Inspector