Chinese University Recruits Students to Study Barbecue (4 photos)

The plan is to graduate 1,000 masters in three years and create a new generation of "grill masters" to serve China's multi-million dollar barbecue and grilling industry.





Yueyang Open University in central China's Hunan Province has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Yueyang BBQ Association to jointly establish the Yueyang BBQ Research Institute.

The ambitious plan aims to train 1,000 professional barbecue masters within three years.

The program will consist of two and a half years of theoretical training and a six-month internship. The plan is to recruit 50 to 100 students each year.



Specialized courses in cooking and business management will be offered.

The program will be open to high school graduates, out-of-school youth, and current industry professionals who want to improve their skills.

The project is still in the planning stages, with recruitment planned to begin next year.

Qiao, an official with the Yueyang BBQ Association, said, "Since this is a new initiative, it would be premature to recruit students this year, so we plan to start with recruiting from the general public."

Barbecue cooking has an important place in Chinese culture.





According to Grand View Research, the Chinese barbecue market revenue was US$421.9 million in 2024, and is expected to reach US$606.5 million by 2030.

Yueyang boasts a rich history and distinctive local barbecue culture, with more than 2,000 barbecue establishments generating over RMB 2 billion (US$280 million) in annual output and employing around 50,000 people.

The news has sparked a heated debate on social media in mainland China.



While many found the concept intriguing, some users were skeptical, saying it would be better to seek mentors from street food masters rather than from a university.

And another user noted that he is ready to learn if everything he cooks can be eaten for free.