Establishing the Grilling Research Institute to meet the "million dollar" business

(Dan Tri) - China is about to have its first Barbecue Research Institute established in a university. The institute's goal is to train 1,000 "barbecue artists" in 3 years to meet the "million dollar" business.

Yueyang Open University, located in Hunan Province, China, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Yueyang Barbecue Association to jointly establish the Yueyang Barbecue Research Institute.

The institute's goal is to train a generation of professional "grill masters" to serve the kebab industry, which brings in billions of yuan in annual revenue in China.

Once established, this will be the first barbecue research institute in China. The institute's research will aim to professionalize the street food industry, which is very popular in the country of a billion people.

The plan to establish the Yueyang Barbecue Research Institute (China) is causing shock (Illustration photo: SCMP).

The institute's original plan was to train professional "grilled meat artists", contributing to shaping a quality workforce for the skewered meat industry, which has always been a thriving business in China.

According to the plan, the training program will last 3 years, of which 2 and a half years will be spent on theory and 6 months on practice.

The courses will not only focus on barbecue skills but also include business management knowledge. The aim of the course is to support students to develop comprehensively and confidently start their own business after completing the course.

There are virtually no requirements for admission. Students must be at least 15 years old to enroll. Those who are currently working as barbecue vendors are also welcome to join the course if they want to improve their skills and obtain a professional certificate.

A representative of the Yueyang Barbecue Association said the project is still in the preparation stage and will enroll students from next year.

Barbecued meat has long been an integral part of Chinese street food culture. According to statistics from multinational market analysis firm Grand View Research, the barbecue market in China reached a revenue of 422 million USD in 2024, and is expected to reach 606 million USD by 2030.

In Yueyang City alone, this locality considers grilled meat skewers a traditional dish. There are more than 2,000 barbecue establishments operating here, generating an annual revenue of more than 2 billion yuan (about 280 million USD), creating jobs for about 50,000 workers.

The plan to establish the Yueyang Barbecue Research Institute is receiving great attention from the Chinese public, and many opposing opinions have been expressed.

Some say it is a commendable effort to elevate an under-appreciated profession.

However, many netizens also expressed skepticism and even humor about this idea. One person commented: “This sounds too “unreal”. I think the fastest way is for students to go out and find a grill master right on the street, to “learn from a master” for effectiveness.”

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giao-duc/thanh-lap-vien-nghien-cuu-nuong-thit-de-dap-ung-nganh-kinh-doanh-trieu-do-20250806003244533.htm