GreatList and Dubai College of Tourism Announce Annual Scholarship for Aspiring Culinary Talents
New scholarship is open to students completing their Certificate in Culinary Arts at DCT
Dubai, UAE, 19th June 2025 — International restaurant guide GreatList has entered into a long-term partnership with the Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), a part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), to support the next generation of hospitality professionals. As part of this collaboration, the GreatList by Alexander Sysoev Scholarship will be awarded annually to outstanding students pursuing careers in culinary arts and gastronomy.
Alexander Sysoev, Founder of GreatList
Open to current students completing their Certificate in Culinary Arts at DCT, and to future students enrolling in the course, the scholarship recognises academic merit, creativity, passion, and dedication to the culinary profession.
The scholarship will award one outstanding DCT student with a full tuition scholarship to progress to the first year of the Advanced Diploma in Culinary Arts, while a second promising student will receive a 50% tuition scholarship. All funding will be provided directly by GreatList, reflecting the organisation’s long-term commitment to nurturing talent within the global gastronomy sector. This partnership with GreatList helps to prepare culinary arts students for real-life experience in the workplace, and provides them with the skills needed to thrive in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.
“This initiative reflects what we believe is the true mission of a modern restaurant guide,” says Alexander Sysoev, founder of GreatList. “It’s not just about recognising the best restaurants today — it’s about investing in those who will define excellence tomorrow. Supporting young culinary talent today means creating 10, 20, even 30 extraordinary restaurants in the future.”
“This partnership with GreatList represents a significant advancement in our commitment to delivering world-class hospitality education,” says Elham Bolooki, Senior Experiential Learning Manager, Dubai College of Tourism (DCT). “Supporting our mission to nurture and empower the next generation of hospitality professionals, this collaboration aligns with the ambitious goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further consolidate Dubai’s position as a leading global destination for business and leisure. Through the GreatList by Alexander Sysoev Scholarship, we are not only recognising our students’ academic excellence and passion, but also equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to excel in an increasingly competitive and innovative industry.”
This strategic alliance between GreatList and DCT – a world-class vocational college that delivers full-time certificate and advanced diploma courses in tourism, hospitality, culinary arts, and events – underscores a shared vision to empowering young talent and elevating standards across the hospitality industry.
For more information about GreatList and DCT, please visit: greatlist.ae and dct.ac.ae
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GreatList is changing the way people discover where to eat. Founded in 2022 by Alexander Sysoev, this international guide relies on experts who visit restaurants anonymously and pay their bills, ensuring the recommendations are more honest and up-to-date. Unlike traditional guides, GreatList updates its list regularly — places can be added or removed at any time. It also highlights standout new openings and features an encyclopedia of the chefs, bartenders, and owners behind the scenes. It also includes recommendations from chefs who advise on the most outstanding dishes on the menu––this is a rare level of expertise, which is especially helpful if you are visiting the place for the first time. Currently active in Russia, Qatar, and the UAE, and available in Russian, English, Arabic, and Chinese, GreatList is more than just a guide — it’s a platform that supports the industry and promotes new talents wherever it operates.
https://greatlist.ae/ @greatlistguide
Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) was established by Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) to be a world-class vocational college that would provide innovative, accessible and exceptional education and training that supports people to enter, enhance or advance within the tourism industry in Dubai. At the campus, DCT delivers its full-time certificate, award and advanced diploma courses in four core subject areas: tourism, hospitality, culinary arts and events. These programmes follow the National Qualifications Framework of the UAE (QFEmirates) and are approved by the Ministry of Education. DCT manages the DET Emiratisation initiative that aims to attract and train Emiratis to work across a range of sectors, including tourism, healthcare, IT and financial services, and the Tour Guide Training platform for becoming a licensed tour guide in Dubai. The college is also responsible for delivering fundamental online training programmes specifically designed for those working within the tourism industry, such as ‘Dubai Way’ (for tourist-facing staff in Dubai) and ‘Dubai Expert’ (an interactive online training tool for international travel agents).
For more information about DCT, please visit dct.ac.ae