Hudson County Community College to Offer Transatlantic Study Abroad Program for Culinary Arts Studies

September 24, 2026

U.S. - U.K. Community College Exchange Program improves intercultural experiences.


September 24, 2026, Jersey City, NJ – Hudson County Community College (HCCC) will participate in a study abroad program for Culinary Arts Institute (CAI) students to study in London, England. The experience will provide participants with a deep dive into regional ingredients, menu planning, food and beverage pairings, sustainable agriculture, and the cultural impact of cuisine, while providing knowledge and skills to succeed on an international level.

The College was selected by the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the Association of Colleges (AoC) to participate in this United States - United Kingdom Community College and Technical Exchange Program. Two U.S. community colleges and two U.K. counterparts will develop the exchange program. HCCC and Capital City College Group were partnered in the cohort.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Professor of Culinary Arts Sami Khouzam and Associate Director of Veterans Affairs and International Student Services Zachary Forrest are pictured at center with administrators and faculty from Capital City College (CCC) in the United Kingdom.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC) Professor of Culinary Arts Sami Khouzam and Associate Director of Veterans Affairs and International Student Services Zachary Forrest are pictured at center with administrators and faculty from Capital City College (CCC) in the United Kingdom. HCCC has been selected to participate in an ACCT and Association of Colleges study abroad exchange focused on culinary arts and sustainability.

“At the heart of the U.S - U.K. Community College and Technical Exchange Program is collaboration between students and faculty on both sides of the pond,” said HCCC Interim President Dr. Lisa Dougherty. “We thank the ACCT and AoC for facilitating this opportunity to share our culinary curriculum and to learn from our partner college. This exchange is just a hint to the scope of our many workforce pathways and how they benefit our students.”

Spearheaded by the ACCT Global Workforce Coalition, the U.S. - U.K Community College Technical Exchange Program is an evolving collaborative initiative with participating community. The study abroad program receives funding from the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation, which describes the program as a practical model for international collaboration to drive innovation, sustainability, and opportunity on both sides of the Atlantic.

“We are excited and pleased to announce that four students from Capital City College in London will be coming to HCCC in November, and four HCCC students will be going to Capital City College in March,” said Zachary Forrest, HCCC Associate Director of Veterans Affairs and International Student Services.

“HCCC students participating in this exchange are enrolled in the College’s CAI 206-Introduction to Sustainability course for Spring 2027. They will experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the foodservice operations of Capital City College and the surrounding communities,” said Dr. Ara Karakashian, Dean of the HCCC School of Business, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality Management and CAI.

Hudson County Community College offers on-site and hybrid study courses for professional certifications, non-credit and credit courses, internships, apprenticeships, and much more.