[RE]LEARN 2020 - The Learning Innovation Festival

When we thought about how a new cooking school should be, we were very clear that it was necessary to get rid of everything learned and inherited and, instead,  look directly to the future and design a new school. Inspired by Ken Robinson and his activism to transform the educational system, we believe that creativity, innovation, and future vision are essential to foster inspiring learning environments and processes. Students must have the space and guidance to experiment and learn from error, in situations that are as real as possible, and where students cross-apply the different knowledge and skills developed to solving challenges. And, as in the vast majority of professional environments in the culinary sector, teamwork is essential. For this reason, the evaluation process itself is designed around challenges and as a team.
We propose a 360º vision of personal development, which includes knowledge, skills, attitudes, and possibilities. To face the challenges of a changing and uncertain future, find solutions to these challenges and be able to innovate, it is necessary to be able to apply knowledge, develop the necessary skills, have the appropriate attitudes and know oneself, as well as be able to recognize the possibilities offered by the environment.
The CIB · Culinary Institute of Barcelona opened its doors less than two years ago, answering the question posed in the title of this presentation: “What should a new school look like?”. During this period of time it has already generated the interest of people from the 5 continents who understood that their training cannot be limited to culinary skills and that the chef of the 21st century also needs a set of lateral skills that add value, innovate and provide creative solutions to the challenges they will face.
This school is the connecting link of an ecosystem of learning scenarios as well as a network of almost 100 experts and professionals who participate in the training. Starting from a vision of reality and from the day to day of the professional field, this ecosystem includes from restaurants, farms and farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, fishermen, hotels, producers, artisans, industrial area and specialists, to basketball coaches, musicians, psychologists, or actors.
The CIB offers an educational model oriented towards the future, focused on the needs of the student and with an active experience that connects with emotions and reality. This presentation aims to share a vision and a real case of radical change in the way of understanding the teaching and learning processes.