An Artisan Baking Fellowship will allow Broadmeadows Kangan Institute baking teacher, Ruwan Colombage to undertake further research and acquire higher-level skills in Europe.
With 17 years of baking education, Mr Colombage was awarded the 2022 Rosewood Research International Fellowship, worth $12,500, at the recent Baking Industry Trade Show.
The annual fellowship provides recipients with an opportunity to further their research in the artisan grains, milling and baking industry across Europe’s advanced markets, gaining skills and knowledge to lead innovation in Australia.
Currently teaching Certificate III in Baking at the institute, Mr Colombage said the fellowship would let him garner new skills which he would then pass on to his students while making a difference in the Australian baking industry.
“I am delighted and privileged to have been chosen as the 2022 Fellowship winner,” Mr Colombage said.
“This Fellowship will allow me to take my current skills sets to the next level to be shared with my students, industry colleagues and Australian baking industry.
“The Fellowship will help me to become a better skilled teacher and mentor to students.
“I will be able to provide up-to-date baking knowledge from Europe, which is home to many baking trends and traditions, and where a lot of baking research is currently conducted.”
Mr Colombage plans to use the fellowship to pursue research in pure sourdough and various traditional European baking skills.
“I am planning to visit France, Netherlands, Belgium and maybe Italy. I hope to focus on artisan baking skills in pure sourdough, the authentic viennoiserie range and any other traditional European baking skills that can be beneficial to Australia,” he said.
Kangan Institute acting chief executive Graham Fryer wished Mr Colombage the best in his pursuit of further research in artisan baking techniques.
“As an expert in his field and an outstanding teacher who has supported more than 300 baking students and apprentices to success, Ruwan is a most deserving candidate for the 2022 Rosewood Research International Fellowship for artisan baking and we congratulate him on his achievement,” Mr Fryer said.
