Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia

What Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia does

Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia (ACAC) is a not-for-profit vocational training institution founded in 2016 in Phnom Penh as the first culinary academy in Cambodia to deliver an international-standard hospitality curriculum. It was established as a Public-Private Partnership under the Cambodia Tourism Federation (CTF), with curriculum co-developed and delivered in partnership with Swiss Hotel Management School (SHL) Lucerne. The institution's core product is a 2-year diploma program comprising 2,930 hours and 92 credits, priced at $8,080 for Cambodian students and $9,600 for international students; tuition is set at approximately half of actual operating cost, with the balance funded by institutional donors including Sida, EIF, Dubai Cares, and SDF.

ACAC is differentiated by a stack of credentials unusual for the Cambodian market: WACS Recognition of Quality Education (Oct 2022, the first in Cambodia), ASEAN Tourism Certification, SHL curriculum endorsement, and MoEYS registration. Instruction is delivered by faculty recruited from Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, the United States, and Cambodia. Practical training is anchored by an ecosystem of approximately 100 internship and employer partners. ACAC also operates short courses priced between $60 and $450 for hobby cooks and entry-level learners, and an "Upskill" training program targeted at working professionals and corporate clients. Graduate output has scaled from 21 in 2019 to 67 in 2023, with 63 new students enrolled in the December 2023 semester.

In December 2025, ACAC rebranded to Professional Institute of Excellence (PIE), broadening its stated mandate beyond culinary arts to a wider hospitality and service-sector remit while retaining the underlying diploma, short-course, and upskill product stack. The commercial model combines B2C tuition from a small annual student cohort, B2C short-course fees, B2B upskill contracts, and restricted institutional grant funding that underwrites roughly half of operating cost.

Name

Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia

Legal name

Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia

Website

https://acac.edu.kh

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia is a not-for-profit Phnom Penh-based vocational training institution founded in 2016 under the Cambodia Tourism Federation, delivering an international-standard 2-year culinary and hospitality diploma, short courses, and upskill training, with rebranding to Professional Institute of Excellence in December 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Culinary and Hospitality Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Fine Arts Schools (61161), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Culinary Arts (Chef Training) (EDAOAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Culinary Skills Workshops (Baking, Regional Cooking, Food Prep Skills) (THAJAKAE), Cooking Classes & Chef-Led Workshops (THAJAGAI)

Keywords

• Culinary education
• Vocational training
• Hospitality training
• Professional cookery
• Pastry and bakery courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Phnom Penh

HQ country

Cambodia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Diploma Program Tuition: 2-year culinary diploma programs with semester-based payments. Cambodian students pay $8,080 total ($2,020 per semester), international students pay $9,600 total ($2,400 per semester), plus $30 application fee.
2. Short Courses: Non-credit culinary courses for hobby cooks and professionals including Basic Bakery & Pastry ($450), Advanced Bakery & Pastry ($450), Khmer Cuisine ($65), Macarons ($75), Italian Pasta ($95), and Bread Making ($60).
3. Upskill Training: Professional development courses for employees and employers covering Food Hygiene & HACCP, Culinary Financial Principles, Menu & Recipe Development, and Leadership/Teamwork.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia (ACAC) is a non-profit culinary training institution that delivers a two-year Diploma in Culinary Arts alongside short courses and upskill training programs. It is operated as a Public-Private Partnership under the Cambodia Tourism Federation (CTF) and trains aspiring chefs and hospitality professionals in classical and modern cuisine, pastry, bakery, and kitchen operations.

Product overview

Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia operates as a single integrated educational institution offering a comprehensive culinary arts portfolio centered around its flagship 2-Year Diploma Program with SHL-developed curriculum. The institution supplements its core diploma with an Upskill Training division (HACCP food safety, culinary finance, menu development, leadership courses) and Short Courses (bakery, pastry, Khmer cuisine, pasta, bread-making workshops). An Industry Internship Program provides 1800 hours of mandatory practical training through partnerships with approximately 100 hospitality employers. Financial support is available through the Naomi Tami Memorial Scholarship Fund. As of December 2025, the institution is transitioning to the Professional Institute of Excellence (PIE) brand while maintaining its existing program offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Two-Year Diploma in Culinary Arts A two-year professional culinary program covering classical and modern cuisine, pastry and bakery, kitchen management, and food safety, designed for aspiring chefs seeking a recognized qualification.
• Short Culinary Courses Shorter, focused courses in specific culinary techniques and topics, intended for hobbyists, beginners, and working hospitality staff seeking targeted training.
• Upskill Training Programs Targeted upskilling programs for working chefs, cooks, and hospitality staff, designed to update skills, meet employer requirements, and support career progression in the hospitality sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates gain internationally recognized diploma valid in all 10 ASEAN member states
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Swiss Hotel Management School Lucerne (SHL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Curriculum developed in close collaboration with SHL ensuring Swiss standards for culinary and hospitality education. SHL invites 2 ACAC students annually for three-week intensive courses. Monthly digital train-the-trainer sessions conducted. SHL is one of only 2 original hotel management schools in Switzerland, founded in 1909.
• Courtyard by Marriott Phnom PenhcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary internship partner where students complete practical training components of their diploma program. Students absolve internships at this luxury hotel property.
• Indoguna CambodiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading distributor of high-quality meats, seafood, and fine foods. Collaborated on Harvey Beef Menu Challenge event featuring premium Australian beef. Long-standing partnership to elevate culinary standards and support talent development.
• Harvey BeefminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWestern Australia's oldest and most trusted beef brand. Partnered with ACAC and Indoguna for student competition event featuring premium grain-fed beef cuts.
• Lycée Hôtelier de Dinard, Yvon Bourges (France)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious hospitality school in Brittany, France. Partnership enables ACAC students to undertake internships at the school and affiliated properties in France.
• Jumeirah Hotels & ResortsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational luxury hotel chain providing internship and employment opportunities for ACAC graduates at properties in Dubai and globally.
• Naomi Tami Memorial Scholarship FundmajorOthersEstablished by the Tami family to honor Naomi Laura Tami. Provides full tuition scholarships for students demonstrating commitment to excellence and passion for culinary arts who cannot afford education otherwise. Administered through Shift360.
• Shift360majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss-based organization that administers the Naomi Tami Memorial Scholarship Fund and facilitates partnerships between ACAC and international hospitality industry.
• Four Seasons Resort LangkawiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational luxury resort providing internship opportunities for ACAC students.
• Ritz-Carlton KyotominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury hotel in Japan where ACAC alumni have secured employment and internship positions.
• Rosewood HotelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal luxury hotel brand with properties in Phnom Penh and Hong Kong providing internship and employment opportunities.
• Shangri-La HotelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational luxury hotel chain with properties in Phnom Penh and Bangkok providing internship opportunities.
• Sofitel Phnom PenhminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury hotel in Phnom Penh serving as internship partner for ACAC students.
• Hyatt Regency Phnom PenhminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor hotel employer and internship partner where graduates have secured full-time positions.
• Novotel Phnom PenhminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational hotel chain providing internship placements for culinary students.
• Park Hyatt Siem ReapminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury hotel in Siem Reap offering internship opportunities for ACAC students.
• Westin Turtle Bay Resort MauritiusminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational luxury resort providing overseas internship opportunities for students.
• Gate GourmetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading independent provider of airline catering and provisioning services. Students conduct field trips to learn about food production and HACCP application.
• Pernod Ricard CambodiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpirits and wine company that generously sponsored the opening of ACAC's brand-new bar facility for F&B training.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Les Roches International School of Hotel Management: Swiss-based global hospitality management school (sister institution in heritage to SHL) offering bachelor's and master's programs. Comparable to ACAC through Dean Bruno Cardone's alma mater and broader hospitality-education category; not primarily culinary, so peer via adjacent program line rather than direct competition.

Broad incumbents

• Le Cordon Bleu: Globally recognized culinary institute network offering Diplôme de Cuisine and Diplôme de Pâtisserie across dozens of countries. Comparable to ACAC as a premium credentialed culinary educator; differs by being a much larger multi-country brand with non-subsidized pricing.

Direct peers

• Culinary Institute of America (CIA): Premier US culinary college offering associate and bachelor's degrees with extensive industry partnerships and externships. Comparable to ACAC in pedagogical model (theory + practical + externship) and emphasis on industry placement; differs in scale and US positioning.
• Ballymaloe Cookery School: Ireland-based culinary school offering professional certificate and short courses in classical and modern technique. Comparable to ACAC in combining professional culinary programs with consumer-facing short courses; differs by being Ireland-focused and tuition-funded.
• William Angliss Institute: Australian specialist hospitality and culinary institute offering vocational certificates, diplomas, and degrees with strong industry placement record. Comparable to ACAC in vocational culinary + hospitality focus and apprenticeship-style programs; serves Asia-Pacific students including regional pipeline.
• Johnson & Wales University College of Culinary Arts: US university-based culinary school offering degree programs with extensive internship and career placement infrastructure. Comparable to ACAC in combined culinary + hospitality education model with strong employer network; serves a different market (US students).
• École Ducasse: France-based culinary school founded by Alain Ducasse with international campuses offering artisan and professional culinary programs. Comparable to ACAC in delivering French technique-intensive professional programs with strong industry credentials; differs in heritage and target market positioning.

Regional players

• At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy: Singapore-based culinary school offering professional diplomas with international exposure across Asian cuisines. Comparable to ACAC as a regional culinary educator in Southeast Asia targeting similar career-track students; differs by being a private independent operator without donor-subsidized pricing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AcademyCambodia
• Facebookfacebook.com/acac.cambodia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/academy-of-culinary-arts-cambodia
• Instagraminstagram.com/acac_cambodia

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Academy of Culinary Arts Cambodia