The top 8 placement underscores the strength of Irish hospitality education on the European stage.
Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) is celebrating an outstanding achievement after a team of International Hospitality Management students secured a Top 8 finish at the 18th European Mise en Place Cup (EMCup) 2026 in Amsterdam.
European Mise en Place Cup: A Leading Hospitality Challenge
Hosted annually in the Netherlands, the European Mise en Place Cup (EMCup) is one of Europe’s most respected hospitality and tourism management competitions. The event brings together leading hospitality schools from across the continent to compete in an intensive two-day challenge focused on innovation, strategy, and leadership within the food and beverage sector.
This year’s theme, “Changing Course – Cranking up the Heat in F&B,” challenged 29 European colleges and universities to develop and pitch forward-thinking concepts addressing the evolving landscape of food and beverage operations. The competition culminated in a high-pressure “Dragon’s Den” style finale at OBA Oosterdok in Amsterdam, where teams presented their strategic concepts to a panel of industry experts.
TU Dublin Team Earns Top 8 Placement Among 29 Institutions
Representing TU Dublin, students Diana Dumitrescu, Anthony Austin, Catriona Kelly, Saoirse Daly, and Stuart Hession delivered an outstanding performance, earning a Top 8 placement among 29 European institutions. The team was guided and mentored by TU Dublin lecturers John Ryan and Clement Ryan, whose industry expertise and academic leadership played a key role in preparing the students for the intensity and standard of the competition.
The EMCup is widely recognised within the hospitality education sector for developing the next generation of leaders in international hospitality management. Students are assessed not only on the commercial viability and creativity of their concept, but also on teamwork, resilience, presentation skills, and their ability to respond to critical questioning from senior industry professionals.
TU Dublin has long been recognised as one of Ireland’s leading providers of hospitality and tourism education. Through its School of Hospitality Management and Tourism, the University combines academic rigour with strong industry engagement, preparing graduates for leadership roles both nationally and internationally. Participation and success at competitions such as EMCup further reinforce the University’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and real-world industry readiness.
Milestone Achievement for TU Dublin and Irish Hospitality Education
The University also extends congratulations to this year’s overall winners, whose performance set an exceptional benchmark for innovation and strategic thinking within the competition.
Speaking following the event, the TU Dublin team reflected on the experience as both professionally and personally transformative, highlighting the value of collaboration, constructive feedback, and the opportunity to engage with peers from leading European institutions.
This Top 8 finish marks another milestone for TU Dublin’s hospitality programme and underscores the strength of Irish hospitality education on the European stage.
