Demand for Food Tech Graduates
There is an increased demand for food technology graduates from the industry and the Government. This is because of increased challenges and innovations relating to food production and processing, food safety, food packaging/labelling, food systems and sustainability.
To meet this demand, Fiji National University’s (FNU) Department of Food Science and Home Economics under the School of Applied Sciences at the College of Engineering Science and Technology offer its student’s skills based Food technology programmes.
Head of Department Arti Pillay said the programme aims to develop students’ theoretical and practical knowledge and skills in food science and technology applications in a broad range of food industries.
Industry competent
Mr Pillay said with a unique combination of courses train graduates are to be industry competent and ready for employment upon graduation without further training.
“There is a high market for Food Technology graduates, and our programme has a high employability rate of more than 80 per cent.
“Our graduates are employed in a wide range of industries, inclusive of food manufacturing industries, academia, teaching, biosecurity, various government ministries and respective science laboratories.
“This is substantiated by the increased request received from food industries for graduates for employment and apprenticeship every semester. “Some graduates are offered employment during their industry attachment placement in year two of the programme hence switch to part-time studies to complete the rest of the programme,” he said.
FNU is the only national local university offering Food Technology courses, and considering the increased demand from the industry, FNU has not placed a quota on the enrolment for the programme.
Programmes offered
■Bache●or of Science – Food Technology (Single Major)
■Bache●or of Science – Food Technology and Chemistry (Double Major)
■Postgraduate Diploma in Food Science and Technology
Requirements ■Bache●or of Science (Food Technology) (Single and Double Major)
- The minimum entry requirement for admission to this programme is ‘pass’ in Year 13 with 200 out of 400 marks with 50 per cent minimum marks in English and any three subjects of Food and Nutrition, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics or Physics. Pass in Foundation Science. Holders of Higher Education Diploma in Food Technology. Mature students with some work experience in the relevant field.
■Postgraduate
Diploma in Food Science and
Technology
- The minimum entry requirement for Postgraduate Diploma is aGrade Point Avereage (GPA) of three or grade B and above in Bacherlor of Science. or equivalent.
- Those candidates who do not meet the minimum grade point average requirement must have served in relevant areas (teaching, research, industry) for at least two years for sufficient knowledge and experience to undertake this programme.
Food technology programmes are offered in blended mode coordinated from Nabua campus with flexibility for students to do laboratory classes in either Nabua or Lautoka campus.