Master of Science in Food Technology

We propose an interuniversity (KU Leuven and UGent) Master of Science in Food Technology programme (IUPFOOD) that provides multi-disciplinary and specialized professional training in food technology, with the emphasis on postharvest and food preservation engineering on the one hand and food science and technology on the other hand, to equip future personnel with the technical and managerial knowledge, skills and attitudes which they require to contribute successfully to solving problems related to food security through the production of safe foods of high quality. The programme in particular recruits students from the South (typically countries in Africa, Asia and South America) where food/nutrient security (delivering enough nutritious, high-quality safe foods) is a current and future major concern and key challenge directly related to the UN Sustainable development goals. The orientation towards students from the South is expressed in the programme overall objectives, its learning outcomes, the programme structure and the course units offered.

The incremental funding strengthening the South dimension of the programme will be used to (i) coach student candidates and students from the South at all stages of their student career to increase their successful participation in the programme, (ii) to enhance the visibility of the South dimension of the programme, (iii) to enhance the South dimension in the IUPFOOD training programme as such and continuously monitor and evaluate the South relevance of the programme, (iv) to strengthen the alumni oriented activities to enhance their impact in the South, and (v) to develop and implement IUPFOOD mirror programmes in the South (Asia and Africa) to enhance MSc training in the field of food technology at an international level in the South.