IGNOU offering PG Diploma in Food Science and Technology

Updated on: Monday, August 27, 2012

Keeping pace with the government's focus on food processing, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (Ignou) is offering a new programme — postgraduate diploma in food science and technology at its School of Agriculture.

MK Saluja, director, School of Agriculture, said, "The government has set up a National Mission of Food Processing and is giving priority to food processing. The aim of this programme is to develop human resource for the growing food processing sector and provide knowledge and technical competencies to address the emerging issues of processing, product development , food safety, marketing, export & sustainable use of resources."

The one-year programme would cover areas such as food chemistry and nutrition, food microbiology, food processing and engineering, quality control and food packaging, among others. "In the second semester, students can choose their specialisations under four categories — food and vegetable processing, meat, poultry and fish processing, dairy processing and cereal, pulses and oilseeds processing. Forty per cent of the academic component will focus on the practical aspect," he says.

Ignou is also in the process of setting up a food processing lab. The lab will focus on building infrastructure for food processing and food analysis. "The ministry of food processing industries has given Rs 75 lakh grant-in-aid to the university to establish a food processing lab for running this programme. This laboratory will be used as a model study centre for conducting the practical classes for students," he says. The practical classes will be conducted at the Ignou campus, New Delhi, and in some selected programme study centres . As part of the course, students have to compulsorily undergo a onemonth training.

"We have an expert panel and also faculty members from Ignou who have prepared the material and will be in touch with students for the contact classes," says Saluja.

Graduates in agriculture/food technology/ dairy technology/ horticulture /home science/ agriculture engineering and science graduates with chemistry/ life science/ biotechnology/microbiology are eligible for the admission.

Existing technicians, managers, food industry professionals and technologists can join the programme to strengthen their knowledge and technical proficiencies and to have a vertical career mobility.
The last date for submission of application forms is September 10. For details, log on to the website, www.ignouonline.ac.in/safe
 

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