Food Technology - a new degree programme at UPWr

Of the three semesters, students will spend one in Spain and two in Poland. Thanks to this, they will benefit from the knowledge and help of two supervisors: Spanish and Polish, and will receive two diplomas.

The programme will start in the summer semester at the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences of UPWr. Students will expand their knowledge and skills in the field of production, safety and quality control and certification of food products, including regional and traditional ones. They will also learn about innovative production methods (including fermented food: silage, yoghurt, kefir, cheese and meat products). In addition, they will gain advanced knowledge in the field of nutraceuticals and bioactive ingredients that shape the sensory value of food, and will gain the latest knowledge about biotechnological food processing methods unique in both countries.

The second semester will be conducted at the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche in Orihuela, where students will learn about the regional Valencian technologies and products (production of exotic fruit and vegetables, production of wines, cheese, meat and fish, seafood, snacks and confectionery, e.g. turron).

A separate part of the studies will focus on food contamination and falsification in the light of the European Union law, good production practices and ethics.

- Students will have access to equipment and substantive assistance from employees of both universities. They will also gain knowledge and skills on how to develop and present research results and prepare scientific publications, as well as design applications necessary for developing a scientific career - says prof. Małgorzata Korzeniowska, the project manager.

The professor emphasizes that the study program focuses on innovation and sustainable development in the field of applied methods of food production. So it will include classes on alternatives to animal products, including meat from in vitro cells, functional food, ecological packaging, as well as methods of producing substances with the help of selected microorganisms, among others.

In addition to purely scientific issues, students will also learn the secrets of food marketing and market evaluating, and recognising consumer needs. They will also learn how to raise funds for their research and innovations.

The studies will be available to people who have a bachelor's degree in food technology or related fields, such as dietetics or biotechnology, and who know English at a B2 level at least. Registration for the course will open on September 15 in the IRK and Dream Apply systems (for foreign students).

Opening this new degree programme is possible thanks to a nearly PLN 693 000 subsidy granted by the National Agency for Academic Exchange NAWA as part of the "“B-Innova - Master in Food Technology - double Master's degree studies of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences and the University Miguel Hernandez de Elche in Food Technology and Human Nutrition" project.

- This project doesn’t end on developing an innovative joint study program, because it also includes the purchase of teaching materials and training of employees involved in the new course in the field of modern education methods and soft skills - says Paulina Boroń-Kacperek, director of the UPWr Recruitment Office

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The new program is established within the project “B-Innova - Master in Food Technology - double Master's degree studies of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences and the University Miguel Hernandez de Elche in Food Technology and Human Nutrition”, sponsored by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, agreement No PI/KAT/2019/1/00024/U/00001, within the program “Katamaran – Establishing and conducting joint second-cycle studies”, which is a non-competition project of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange “Supporting the institutional capacity of Polish HEIs through establishing and conducting international studies curricula”, project No POWER.03.03.00-00-PN16/18, implemented under Measure: 3.3 Internationalisation of Polish higher education, OP KED