New Qualification in Food Science
A new qualification is set to address Scotland's shortage of qualified food scientists. The HNC Food Science and Technology has been developed by SQA and Glasgow Metropolitan College, along with Improve, the sector skills council for food and drink. There has also been input from the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS), Forth Valley College and the Scottish Agricultural College.
The course will be offered by Glasgow Metropolitan College from August, with the option to progress to the corresponding HND from next year. It is available full-time or on a part-time basis, which will allow eligible learners to use ILA500 funding towards the cost. The qualification is suitable for both school leavers and people already working within the food and drink industry, and is a welcome addition to the degrees, SVQs and Modern Apprenticeships available in the field.
The range of units includes bakery, meat, fish, beverages, milk and dairy technologies, food quality management, microbiology, food analysis and nutrition and sensory assessment of foods. The HNC/D has been designed as a first stepping stone into an area of the food and drink industry where skills shortages have been identified. The course also includes modern themes such as the importance of relevant legislation and food safety requirements such as allergens, and how to prepare for visits from supermarket buyers and auditors.
Kelvin Thomson, Improve national development manager for Scotland, said:
"All sectors of food and drink are facing shortages of food scientists and technologists. It is important to have a course that is flexible enough and broad enough in scope to serve the entire industry. Glasgow Metropolitan College is the first to deliver the course in Scotland but we hope that others will start deliver it across Scotland as demand grows."
The course will be a boost to the food and drink sector, which is one of the key sectors for development identified in the Government Economic Strategy (GES).