October 17, 2007

Guelph, ON -  The University of Guelph.s Office of Open Learning marked the 14th year of the Food Science Certificate program.s offering. The degree-credit Certificate program is offered online through distance education.

The Food Science Certificate was created to address an industry need for a flexible and accessible science-based food training program. The Office of Open Learning and University of Guelph.s Department of Food Science, recognized internationally for its expertise in this area, worked together to fill the emerging need.

"We are pleased with the response from the food industry. In the 14 years of its existence, the program has seen production supervisors, technicians, technical sales and marketing personnel, dietitians and nutritionists as well as government-employed food and public health inspectors take the Food Science Certificate program,"comments John Cassidy, Director, Office of Open Learning.

"Food Science is an applied discipline that is built on a foundation of chemistry, microbiology and processing/engineering. The five courses that comprise the Certificate program provide students an in-depth study of these subjects applied to food. This Certificate is a great compliment to undergraduate degrees or diploma studies in related fields for those who find themselves working in the food industry without a food science education," added Professor Doug Goff, Undergraduate Co-ordinator, Department of Food Science.

Today, the Certificate Program offers five degree-credit courses: Principles of Food Science; Introduction to Food Chemistry; Introduction to Food Processing; Introduction to Food Microbiology and; Introduction to Food Analysis. These courses are offered online through distance education to accommodate people with busy schedules.

To keep pace with current issues and emerging technologies the course content has evolved over the years and will continue to evolve with the industry.

For more information on the Food Science Certificate program contact the Office of Open Learning by phone at 519-767-5000 or by email at info@open.uoguelph.ca or visit: www.FoodScienceCertificate.com

For more Information,Contact:
Kian Merrikh,
Marketing & Communications Manager,
Office of Open Learning,
University of Guelph,
Guelph, ON
Canada N1G 2W1
519-824-4120 Ext. 53755
kmerrikh@uoguelph.ca