On Thursday, December 1st, 2011 the academic program of Zamorano’s Food Science and Technology Career was approved by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). In this way Zamorano has established itself as one of four universities in Latin America and the only one in Central America to have such a prestigious endorsement. To date, this select group of approved programs includes only 52 programs worldwide.
The Institute of Food Technologists was founded in 1939 by a small group of scientists and currently has members in over 100 countries worldwide. The organization’s objectives are the exchange of ideas among its members, the promotion and dissemination of scientific research in food science and technology, as well as the discussion, planning, organization and management of breakthrough projects in food science.
Since its founding in 1999, the Food Science and Technology Career of the Panamerican Agricultural School (Zamorano University) has sought to base its academic curriculum using top level programs in food science and technology worldwide as a benchmark. Therefore in September 2010, the career’s professors took the initiative to apply to the Institute for approval of its curriculum. Dr. Enrique Palou from the University of Puebla, Mexico acted as Chairman of the Approval Committee and was accompanied by two colleagues from US institutions. The work consisted of documenting, analyzing, summarizing and presenting the academic processes (courses, the Learning by Doing program and the teaching methodology) and the human and physical resources of the Food Science and Technology Career in order to assess its educational quality.
The Institute’s approval of the curriculum will benefit students of the Food Science and Technology Career with opportunities to apply for and obtain IFT scholarships and to participate in the Institute’s annual competitions. Since 2006, Zamorano’s Food Science and Technology Career has participated in the presentation of fourth year students’ research projects at the IFT annual meetings. 2012 will be no exception; five research projects have been submitted for publication approval at the annual meeting to be held in the city of Las Vegas in June.
“It is a historic achievement for Zamorano to have its first program approved by an internationally renowned agency such as the IFT. Governments, businesses and universities that employ our graduates can be confident that they have top level professionals in their ranks, who will perform their jobs effectively and efficiently,” said Dr. Luis Fernando Osorio, Director of the Career.
Under the leadership and coordination of Dr. Francisco Bueso, and the special collaboration of Dr. Thelma Cálix and Ms. Paola Carrillo, all the professors of Food Agroindustry Career worked arduously as a team for compliance with the application’s requirements.
Press Release prepared by the Food Agroindustry Career
