Purnendu. C. Vasavada
Professor Emeritus
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
River Falls, WI. 54022, USA
Presented at
ISKEI_ FOOD 2011
Bringing Training and Research for Industry and Wider Community
2
nd
International ISEKI Food Conference
Milan, Italy, 31 August-2 September, 2011
Great Hall of the University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono
Food Science and Technology Education in the US:
Trends, Challenges and Perspectives.
Overview
!! Introduction
!! Food Science &Technology Education in the US
!! IFT “recognized” Programs
!! Trends influencing Food Science Education
!!Changing paradigm
– knowledge dissemination - Active learning
!! Challenges
!! Perspective
!! Summary
Food Science and Technology as
Academic Discipline
!! 1950-1960s Food Science and Technology
programs originated from commodity- based
disciplines
!! Recognition of unifying principles in food
preservation and processing, and need for

and dietetics) and commodity production.
!! “Recognition” vs. formal accreditation
!!IFT “ Recognized” Programs meet or exceed
Minimum Standards for Undergraduate Education
!!Reviewed and approved by the IFT Higher
Education Review Board
!! Students from recognized programs can compete
for undergraduate scholarships IFT and Food Science &
Technology Education
IFT “Approved” Universities/Programs
!!48 IFT approved programs
!! 40 in the US
!! 8 in Canada, Mexico,
Indonesia and China
!! Not all options meet IFT
requirements
!! A few undergraduate
programs phased out
UW RF
UW Madison
Food Science and Technology Education
at the UW River Falls
!! UW-River Falls Food Science major started in 1969.
First graduates in 1973.
!! New Pilot plants and Laboratory facilities - 1982
!! FS program peaked at > 55 students and 4.5 FTE
!! Decline in enrolment, FTE reduction due to budget
Trends Influencing Food Science an Technology
!! Enrollment levels and sources
!! Gender and diversity
!! Recognition of Food Science as a scientific discipline
!! Changing paradigm- from instructional to learning
(knowledge dissemination to learning and skill development)
!! International study tours and semester/year abroad
!! Undergraduate Research
!! Growth of Nutrition, Dietetics and Culinary disciplines

Food Science and Technology
Education - Trends
!! Drastic and sustained budget cuts
!! State support reduced from >48-50% to < 20%
!! Emphasis on “extramural” funds generation by
faculty to support research.
!! Salary cuts, Mandatory furloughs , hiring freezes
!! Reduced, Lab support, field trips and other activities
!! Key courses taught by temporary and “adjuncts” staff
!! Increased teaching loads, Infrequent course offerings
and dropping of “lab- based” courses
!!Industry- University partnerships and major

!! Misconceptions about
unemployment and discouraging
job market for food scientists and
technologists
!! Layoffs
!! Lots of unemployed food scientists
!! Who else is out there!.cheap Employment Trends
!! Recent History – 2010-2011
!!Great improvement in 2011!
!! Economic Recovery (Sluggish)
!! Less fear in the marketplace?
!! Graduates from prior years found employment
!! Hiring improving in 2010
!! Many major projects and investments started
!! More opportunity for 2011 grads WHAT’S HOT!
!! Food Safety
!! Microbiology
!!Product Development
!!Technical service/
Marketing
!! Quality Assurance
!! Sanitation FOOD SCIENCE POSITIONS AVAILABLE
!! Product Development
!! Clinical Research
!! Nutrition Marketing
!! R & D , Product development and Sensory
!! Quality Assurance and Regulatory affairs
!! Food engineers
!! BS, MS, PhD levels

SHORTAGES OF TALENT IN INDUSTRY
!! Food Safety
!! Bakery Science
!!Dairy Science
!!Sensory Science
!!Regulatory Affairs Best industry to be in a bad economy

Moira McGrath- Opus International 2011. Undergraduate Research and other
innovative programs
!! Coop Internship
!! Food Industry Fellow
!! Undergraduate Research
!! Special Problems