New Delhi: Packaged food and fast food sector is gaining tremendous market presence, influencing students to opt for food technology courses. Considering the demand of trained manpower in this sector, Delhi University (DU) has introduced the course as a vocational subject in many of its colleges for students coming from a humanities or commerce background.
DU would offer food technology as a vocational subject for such students under the BA program. Five colleges in DU - Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Bhagini Nivedita, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Laxmi Bai and Vivekanand College would offer it under the amended BA (Program) course. Upasana Seth, HoD of Food Technology, Aditi Mahavidyalaya said that initially such courses were introduced with the aim to make girl students economically independent. But now it aims to develop entrepreneurship skills among students. The program is designed to equip the students with the skills required for one’s own start-ups in the food business. The three years course focuses on different aspects such as food preservation, baking techniques, quality analysis of food, product manufacturing and marketing.
According to the experts, food technologist can get a job as a quality assurance manager, production manager, laboratory supervisor, food packaging manager or a technician in the food processing and packaging industry. Further, job prospects increases for those completing their postgraduation. Also, one can find openings for research associates in premier institutes, universities and research and development units.
