Graduate Certificate [Food Safety and Quality Assurance - Food Processing] From Conestoga College

About this course:

• The Food Safety and Quality Assurance - Food Processing program is a two-semester, full-time graduate certificate program designed for students having a previous degree or advanced diploma in science, food or engineering, and who want to be prepared for a career in the food processing industry in the area of food safety and quality assurance.
• The program offers a suite of courses designed to enhance skills and knowledge gained in previous education stages for direct applicability in the food processing environment with respect to food safety and quality assurance.
• The Food Safety and Quality Assurance program is unique in Ontario because students apply their learning in Conestoga's pilot plant facility, enabling learners to incorporate theoretical knowledge in quality assurance and food safety to the practical environment of food manufacturing.

Program outcomes

1. Apply scientific concepts of chemistry and microbiology to the development, monitoring and maintenance of food safety and quality assurance systems specific to the food processing industry.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of practical applications of food safety and quality assurance system elements in a real food manufacturing environment, across the logistics chain from the farm to the consumer.
3. Analyze law and regulations applicable to food processing from the perspective of food safety and quality assurance and their effects on operational activities in a food manufacturing facility.
4. Create and modify food safety and quality assurance system components such as policies, procedures, and instructions, based on scientific principles and in line with pertinent regulations and laws, using clear communication and appropriate terminology.
5. Recommend means to mitigate and control risks through cleaning and sanitation, traceability, HACCP, Good Manufacturing and Good Agricultural Practices, and other quality assurance and food safety elements based upon food safety risk assessments of food manufacturing activities.
6. Recommend changes to processes and procedures by employing food safety and quality system audit tools (i.e. GFSI, ISO) that inform compliance of food processing operations to laws and regulations.
7. Collect, prepare and test food and environmental samples using appropriate laboratory techniques.
8. Analyze, interpret and report on the results of sampling programs and studies relative to food safety and quality assurance processes to draw conclusions and make recommendations that align with regulations and established industry practices.

• Typical positions for graduates of this program include food safety supervisors, HACCP coordinators, quality assurance and control technicians.
• In addition to these, career path opportunities include food safety manager, quality assurance manager and industry consultant.
• On average, 78% of graduates from the last three years found employment within six months of graduation.