Acquiring a Degree in Food Science presents endless job opportunities. This was the assertion of Head of the Department of Chemistry of the Faculty of University of Guyana’s Natural Sciences Faculty, Ms. Samantha Joseph.
Speaking at a forum yesterday to launch a new Degree programme in Food Science at the university’s Turkeyen Campus, Joseph said job opportunities in the field of Food Science are not limited to the Caribbean but are also available internationally.
“This degree is so multifaceted, you can have employment within the food industry, you can have employment in academia, you can have employment in research institutions, you can have employment at institutions where you have the processing of raw materials, it is endless,” Joseph elaborated.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Karen Gordon-Campbell, of the Ministry of Public Health noted that the introduction of the programme is timely and headed in the right direction. “This degree would provide qualified personnel who can build capacity in health, agriculture, the environmental sector and assist the Ministry of Public Health and Guyana on the whole, in reaching the sustainable development goals two and three, ending poverty and hunger.”
Dr. Gordon-Campbell, moreover, called upon the various stakeholders to begin preparing their strategies to absorb and deploy the wealth of skills that will be unleashed in the next four years. However, she also cautioned in these preparations, the most vulnerable population must not be forgotten. Emphasizing the fact that a person’s environment should not determine how healthy they are, Dr. Gordon-Campbell stressed the need for qualified persons to be deployed countrywide.
UG’s Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Ivelaw Griffith noted the programme will address the issue of food security. He pointed out that “It is a challenge that universities also have to contend with and help on the instructional side. Courses that you might teach, not only degree programmes and we will be offering through the Institute of Food and Nutrition Security, short courses.”
“Everybody does not need a whole degree, some people need a one-week course, on a particular aspect that is pertaining to your realm of engagement, some people may need a month or a two-month course, we will be looking at a range of offerings on the instructional side to enable us as university with enabling the society to contend with this problem” the Vice-Chancellor underscored.
The introduction of the BSc in Food Science is one of several new courses being offered by the University, to meet the demands of Guyana’s evolving economy. Some of the other programmes include: an Associate and master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering and a Bachelor of Arts in Youth and Community Development.
