Isparta Applied Sciences University Gelendost Vocational School Food Technology Department started education and training in 2000-2001. Food Technology Program provides education to meet the need for qualified intermediate staff who can work in the food production and control stages, which are becoming increasingly important today. Food Technicians conduct research and training on food processing, storage and development of new products, versatile use of raw materials, thus increasing the variety of healthy foods. They supervise and control the production at all stages from raw materials to the consumer.
Purpose of the Program
In recent years, the food industry sector has been making great progress. This area, which is rapidly developing among other branches of industry, is in great need of trained food technicians who produce food products in accordance with health conditions, perform quality control and other laboratory studies in the best way. As Gelendost Vocational School Food Technology Program, in order to respond to this need and to meet the intermediate staff needs of the food industry service sectors, it is aimed to train intermediate manpower who have adopted the concepts and principles related to food , can follow new systems and technological methods, have the knowledge and skills to perform the production and quality control of existing food products, and can perform food inspection and control services by observing the minimum technical and hygienic conditions in the production, processing and distribution stages of food products to ensure food safety and quality. At the same time, it is to train qualified individuals who have strong communication skills and problem-solving ability, who have the knowledge and skills to take samples at all stages from the production to the consumption of food, to perform quality control analyses of the samples taken .
Opportunities and Education System Offered to Students by the Program
The Food Technology Program is a program that provides Turkish education and training as a daytime education within the Food Processing Department. Our students are educated and trained by faculty members who have high academic knowledge and skills in their field for two years. In addition to theoretical knowledge, practical education and training are provided in the program, thus increasing the professional skills of the students. The classrooms are equipped with the necessary projection and computer equipment to conduct lessons with visual presentations, and there is also 1 application laboratory within the Food Processing Department.
Our laboratory is equipped with basic laboratory equipment such as precision and analytical balances, refractometers, dry air sterilizers, incubators, distillation systems, water baths, magnetic stirrer heaters, Sokhelet extraction systems, burettes, pH meters, Gerber centrifuges, autoclaves, UV spectrophotometers, centrifuges and vortexes. Starting from the first year, our students are given basic science courses and professional theoretical and practical courses, thus enabling them to acquire more detailed and advanced professional knowledge and skills. In each semester, practical courses are given together with theoretical courses, enabling them to learn laboratory working conditions and principles, to use laboratory equipment actively and to reinforce their theoretical knowledge with analyses. In addition, technical trips are organized so that they can see production on site.
What the Programme Offers to Students and Undergraduate Programs to Which Vertical Transfer is Possible
It is a program that provides students with the skills to use the basic level theoretical and practical knowledge they have acquired in the Food Technology associate degree program in a further education level in the same field or in a field at the same level.
Students who successfully complete this program are accepted to undergraduate programs based on their scores in the Vertical Transfer Exam (DGS) conducted by the Student Selection and Placement Center (ÖSYM). They can vertically transfer to undergraduate programs such as Food Engineering, Food Technology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Nutrition and Dietetics, Plant Protection, Plant Production and Technologies, Agricultural Biotechnology, and Agricultural Genetic Engineering .
Working Areas for Graduates (Job Opportunities and Possibilities)
Those who graduate from the food technology department are given the title of "Food Technician". Technicians provide the connection between engineers and workers in businesses and keep records related to production. They also help in the quality assessment of products in laboratories using analysis methods. They check the appropriate packaging of produced food products and the regularity of the packaging process. They can provide the bridge between engineers and workers in the food sector and work especially in production and laboratories as qualified technical personnel. Food Technicians work in quality control and R&D laboratories, all businesses that process food products, various public and private analysis laboratories, TÜBİTAK, Provincial and District Directorates of Agriculture, and TSE laboratories. They can also work in public institutions if they receive sufficient points from KPSS.