Our Department

History

The Department of Food Technology (DFT), one of four departments of the School of Biotechnology (SBT), International University (IU), was established by IU on October 27, 2010 and the Bachelor of Engineering in Food Technology (BE FT) program was officially accredited by VNU-HCM in August 2011 with the Education and Training Code of 52.42.02.04. This program delivers the degree called “Kỹ Sư Công nghệ Thực phẩm” in Vietnamese and “Bachelor of Engineering in Food Technology (BE FT)” in English. This was an extraordinary effort and coordination between the leaderships of VNU-HCM and IU to make the events happened in an expedite manner. The Department is therefore the first in the country that offers the accredited degree of BE FT using English in teaching and research, and devoting to the development of food technology field in Vietnam. The Department aspirations were developed based on the Vietnamese roots to address the urgent needs of the country and to prepare new generations of graduates capable of working at the interface of agricultural and food science and engineering.The students will study and do a research using the convenient class rooms, modern apparatus equipped laboratories, and the library with many textbooks and learning resources. The graduates from the FT program have been employed at the big food companies and corporations such as Masan, Cheiljedang Co., …

Objectives

The objectives of the Food Technology Program at the International University are determined based on the following important foundations:

• Strategies for the development of Vietnam National University - HCM city
• Demands for high-qualified workforce in Vietnam and the Region.
• Implementing the education and training models used in developed countries, aiming at seeking for potential cooperation in research and training with international partners.

The Food Technology program at the International University is designed to provide IU students, who will obtain a Bachelor degree in Food Technology with a title of Food Engineer, with:

• A broad, but balanced range of knowledge in food sciences and food engineering.
• Basic knowledge in food management (including food production, food quality and safety, and environmental management).
• Emphasis on the development of practical skills and the capability of accessing advanced technology.
• The entire training provided in English.The proficiency in English specialized in Food Engineering will be a unique advantage of the workforce provided from the International University. Upon graduation, students should have an English proficiency of TOEFL pBT 550 or equivalent (60 TOEFL iBT, 6.0 IELTS).
  

The curriculum is for two main divisions: (1) food production and processing, and (2) food management and services, with flexible elective courses for the two divisions, accordingly.

1. Engineers in food production and processing will be equipped:

• With basic knowledge in biology, food chemistry, food microbiology and food engineering.
• With depth knowledge in food production processes, food product development, food quality and production management.

2. Engineers in food service and management will be equipped:

• With basic knowledge in food sciences and technology.
• With optional food management, food trade and services: food safety and hygiene, food analysis, community nutrition, project management, food product management and marketing, etc.

Career opportunities

Having qualified level of professional and English proficiency, International University’s Food Engineers can perform jobs in relation to food processing and preservation, food quality assurance and improvement, technology innovation, food R&D, management and consultancy for nutrition, food safety and hygiene.

Opportunities for jobs and promotion in:

• International and domestic companies involved in food production and trading.
• Universities, research institutes with mandate in food and nutrition research.
• Organizations, agencies in food service, food quality and safety management, environmental and public health.
• Governmental agencies in food and intellectual property management.

Facilities and Laboratories

• An up-to-date library with 400,000 books.
• Direct access to international journals via the subscription of the Central Library of Vietnam National University – HCM city.
  
• Most updated, advanced textbooks, currently used in the US universities and other developed countries.
• Detailed syllabi prepared for a credit system, in consultation with programs of the world renowned universities.
• Free access to Internet by the University’s WIFI system.
• Computer labs with a capacity for 70 students.
• 04 modern laboratories belong to Food Technology: Food Engineering Lab; Food Microbiology and Food Safety Lab; Food Processing Lab; and Food Preservation Lab.
• Other 10 laboratories belong to School of Biotechnology such as Biomedicine and Molecular Biotechnology Lab, Microbiology Lab, Applied Biochemistry Lab and Applied Hydrobiology Lab.

Scholarship

• Many freshmen scholarship opportunities: full scholarship and partial scholarship.
• High achievers scholarships: started from the second semester of the first year, provided to students achieving excellent academic records in the previous semester.
• Science and Technology scholarships.

Contact

Associate Professor Pham Van Hung