Program Presentation
Foodborne diseases result from the unwanted presence of bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins in food. The absence of hygienic measures, or malpractice, may cause the presence of these foreign agents in food, causing different symptoms and diseases (mainly diarrheal diseases) and even death, with children being the most affected demographic group worldwide.
It is well known that unhealthy food consumption is more likely in the case of poverty, since the main concern is access to food and not so much its preservation and handling; however, food poisoning is a public health problem that affects both underdeveloped and developed countries, since, given the globalization, food poisoning can spread rapidly through the stages of the food chain.
As such, the Specialization in Hygiene and Food Safety program studies the main microorganisms, parasites, and toxins responsible for food toxi-infections, the fundamental aspects and hygienic measures in food handling and how to implement the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system to guarantee food safety, concluding with an analysis on how all these measures and strategies are incorporated within mass catering.
Who is the programme for?
The proposed study methodology, together with the clarity, comprehensiveness, and didactic design of the contents, allows the Specialization in Hygiene and Food Safety program to be aimed at professionals working in positions related to mass catering, hospitality, food companies, the food industry, among others:
The Specialization in Hygiene and Food Safety program is aimed at:
- University graduates who wish to improve their professional performance by complementing their education in hygiene and food safety.
- Professionals without a university degree who have a personal and/or professional interest in the study of foodborne diseases and strategies in preventing them.
Diploma
The successful completion of the program will lead to a degree in Specialization in Hygiene and Food Safety.
After the program has been successfully completed, the student will receive the degree as issued by the University where they are enrolled.
Program Structure
The credit structure of the Hygiene and Food Safety program is shown in the following table. It should be noted that the duration is merely indicative, as the methodology followed integrates the knowledge and skills to be acquired in each part through integrative exercises of knowledge acquisition and internalization of project practices:
| CREDITSa | |
|---|---|
| Subjects | 15 |
| TOTAL | 15 |
a. The equivalence in credits may vary according to the university where he/she has enrolled. One (1) ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credit is equivalent to 10 + 15 hours. If the student is enrolled in a university that does not belong to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), the relation between credits - hours may vary.
Duration
The program in Hygiene and Food Safety has 15 créditos.
The duration of the program in Hygiene and Food Safety varies between 6 and 9 months, depending on the student's dedication. In this period of time, the student must have successfully passed all the evaluated activities and approved the Final Project, if any.
Objectives
General Objective
- Identifying and evaluating the health risk associated with food consumption and handling, and knowing how to establish appropriate hygienic control measures for the prevention and control of such risks.
Specific Objectives
- Analyzing the main microorganisms, parasites, and toxins responsible for foodborne diseases.
- Recognizing the factors that favor microbiological growth and providing practical tools to avoid food contamination and prevent health problems for the end consumer.
- Distinguishing the stages and phases of the HACCP plan design in food companies with diverse activities.
- Integrating hygienic measures with prevention and control systems within the organization and the planning of mass catering companies.
Career Opportunities
Some of the career opportunities in the Food Safety and Hygiene program can be found in:
- In social catering companies (hospitals, nursing homes, school, or company lunchrooms, etc.).
- In commercial catering (restaurants, bars, etc.).
- In companies and the food industry which activities involve direct contact with food (transportation, storage, preparation, packaging, distribution, and sales).
- In food analysis laboratories.
- In certification and auditing companies for food safety systems.
- In face-to-face and/or e-learning educational institutions that provide formal and non-formal education programs related to food handling, food hygiene, food safety, food catering, etc.
Note: Practice of the professions is regulated by the legislation of each country.
Study Plan
The Food Safety and Hygiene Program is structured in 5 subjects, which despite being relatively independent of each other, are structured according to a coherent pedagogical order, by which the student must follow the chronological order.
The corresponding subjects and credits are shown in the following table:
| Food Safety and Hygiene | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Subjects | CREDITS |
| 1 | Food Handling | 2 |
| 2 | Microbiology and Parasitology | 4 |
| 3 | Food Toxicology | 3 |
| 4 | Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points | 3 |
| 5 | Mass Catering | 3 |
| TOTAL | 15 | |
Note: The subject content may be subjected to slight modifications due to updates and improvements.
Management
Academic Administration
- Dr. Maurizio Antonio Battino. Researcher in Biochemistry and professor in the Scuola di Specializzazione in Scienza dell'Alimentazione. Professor in the Università Politecnica delle Marche. Scientific Director of the European University of the Atlantic.
General Academic Coordination
- Dr. Irma Domínguez Azpíroz. International Coordinator.
- Dr. (c) Anna Marín. Coordinator in the Nutrition Area.
FUNIBER Training Scholarships
The Iberoamerican University Foundation (FUNIBER) allocates periodically an extraordinary economic item for FUNIBER Training Scholarships.
To apply, please fill out the information request form that appears in the web of FUNIBER or contact directly the Foundation’s headquarters in your country that will inform you if you need to provide some additional information.
Once the documentation is received, the Evaluation Committee will determine your application's eligibility for the FUNIBER Training Scholarship.