New program fills training gap

Cambridge, Ont. – Conestoga Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning officially opened its new $91-million campus last week, which houses an innovative program focused on the food industry.

The 260,000 sq.-ft. building is now the main site for Conestoga’s School of Engineering and Information Technology, as well as the Institute for Food Processing Technology (IFPT).

The IFPT program, which is the first of its kind in Ontario, was established by the Alliance of Ontario Food Processors.

The program is now accepting applications for its first term, beginning on Feb. 11, 2012.

What it offers

Conestoga College says the program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills necessary for individuals to hold supervisory roles in the food-processing sector. It’s the only part-time continuing education program that caters to the industry.

On its website, the college says the food processing industry through different studies it conducted over the last three to five years had identified a need for such a program.

The program will use case studies and practical application of supervisory skills related to the food-processing environment, and will benefit individuals new to the industry, as well as those with previous experience who are looking to gain a competitive advantage.

The college says the program consists of 10 mandatory courses and can be completed in 16 months. The courses, which were designed around the most current trends in the food processing industry, include everything from Food Safety 101 and Employment Law to Developing Effective Teams and Project Management.

Funding

Funding for the new campus came from several sources. The federal government invested $38.1 million through the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP) and the province contributed $34.2 million. In addition, the Region of Waterloo provided $1.7 million for roadwork infrastructure to support the new campus, as well as $700,000 for the construction of an EMS station on Conestoga’s Doon campus.

There are 1,200 students in the campus now, but soon the college expects to have 3,000 and eventually 10,000.

In the future, the campus may further expand to house a culinary hospitality tourism centre, reports the Record.com.