INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
What is industry doing for its students?
By Martin Braun
Recently I met somebody from the South African Association of Food Science and Technology( SAAFoST), and I felt rather surprised to learn what the food science industry is doing for its students.
Membership of SAAFoST helps to provide monetary prizes that mostly go towards student registration fees, which in turn help the body to recognise, encourage, and reward the brightest and best students in food science and technology. Being education orientated means they also offer and administer full-time bursaries: they have 45 students on their books, of which 25 have already achieved their BSc( FSc) degrees and diplomas. The yearly budget for bursaries is in excess of R600 000 per annum.
Providing support for students would have limited value had they been unable to help the students find employment during their holidays for in-service training or at the start of their careers. SAAFoST uses a programme called‘ Select a Student’ that addresses this issue. If one needs staff, temporary or permanent, one could make use of this programme by visiting SAAFoST’ s website. Students enjoy free membership until they graduate and sponsored membership for a period afterwards.
SAAFoST has also introduced five awards: 1. In honour of late Professor Koeppen who was head of department of Food Research at Stellenbosch University, two postgraduate scholarships are made available, one for a Master’ s degree and one for a doctorate degree. Value: R30 000 per annum per scholarship towards tuition fees.
2. Study grants at various universities and technikons, based on performance, to the value of R20 000 each for Bachelor of Science( Honours) and Bachelor of Technology studies.
3. Award of a certificate and an amount of R1 000 annually for the most deserving student at each of the eight tertiary institutions.
4. Dreosti Award of R5 000 for the best scientific oral paper at the biennial SAAFoST congress.
5. Award of R5 000 for the best scientific poster at the biennial SAAFoST congress.
Pixabay
Industry and its associations should become more involved with students entering the field.
So, what is done in our industry for our students? Not long ago, I took approximately 60 students of the University of Johannesburg studying for the Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology to the Viking factory. This visit was( according to the students) very informative and again I want to thank Viking for their hospitality.
The question arises, why is nothing being done by our industry for our students? Getting young people interested in our industry should be first priority. An example would be an award or study grant in honour of the late Hans Damhuis, who did so much for education in our industry. CLA
Martin Braun
COLD LINK AFRICA • March | April 2017 www. coldlinkafrica. co. za 43