Smorgasboard of job opportunities

14 November 2005

It was a case of meet, greet and eat when 200 food science students met more than 20 food companies at UNSW last week for an inaugural Food Technology Careers Expo.

Students from UNSW, University of Newcastle, the University of Western Sydney and TAFE Sydney descended on the Squarehouse last Thursday, October 27, where prospective employers had set up displays, including samples of their wares.

A joint venture between the UNSW Food Science Students' Association and academics, the Food Technology Association of NSW and the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NSW), the event aimed to help students define their career path.

Head of the Food Science and Technology group, Professor Graham Fleet, said the idea had evolved after years of calls from companies looking for graduates, only to find they had already been snapped up.

"Students and prospective employers need to be meeting much earlier in the process," he said. "We're very pleased with the results of the expo. The industry response has been excellent."

Company booths were set up for students to meet company representatives and discuss job opportunities. Theatre-style presentations were also given by a range of speakers, including careers and food science experts.

To mark the occasion, the annual Food Technology Association and Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology Awards in honour of outstanding students were also presented during the day-long event.

"This event now gives us a solid foundation to build on. We've already had excellent support from sponsors," said Ed Lawes, a fourth-year student who helped to organise the event with postgraduate student Peter Ng.

Contact details: Mary O'Malley, UNSW Media unit, tel. (02) 9385 2873, 043 888 1124, email m.omalley@unsw.edu.au

Date issued: 2 November 2005