Sustainable Food Systems - Sligo

Students will use knowledge skills and competencies acquired at the Certificate and Diploma stages of the programme. The learner will be allocated a supervisor who will advise on the direction of the work through regular meetings. Moreover, students will be given the opportunity to disseminate their findings in oral or written format to their peers. At completion of the module, students will present the findings of their research project by submitting a thesis and by presenting it in a form of an oral presentation.

ATU Sligo has a long-standing reputation both in food science, providing progression pathways and upskilling opportunities for those working in the Food and Drink industry. We continually build on our current suite of programmes in this area, allowing us to be agile and responsive to the Food and Drink industries' needs and demands while also being compliant with new policy and regulations in the area of Food Regulatory Affairs.

Course Objective

Develop a thorough understanding of policies, best practice, sustainable tools and theories that shape the world of sustainable food systems along with key skills in systems thinking, critical to evaluating complex food systems and developing sustainable solutions to real-work food systems.

Modules Include:

Diploma Level
Sustainable Food Systems and Regulatory interactions (10 Credits)
Research methods in Sustainable Food Systems (5 Credits)
Sustainability and International Markets (10 Credits)
Professional Development in Sustainable Food Systems (5 Credits)

Masters Level
Thesis/Research Project (30 Credits)
Company focused
Lit Review
Research
Findings
Recommendations

Key Course Information
Course Attendance:

The programme uses a blend of learning channels to support learning, pre-dominantly live online lectures, supported by face-to-face seminars and self-directed learning. Adobe Connect will be used for lectures, whilst Moodle will be used as the student portal for accessing material, uploading projects and collaborating with staff and other students.

Lectures will be delivered online. Live lectures normally take place between 6pm and 10pm, Monday to Thursday but this may vary depending on the availability of specific lecturers. If the Live Classroom scheduled times for the live online lectures do not suit you, recordings will be made available through Moodle allowing you to watch back at a time that suits you.

Whether you are studying part-time online, blended, or full-time online, it is very important that you allocate enough study time to your online course to stay focused, reduce stress and achieve your goals. In terms of time commitment, students would need to allow 7 hours per week, consisting of 2 hours evening lectures and 5 hours independent learning and project work. Workshops are used to bring learners together and facilitate group learning.

Semester 1
Title Credits
Introduction to Sustainability 10
Systems Thinking 05

Semester 2
Title Credits
Sustainable Production 10
Sustainability across the supply chain 05

Semester 3
Title Credits
Sustainable Food Systems and Regulatory Interactions 10
Research Methods in Food Regulatory Affairs and Sustainable Food Systems 05

Semester 4
Title Credits
Sustainability and International Markets 10
Professional Development in Sustainable Food Systems 05

Semester 5
Title Credits
Dissertation in Food Regulatory Affairs and Sustainable Food Systems 30

Applicants who should apply for the part-time online Level 9 Masters of Science in Sustainable Food Systems the are those who work in the food and drink industry with full or increased levels of responsibility in sustainability within their businesses. Working in a variety of functions with various 3rd level qualifications, but without a qualification in sustainability.

Graduates of the Level 9 Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems have the option to progress to the Postgraduate Diploma/Masters of Science in Sustainable Food Systems.

This course is open to those with a Level 8 Degree or Level 8 or Level 9 in other areas with sufficient work experience as assessed by Atlantic Technological University. Applicants who do not meet this entry criterion may be considered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Applicants with other qualifications and with relevant work experience may also be considered through ATU Sligo's Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) process. RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions / credit from some parts of a programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work and career. Further information is available through www.myexperience.ie which our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions@itsligo.ie

2 years part-time, online.