Food Safety and Security Program PTC

Foundation Polytechnic College Suriname (PTC), which opened its doors in 1997, is a leading institution for higher education in technical studies, offering a range of studies at associate degree to bachelor degree level. The course International Agribusiness is a very important link in the development in food production and education. PTC currently has three pillars, namely: 1. Knowledge Unit Associate Degree – Bachelor’s Degree 2. The Knowledge Center 3. The Knowledge Circle The knowledge consists of the following courses: • Electrical Engineering • Infrastructure • Mechanical Engineering • International Agribusiness • Information and Communication Technology • Higher Lab Education Suriname has a great potential to contribute to food security in the region with the emphasis on food safety. Therefore, PTC wants to make a contribution, so that the country will be able to comply with the rules and requirements relating to food safety in agricultural production. PTC offers higher professional education and so contributes to the Surinamese economy by training people for senior management positions. Our trainings are highly valued by different companies and stakeholders. PTC has the intention to establish a center for food security and safety. The knowledge center will focus on trainings at the vocational level with the possibility that students can go on to the bachelor program. An Associate Degree curriculum in food safety is developed in the following disciplines. • Provide an associate degree program in public and environmental health to inspectors employed by the Ministry of Health. The program is linked to the following areas: • Water quality monitoring • Sanitary handling and disposal of sewage and other liquid waste • Management of solid waste • Food hygiene • Vector control • Port health With the bachelor course ‘Higher Laboratory Education” PTC also wants to make a significant contribution to food safety. To cover food security, PTC offers a bachelor degree course in International Agribusiness. The focus is on horticulture, greenhouse systems and entrepreneurship. In order to attract more students this course has been expanded by a one-year pre-bachelor training course. Besides agricultural related excursions, the program consists of A-level mathematics, chemistry, biology, and physics.