Graduate Certificate in Food Safety and Quality Assurance - Food Processing

at Conestoga College - Cambridge Campus Canada

Students in this unique 30-week program will receive a thorough hands-on and theoretical education in the welding field, preparing them for a successful career in this industry. This program follows the curriculum of the provincial trades Welder (456A) and Metal Fabricator - Fitter (437A) and successful students will be provided the opportunity to challenge provincial exemption exams for Level 1 of the in-school training providing them with a headstart into an apprenticeship. This practical education is complemented with courses in computer applications, computer-aided design (CAD), and technical communications.

The Packaging Engineering Technician program provides training in the structural design of packaging materials. Students will learn to design packaging utilizing different materials: metal, glass, plastic, paper, and corrugated. Critical in the design of any packaging are product protection (safety and security), durability, the ability to recycle materials, and sustainability opportunities and issues. The delivery of the program includes approximately 10% online courses. The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term.

Applying to the Co-op Stream
All applicants apply to the non co-op program. Students will be informed of the application deadline and process to apply for the Co-op Stream. Labour market conditions determine the number of co-op seats in optional co-op programs. Every student who meets academic eligibility requirements may not be admitted to the co-op stream.
To be considered for admission to the co-op stream, students are required to achieve a minimum 70% session weighted average and no failed or dropped courses in Level 1.

Co-op Information
Co-op programs add value to your education. Earn while you apply what you learn in a real workplace environment. See the Co-op webpages.
The College cannot guarantee co-op employment. All co-op students are required to conduct an independent co-op job search in addition to the supports and services provided by the Department of Co-op Education.
Students are responsible for their own transportation and associated costs in order to complete work term requirements. Work locations may not always be readily accessible by public transportation.

This program is built on the newly identified Communication Infrastructure Engineering (CIE) discipline, which is defined by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) Council at a high level as the systems-level architecture, design, and management of trusted networks for mission-critical and safety-critical applications, including those that support other critical infrastructures. If you are interested in combining elements of the more traditional disciplines of Communications Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Software Engineering to achieve Cyber-Security from an Engineering rather than an Information Technology perspective, this program is the right choice. This Bachelor of Engineering - Cyber Systems Engineering program focuses on real-time systems, communications, networks, and risk management.

This dynamic two-year graduate certificate is designed to give students specialized and thorough training in the detailing, supply, fabrication and installation of steel structures including the management and coordination of projects. The training is directly related to industry standards and working practices within North America and will enable students to develop detailed drawing, analytical and communication skills for the structural steel industry. Students will learn CAD skills, building information modelling (BIM), building code requirements, specifications and estimating to assist them with challenging projects. Faculty are highly qualified specialists with current and relevant field experience. The optional co-op stream includes one co-op work term which replaces the Career Management course.This program is available to be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. Courses will be scheduled in the afternoon and early evening to facilitate students who wish to take the program on a part-time basis while currently employed. Courses may also be scheduled to be delivered on Saturdays. Admission is available in January only. Bridging opportunities are available for trades. 

The Environmental Building Sciences program is a one-year graduate certificate designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge to effectively manage indoor environmental conditions throughout the building life cycle encompassing the identification, testing and remediation of problems in the building environment. Students will study building sciences, sustainability and energy management for building design and control, environmental legislation, air and water quality, assessment for communication of risk, hazardous materials assessment and abatement, sampling and testing methodologies, and project management and technical report writing. The program is experiential in nature with the incorporation of exercises, case studies, and practical laboratories in building sciences. In the final term, students will participate in a major project to address a present-day building environmental issue. It was developed in consultation with representatives from the environmental industry. For more information, contact the Program Coordinator at [email protected]. This program is available to be taken on a full-time or part-time basis. Courses will be scheduled in the afternoon and early evening to facilitate students who wish to take the program on a part-time basis while currently employed.

With the focus towards a lower-carbon future, energy professionals are in high demand. This three-year program is specifically designed to meet the high demand for engineering technologists in electrical power generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as in low-carbon energy systems, smart building systems, and energy management.Topics include conventional and renewable energy generation, including distributed energy resources for Ontario’s low-carbon energy future. Students will develop a strong electrical engineering technology foundation in electrical fundamentals, motors and control, programmable logic controllers, power system generation, transmission/distribution, protection and control, and grid transformation/smart grids. In addition, topics such as residential/commercial/industrial energy savings, building automation, analytics, energy storage, HVAC systems, and energy auditing are applied for careers in the growing specialty of conservation in private and public sector jobs. Mechanical topics include statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics as they apply directly to various energy systems.Throughout the program, students gain applied experience in AutoCAD and Revit, safety practices, safety standards and equipment, technical writing, and project management. Theory is applied practically in many laboratory settings.Strong industry support is evidenced by the program's high employment rate and successful optional co-op stream. Students benefit from the well-established, high-quality labs, relevant field trips, and active industry mentorship. Faculty have current, specialized credentials and are well-connected with industry to assist with graduate employment. Students enjoy analyzing Conestoga’s on-site 250 [ton] geothermal heat pump system and associated 500 [kW] PV solar system as they witness the journey to net-zero emissions on campus.Graduates have developed an applied theory in both mechanical and electrical systems and, as a result, are uniquely prepared to perform technological functions in various aspects of electrical, power, and energy fields for the exciting growth in Ontario’s low-carbon and smart-energy future.The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) conditionally recognizes this program as meeting all the academic requirements for certification in the Certified Engineering Technologist (CET) category.The optional co-op stream includes four consecutive four-month work terms.

This program prepares graduates with degrees or diplomas in telecommunications, electronics, or computer engineering/technology for work in emerging fields in the wireless telecommunications industry. Students will enhance their undergraduate knowledge with practical skills that include the use of industry standard tools (drivetest tools, propagation tools, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, etc.), and the techniques required for success in the wireless industry. Students will broaden their familiarity with troubleshooting and the configuration of local area and wide area networks (LANs and WANs) and networking topics relevant to telecom carriers including virtual private networks, quality of service, and others. Cutting-edge topics which include long term evolution (LTE) and 5th generation wireless networks, high bandwidth wireless (WiGig+) and concurrent MIMO systems, will ensure that graduates will be in high demand. 

The Bachelor of Engineering - Mechanical Systems Engineering (MSE) program, delivered at the honours level, is accredited by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) allowing graduates to become professional engineers after completing their mandatory work experience and writing a professional practice exam.The program integrates a rich blend of interdisciplinary topics covering mechanical, industrial and control engineering to enable graduates to design complex computer-controlled mechanical systems. Automated manufacturing systems, comprised of mechanical components, conveyors, electrical and pneumatic actuators, sensors and robots are examples of such mechanical systems.The MSE program is delivered in a unique project-based curriculum model allowing students to learn by doing while developing strong skills in business methodologies, project management, environmental protection and interpersonal and team dynamics. As they work on increasingly complex projects, students progress from the technical fundamentals to advanced leading technologies in design, manufacturing and automation. This project work, combined with twelve months of paid co-op opportunities, thoroughly prepares MSE graduates for a successful career in a variety of engineering fields.

This one-year full-time Ontario College Graduate Certificate program is designed for students who have completed a degree or diploma in science or engineering, and who want to pursue for a supervisory position in the food manufacturing industry. The program offers a suite of courses designed to developskills and knowledge with direct applicability in the food manufacturing environment. You will integrate leadership concepts in communication, problem-solving and decision-making. Course materials will be applied in a food manufacturing pilot plant environment and students will be exposed to operations in local industries. You will use continuous improvement including lean six sigma, project management, equipment maintenance, food safety and quality assurance to design systems that lead to excellence in manufacturing.

The Food Safety and Quality Assurance - Food Processing program is a two-semester, full-time graduate certificate program designed for students having a previous degree or advanced diploma in science, food or engineering, and who want to be prepared for a career in the food processing industry in the area of food safety and quality assurance. The program offers a suite of courses designed to enhance skills and knowledge gained in previous education stages for direct applicability in the food processing environment with respect to food safety and quality assurance. The Food Safety and Quality Assurance program is unique in Ontario because students apply their learning in Conestoga's pilot plant facility, enabling learners to incorporate theoretical knowledge in quality assurance and food safety to the practical environment of food manufacturing. Upon completion, graduates will have practical experience in food safety applications in the industrial processing environment, a strong understanding of Canadian and international food safety regulations, HACCP principles, and knowledge of the inter-dependence between cleaning and sanitation principles, food safety concepts and quality assurance and quality control elements typical of the food processing sector.

Program Outcomes

• Apply scientific concepts of chemistry and microbiology to the development, monitoring and maintenance of food safety and quality assurance systems specific to the food processing industry.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of practical applications of food safety and quality assurance system elements in a real food manufacturing environment, across the logistics chain from the farm to the consumer.
• Analyze law and regulations applicable to food processing from the perspective of food safety and quality assurance and their effects on operational activities in a food manufacturing facility.
• Create and modify food safety and quality assurance system components such as policies, procedures, and instructions, based on scientific principles and in line with pertinent regulations and laws, using clear communication and appropriate terminology.
• Recommend means to mitigate and control risks through cleaning and sanitation, traceability, HACCP, Good Manufacturing and Good Agricultural Practices, and other quality assurance and food safety elements based upon food safety risk assessments of food manufacturing activities.
• Recommend changes to processes and procedures by employing food safety and quality system audit tools (i.e. GFSI, ISO) that inform compliance of food processing operations to laws and regulations.
• Collect, prepare and test food and environmental samples using appropriate laboratory techniques.
• Analyze, interpret and report on the results of sampling programs and studies relative to food safety and quality assurance processes to draw conclusions and make recommendations that align with regulations and established industry practices.