The department offers two programs - Applied Chemistry and Food Technology. Students make their choice of degree program within Applied Sciences at the end of Year 1. To ensure uniform strengths, when required, the choices are made by the marks scored in Year 1.
The course is 4 years in length for students who have completed Grade 12 in National High School or an equivalent course overseas. Students should have minimum B grades in Chemistry, Biology or Physics and Major Mathematics and minimum C grade in English.
During the first year, Students are enrolled as Applied Sciences students and study Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Physics and Language. These students are part of Natural Resources and join with Agriculture, Applied Physics and Forestry students for most subjects.
APPLIED CHEMISTRY SECTION
DEGREE COURSE IN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED CHEMISTRY – B.Sc. [Applied Chemistry]
Year 2: The subjects taught in this year have a major emphasis on the “four basic pillars” of chemistry – Analytical, Inorganic, Organic and Physical Chemistry. Besides, Mathematics and Introductory Information Technology are also undertaken.
Year 3: After the foundation (2 years), there is a greater specialization in the subject material during the final two years. There is an emphasis on analytical methods and techniques which require students to spend much time in the wet and instrumental laboratories acquiring skills essential for an experimental science (real time scenario!). New subjects on Industrial Inorganic Chemistry and Petroleum Chemistry are being offered which have potential benefits.
Industrial training: After completing year 3, during the vacation, the students undertake Industrial Training in a mining, oil, commercial or Government laboratory. Many students can also extend their stay for further training through vacation employment during the Christmas / New Year period.
Year 4: The course includes advanced chemistry topics in Analytical and Environmental chemistry, Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry, a research project which is undertaken with the supervision of a staff. This project is a golden opportunity for the students to make use of the knowledge and skills from their previous subjects and apply these to a small research project that will in many ways reflect the situation that they will encounter in their future employment. To drive the entrepreneurial ability, subjects related to business and management are also taught.
Graduate: At the end of the fourth year, students graduate with the Degree of B.Sc. [Applied Chemistry].
Difference from similar programs of other universities: Our Applied Chemistry courses are non-elective, relatively more intense and prepare students for employment challenges mainly in industries.
Employment opportunities: Since the graduation of the first Applied Chemistry students in 1984, the graduates have taken up positions with a range of employers. Major employers are mining companies, mineral, chemical, general analytical testing and quality control laboratories, beverage manufacturers, agricultural commodities, oil companies and LNG related projects, processing companies and Government departments such as Environment and Conservation, Minerals and Energy, Water Resources, Agriculture and Health. Other opportunities include teaching where you can help to train the future intellectual leaders and scientists for our Nation.
APPLIED CHEMISTS are trained to analyse materials and to use their results productively. As an Applied Chemistry graduate, you will be able to analyse minerals, pollutants, drinking water, soils, food and other industrial products. You will be able to use your results to improve the environment and public health and create awareness amongst the community. You also will be able to undertake studies on new mineral deposits, process these minerals and increase agricultural and industrial production, apart from being able to undertake studies on monitoring the ocean sediments for pollution compliancy.
Staff: 86% of our staff hold a Post-Graduate degree, while 45% of them hold Ph.D. degree and 30% are undertaking Ph.D. studies within as well as outside PNG. All are highly experienced academically and / or industrially.
Instrumentation laboratories: Modern analytical instruments like Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometer, Gas Chromatograph and Atomic Absorption
Spectrometer are available with the department which are highly useful for carrying out analytical and environmental related projects. Synthetic laboratories for carrying out research in inorganic / organic / physical chemistry are available.
FOOD TECHNOLOGY SECTION
DEGREE COURSE IN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN FOOD TECHNOLOGY – B.Sc. [Food Technology]
Food Technology: Food technology is an area of science which involves the application of science and engineering knowledge beginning with post-harvest handling of edible flora and fauna through to the production of safe and nutritionally sound products at an affordable price. It is not merely about recipes and cooking food. This means the field involves an integration of the aspects like Food Chemistry, Food Biochemistry, Food Engineering, Food Microbiology, Food Biotechnology, Food Nutrition, Quality Assurance and Food Safety, Food Regulatory Functions and Entrepreneurial Studies for Food
Scientists.
Subjects: Subjects like Food Canning & Packaging, Sensory Evaluation, Food Microbiology, Meat & Poultry, Fish & Seafood, Milk & Dairy technology, Product Dev. & Entrepreneurship, Waste Water Systems & Designing are being taught for the Food Technology students.
Concern: A Food technologist is concerned about all the prior aspects in food science and engineering applied to the handling and processing food from the farm (field) to the fork (dining table). The ultimate aim is to produce food that is safe, nutritious, convenient and economical to consumers in the country. The on-going development of new products is an integral part of the role. The safety of water in food products and as an essential nourishment for human livelihood is also important to a Food Technologist.
Importance to PNG: All people need food to live. As long as people are alive, a Food Technologist has an important role to play. PNG produces sufficiently, however the equal distribution of safe, nutritious and economical food to all parts of the country would not be possible without a Food Technologist. Preservation is significant in terms of handling fresh produce and manufactured products and their progress to the table. The goal is to see that the consumers are happy and satisfied with a quality food or food product. A Food Technologist is needed in maintaining also the food security in the country.
Food Technology also contributes in generating revenue for the country in the exporting of locally manufactured food products. Our local food commodities such as cocoa and coffee exported are world renowned. Agricultural sector has the potential of enlarging the capacity by involving economical improvements and sustainable innovations for quality.
Employment: A food technologist has a wide field of operation for job opportunities. It involves jobs in Production, Laboratories, Research and Development, Export and Marketing and Management and Civil Service. Graduates in Food Technology can also be employed in the Agricultural, Health and Teaching sectors.
Some of the specific employers of our graduates are Agricultural (NARI, FPDC), Health (PNGIMR, National Govt. Health Department), Teaching (PNG Unitech, UNRE, National Fisheries College, Polytech Institute, National Secondary Schools), Civil Service (NISIT, ICCC, NFA, CIC, NAQIA and others), Production (SP Brewery, Nestle, Coca Cola Amatil, Goodman Fielders, Paradise Foods, Laga Industries, Lae Biscuits, IFC and others), Hospitality (National Catering Services) and Small to Medium Food Entrepreneurs.
Staff: 83% of our staff hold a Post-Graduate degree, while 16% of them hold Ph.D. degree and 16% have completed the experimental works of Ph.D. studies. All are highly experienced academically and / or industrially.
Laboratory Facilities: A full-fledged microbiology lab and a pilot plant for carrying out food processing lab sessions and research are available.
Further studies: You can further your studies by applying for international competitive scholarships or get GAP scholarship from the University and gain post graduate degree [M.Phil.] with the department after.
Research activities: The department is actively engaged in some of the research projects funded by provincial governments in areas like alternate fuels. Other ongoing projects are in analytical and environmental chemistry inorganic chemistry, medicinal and natural product chemistry, traditional practices, food testing, cholera and microbiology, food processing and engineering.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY
UNITECH, as popularly called, is situated in attractive park surroundings on 200 hectares of land, located ~8 km from Lae town, the industrial hub of PNG. Unitech’s other facilities include the Matheson library, Computer centre, Medical centre, Christian centre, Kofi haus, Union shop, Union hall and the Duncanson and Rose Kekedo lecture theatres.
Sports: Sports is very popular on campus – major ones are Australian Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer and Cricket. Students also participate in Annual Intervarsity Games when sports representatives from other universities and colleges meet to compete against each other. Others: There is also a wide range of social, cultural and religious activities in which both students and staff participate.
Resident students: Students live in Halls of Residence. Generally, senior students have single rooms while each junior student shares a room with another. There is a separate accommodation for female students who have their own Amenities Centre.
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CONTACT US: The Head, Department of Applied Sciences, |
“Chemistry and Food for Everyone Everyday”