Dear Students,
Welcome to the Department of Food Engineering at Afyon Kocatepe University. Our department consists of two main divisions: Food Sciences and Food Technologies. We take pride in our distinguished faculty of 8 members and 1 research assistant (PhD), alongside 4 specialized research laboratories. Our laboratories possess a modern and well-equipped infrastructure dedicated to both the fundamental and applied fields of food engineering.
Food Engineering is a multidisciplinary field that covers the production, development, preservation, packaging, and transportation of foods—from farm-to-fork—as well as their revaluation as products or by-products. In our department, the physical, chemical, and microbiological quality analyses of foods are examined through both theoretical and practical education. Furthermore, our curriculum includes topics such as:
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Processing and packaging methods according to appropriate parameters.
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Ensuring the healthy delivery of food to consumers.
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Protection against physical, chemical, biological, and microbiological hazards, as well as food adulteration/fraud.
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Improving food quality characteristics and troubleshooting processing problems.
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Product Development (P&D) and Research & Development (R&D) of new processing methods.
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The utilization of agricultural wastes as food resources.
In recent years, the increasing demand for processed foods—driven by potential global food crises linked to climate change and regional political/military conflicts—has heightened the importance of food safety and security. The significance of food safety was especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. From this perspective, food engineering, which consistently maintains its vital position among engineering fields and is regarded as one of the “professions of the future,” continues its educational and research activities regarding food quality and safety. Our department conducts research focused on food science and technology, addressing current problems and prioritizing projects that align with the needs of the national food industry.
Our goal in undergraduate education is to provide our students with applicable fundamental engineering knowledge and practical experience to meet the requirements of the food sector.
International Opportunities and Intern Engineering
Our students can benefit from exchange programs such as Erasmus+ and Mevlana. Similarly, we host students from many different countries. Starting from the 2024-2025 academic year, eligible students may choose to complete their 8th semester through the “Applied Workplace Education in Food Engineering (Intern Engineering)” program. Instead of taking on-campus courses, these students will complete their education by participating directly in professional life within food enterprises. This intern engineering model significantly enhances university-industry collaboration, increases the professional skills and competencies of our graduating students, and facilitates easier employment in the industry.
Career Opportunities
Due to legal employment requirements, our graduates can work as food engineers in:
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Private sector food enterprises and private food control laboratories.
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The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (as auditors in Food Control Branches or control engineers in Provincial Control Laboratories, and R&D engineers at TAGEM).
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The Ministry of Health, Municipalities, and the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE).
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Government-supported food processing plants.
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Sales, marketing, foreign trade, consultancy, training, management, auditing, and product development.
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Academic careers in related departments both domestically and abroad.
Dear Students,
University education is one of the most important milestones in your life and career. Receiving a high-quality education and developing yourself professionally and socially will place you one step ahead of your peers. With our experienced and dynamic academic staff, strong infrastructure, and the social, cultural, and sporting facilities on our campus, we would be delighted to see you at Afyon Kocatepe University, Department of Food Engineering, in Afyonkarahisar—the city where history was written.
I wish you all great success. Please feel free to contact us for any questions or feedback.
With our best regards..
Prof. Dr. Harun DIRAMAN
Head of Department