Marine Institute helps develop EU Food Law course in Ireland

The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MI) is proud to announce it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with The Food Technology Centre, St. Angela’s College, in Sligo, Ireland to jointly develop an online European Food Law course

Friday, June 12, 2009

The Food Technology Centre will offer the course twice a year, in the fall and winter semesters.

“The MOU confirms the desire of the Marine Institute and The Food Technology Centre to enhance and develop complimentary activities consistent with the mission of both institutions,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, Marine Institute. “The MOU recognizes the mutual benefits of working together in the delivery of training programs and research and development activities. MI and The Food Technology Centre are each working to identify opportunities and trends which benefit both partners.”

The Marine Institute and The Food Technology Centre share common interests and goals in the food industry and each organization hopes the newly signed MOU will help increase their activities in this sector, in both Europe and North America. The MOU is expected to help develop a more formalized structure between the organizations in regards to planning, delivering and evaluating all activities between the institutions.

“One objective of the MOU is to establish the Marine Institute and The Food Technology Centre as partners for education, training, research and development in regards to fisheries and marine industries and activities,” said Gerald Anderson, manager, Office of Marketing and Business Development, Marine Institute. “This collaboration could help optimize the efficient use of each partner’s available resources, including areas such as program materials, faculty expertise and distance learning.”

Anderson travelled to Dublin, Ireland to sign the MOU on behalf of the Marine Institute and was joined there by the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. Minister Skinner, who is in Ireland leading a multi-sector delegation from Newfoundland and Labrador on a trade mission, praised both parties for entering into the MOU.

“The Marine Institute has a history of entering into many successful partnerships with Irish organizations to better develop our fishery and ocean technology sectors,” said Minister Skinner. “Today, the Marine Institute has been able to strengthen its relationship with Ireland by entering into a MOU with St. Angela’s College. I am confident the MOU will prove mutually beneficial as both institutes increase their competitiveness and ability to target new opportunities.”

The Marine Institute will handle the admission of all students into the online EU Food Law course. Students will register under the MI registration system, allowing them to have complete access to all MI resources including the MI electronic library. St. Angela’s College will be responsible for collecting all registration and tuition fees.

The Food Technology Centre, St. Angela’s College (a college of the National University of Ireland, Galway) will undertake the development and delivery of the EU Food Law course within the Marine Institute’s Post-Graduate Certificate in Quality Management, an online program that enhances the student’s professional development in the field of quality management while broadening their understanding of quality management practices and how they apply to industry. The Post-Graduate Certificate in Quality Management is offered to applicants possessing three-year technology diplomas, undergraduate degrees, or a combination of work experience and formal education.

The MOU, which will be in effect for five years, is just the latest in a series of ventures between MI and various colleges and universities in Ireland. The Marine Institute, with support from the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and the Ireland Business Development Board, has been active in various projects and initiatives in Ireland for close to 10 years, helping to spearhead almost 50 initiatives during this time.

“We have been working closely with our Irish counterparts and the results of our collaborations have always benefitted both parties involved,” said Blackwood. “We feel fortunate to have the support of the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and the Ireland Business Development Board and look forward to more successful collaborations in Ireland in the future.”