Student testimonial

Testimonial Simon

Simon started the online master’s programme Food Technology (OMFT) in 2020. He received his BSc degree in Food Science from the University of Guelph. Inspired by his professors he continued studying and enrolled in the online programme of Wageningen University & Research (WUR). Simon was born and raised in Canada by his French parents, giving him a dual citizenship.

So far my experiences with the OMFT programme has been very good and even better than I expected for an online master’s

What are your experiences with this programme?

‘’So far my experiences with the OMFT programme has been very good and even better than I expected for an online master’s. Since the programme is completely online, it offers great flexibility to go through content at my own pace while still having the opportunity to connect with classmates and professors through the online learning platform.’’

 

What kind of work do you do next to studying?

‘’Currently, I am working as a Product Development Scientist in the Global R&D department of a large food company. This role allows me to lead global process and product development projects around the world in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia/Pacific region. My focus is primarily on emulsion-based and aerated products including non-dairy cream alternatives for cooking, topping, cake decorating, and beverage applications.’’

 

When and where did you obtain your BSc degree? And why did you choose Wageningen University & Research for your Master of Science?

 ‘’For my undergraduate degree, I studied at the University of Guelph in the Food Science department from 2014 until 2019. Throughout our studies, our professors would often bring up Wageningen either during lectures to provide cutting edge findings from WUR research and openly talked about their experiences with WUR. After hearing that it was also the best ranked school for Food Technology, I decided I also wanted to further my education at this world-class institution.’’

 

During the programme, students will visit Wageningen twice for practical weeks. How did you experience these weeks?

‘’Visiting Wageningen has been a wonderful experience, even though Netherlands was badly hit by Coronavirus, WUR planned accordingly and assured our safety during the visit. Being able to meet my classmates in person was an invaluable experience and applying the course materials hands-on was a great way to solidify my learnings.’’

 

What are your plans after your graduation?

‘’After graduation, I plan to continue working in the food industry and would like to join a mission-driven company that focusses on alternative proteins. The concept of plant-based meats as well as cellular agriculture is fascinating and with my degree from WUR I hope to make significant contributions for a healthier food system and planet.’’