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  4. Attributes, outcomes and skills

Master of Food and Packaging Innovation (MC-FOODPI) // Attributes, outcomes and skills

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Intended learning outcomes

In this course students will:



  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of inter-disciplinary food science, product, innovation, entrepreneurship and packaging at an advanced level.
  • Further develop cognitive, technical and creative skills necessary to play a key role within food companies and associated organisations.
  • Be able to demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills in the interdisciplinary field of food, food packaging and design innovation.
  • Develop the cognitive, technical and creative skills necessary to underpin understanding of recent innovations in food innovation, packaging design and processes.
  • Demonstrate a critical understanding of environment, economic, social and ethical factors related to food production and packaging in Australia and globally.
  • Enhance theoretical and critical thinking skills to analyse and problem solve complex issues relating to food production and packaging.

Generic skills

Students in this unit should:

  • Develop an ability to derive, interpret and analyse technical or economic information toward optimal packaging design solutions and innovative processes as well as food innovation
  • Enhance capacity for creativity and innovative thinking, through the application of skills and knowledge
  • Develop ability to solve problems in applied industry situations
  • Further advance oral and written communication skills to allow informed dialogue, written solutions to problems and presenting findings to industry, government, peers and the community
  • To better understand social and cultural diversity in making decisions regarding food and packaging
  • Further enhance capacity to manage small design projects with particular attention to planning, time management and team development skills
  • Appreciation of social and cultural diversity from a regional to a global context
  • Ability to participate effectively as a member of a team
  • Ability to plan work, use time effectively and manage small projects

Graduate attributes

The Melbourne Experience enables our Graduates to become:

Academically excellent
Our Graduates will be expected to:

  • Have strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship
  • Have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s)
  • Reach a high level of achievement in writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication
  • Be critical and creative thinkers and innovative with an aptitude for continued self directed learning
  • Be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies

Knowledgeable across disciplines

Our graduates will be expected to:

  • Examine critically, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a broad range of disciplines
  • Expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects
  • Have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems
  • Have a set of flexible and transferable skills for diverse careers in product and market commercialisation and development, consumer analytics, food innovation, food safety and regulation, production, policy, research and development

Leaders in communities

Our graduates will be expected to:

  • Initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces
  • Have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations
  • Mentor future generations of learners
  • Engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs

Attuned to cultural diversity

Our graduates will be expected to:

  • Value different cultures
  • Be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work
  • Have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community
  • Respect Indigenous knowledge, cultures and values

Active global citizens

Our graduates will be expected to:

  • Be equipped to support the health and wellbeing of communities worldwide, develop innovative food products, managing sustainable and safe food product across the entire supply chain
  • Accept social and civic responsibilities
  • Be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment
  • Have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equality and ethics

Last updated: 29 June 2024