Introduction
What is Biotechnology and what can the program offer you?
Biotechnology offers a diversification of biological knowledge, predominantly of microorganisms, to equip you in the identification and characterization of bacteria contaminating industrially significant products. Your local supermarket supplies beverages and food products that can be infected with fungi and bacteria. Your girlfriends’ make-up can also be contaminated with microbes. Knowledge of the potential contaminants and techniques to screen these products are essential to maintain product quality.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
About Biotechnology
Although the Departments of Biotechnology and Food Technology both have their own niche and the possibility for growth and of making independent contributions to the Faculty of Science and the UJ, both these Departments were very small and could not effectively take up opportunities such as funding, collaborations, postgraduate inquiries, etc. In addition, the ‘critical mass’ required to establish meaningful research also lacked in the small departments.
It is expected that merging the Departments will result in more optimal use of current staff for teaching across the modules of both Departments. The WIL component which is part of the diploma programs of Biotechnology and Food Technology can be further coordinated and developed and better managed.
We also expect improved synergy between the postgraduate researches of the Departments. A merged Department will allow better identification and focus on strategic areas of research and better utilization of staff and resources and will allow easy articulation into the Masters of either Biotechnology or Food Technology or additional options that may be available in the future e.g. Food Safety Management, Microbiology, etc.
At the University of Johannesburg “The Future. Reimagined.” is not simply a catchy phrase
The institution is taking the lead across Africa in the 4th Industrial Revolution Thinking, reimagining the future for all disciplines 4IR is the next wave of industrialization that we need to understand and shape in order to build the future of this country – and Africa continent – so richly deserve. 4IR is not just about robotics and automation; it is about the advancement of society to empower people and uplift generations.
As the world moves forward into the 4th industrial revolution, so does UJ with “Education 4IR” – bringing 4IR thinking and technology into the curriculum across different courses and using innovative blended-learning technologies. This means that UJ graduates are better prepared to embrace the future of business and industry as AI and 4IR play a bigger part in the way we live and work.
At the University of Johannesburg, it is our duty to embrace and navigate the future leaders of our country proudly and boldly through the unimagined complexities of 4IR so that they may take full advantage and deliver a better tomorrow. Future leaders like you! Here we are leading courageous conversation; pushing and shaping the design of a new tomorrow. Here we are taking action and building a new world.
