Тhe University of Food Technologies is going to include three new Bachelor-Degree majors from the next academic year - "Food Chemistry and Micro-Biology", "Catering" and "Food Industry Technology". The enrollment will be open April, with the first of altogether three examination sessions.
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The University of Food Technologies (also known until recently as HIFFI ? English abbreviation for the Higher Institute of Food and Flavour Industry ? Plovdiv, BG abbreviation: VIHVP) was set up in the 1950s - a period of great historical importance. The training in food science and technology actually started in 1948 with the establishment of the Department of Farming Technology, within the Faculty of Agronomy and Forestry at the Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv. In 1950 two individual institutes were set apart from the Plovdiv University - the Medical University and the Higher Institute of Agriculture (today?s Agricultural University). On August 10th, 1950, the Department of Farming Technology transformed into a Faculty of Food and Flavourings, still within the Higher Institute of Agriculture. On April 12th, 1953, UFT was separated from the Higher Institute of Agriculture and established as an autonomous higher educational institution, with Prof. I. Pashev as its first rector.
Today, the UFT - Plovdiv, is a prestigious national centre for food science, technology and education. A three-level training structure has been adopted at the institute ? Bachelor's courses (4 years), Master's course (1,5 years) and Doctor's courses (3 years). The UFT works in collaboration with many foreign universities and actively participates in international European programs, such as TEMPUS, COPERNICUS, NATO etc.
The UFT consists of the following faculties and centres:
- Technological Faculty;
- Technical Faculty;
- Francophonic Education Centre;
- Centre for Postgraduate Studies;
- Research Sector with research and production laboratories and an autonomous test laboratory for machines, apparatus, food and flavour products;
- Library with a Scientific and Technical Information Department;
- Training and production units;
- Centre for Computer Technologies and Communications;
- Administrative, financial and accounting units.
The campus consists of four buildings, including a 450-seat auditorium hall, three 300-seat auditorium halls, a great number of halls for lectures and seminars, and over 50 laboratories with modern equipment. There is a main library hall with a 98-seat reading room, as well as libraries and reading rooms in each hostel. A sports and recreation camp, property of the university, is situated near the Batak Dam, in the Rhodope Mountains.