FDSC3025K Adv. Food Safety&Security Pt 1

Academic Year 2024/2025

This module is part of the Stage 3 core curriculum for Guangzhou Dublin International College of Life Sciences and Technology (GDIC) students undertaking the BSc degree programme in Food Quality and Safety.

This module focusses on advanced principles relating to the microbiology of foodborne pathogens as well as the significance of microorganisms in foodborne diseases. Microbiological food safety has traditionally relied on culture-based methods for phenotypic characterisation and detection of foodborne pathogens. The adoption of whole genome sequencing in food safety has revolutionised foodborne pathogen tracing investigations and advanced our understanding of pathogen diversity and genome biology. This module explores the characteristics behind the pathogenicity of these organisms including microbial function, growth, and taxonomy from a diverse range of food production environments.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this module, students will have advanced knowledge of microbial hazards in food safety and should be able to:

• Compare traditional phenotypic culture-based techniques to modern molecular approaches used to microbiologically characterise different classes of microorganisms from complex samples in a food safety context.
• Describe the contribution of foodborne microorganisms to the emergence of disease.
• Discuss conceptual knowledge on the principles of microbial risk assessment in food safety.
• Examine the significance of microbial pathogens as foodborne agents of infectious disease, as well as detail the characteristics enabling them to survive and thrive in a diverse range of environments.
• Explain the influence of foodborne microorganisms in outbreak scenarios.
• Understand the application of genomic techniques for rapid outbreak traceback and investigation along the food chain.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

16
Autonomous Student Learning

77
Lectures

24
Tutorial

8
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The key teaching and learning approaches used in this module include:

• Active/task-based learning
• Asynchronous discussion forums
• Case studies
• Class discussions
• Lectures
• Problem-based learning
• Tutorials

All learning materials/resources (Lecture recordings, slides, and transcripts) will be available in the Brightspace learning environment. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade

Not yet recorded.

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Online automated feedback will be provided immediately following each Multiple Choice Questionnaire (Short) continuous assessment exercise. Students will receive group/class feedback post-assessment during lecture sessions. Self-assessment and peer review activities will also be incorporated during lecture sessions to further benefit from group/class feedback.