In 1994, the University established the first “Dairy Processing Associate Degree” program in Heilongjiang Province. In April 2000, the University partnered with Heilongjiang University to jointly offer undergraduate programs in food science. In April 2003, East University of Heilongjiang was upgraded to a regular undergraduate institution, and the Food Science and Engineering program became one of the first private undergraduate programs approved by the Provincial Department of Education. Since its establishment, the program has adhered to a student-centered approach and implemented an integrated model of discipline and professional development. The program has been successively recognized as a Provincial Key Program in Food Science and Engineering, a Provincial Key Discipline in Agricultural Product Storage and Processing, a Provincial Pilot Program for Professional Comprehensive Reform, a Provincial Teaching Team for Basic Professional Courses, a Provincial “Excellence” Course in Food Microbiology, and a National Off-campus Engineering Practice Education Center for College Students. In 2011, the program was authorized to offer master’s degree education in the field of Food Engineering, becoming one of the first five private institutions in the country to obtain the qualification to offer master’s degree programs. In 2019, the Food Science and Engineering program was recognized as one of the first Provincial First-Class Undergraduate Programs, marking a new milestone in the program’s development. In 2021, the “Feihe Dairy Modern Industry Academy” was established, and in 2022, it was approved as one of the first Provincial Industry Academy Construction Points, providing strong support for deep integration of industry and education and collaborative talent development.

Historical Evolution of Food Science and Engineering Program in East University of Heilongjiang

The program of food science and engineering starts from serving the superior resources of green food in Heilongjiang Province, gives full play to its regional advantages, and closely combines professional construction and personnel training with the development of Heilongjiang’s food industry. Focusing on the food industry chain, from food raw materials, processing technology, product testing, quality management, food logistics, marketing and consumption terminals, a professional cluster with food science as the support, food safety as the core, green processing and modern testing technology research and development as the main line, relying on Longjiang’s high-quality milk source, and featuring the research and development of green food and functional dairy products has been built, and high-level applied talents have been cultivated in an all-round way. Since its establishment, it has trained and transported more than 3,000 qualified high-level applied talents for the development of food industry in Longjiang and the whole country.