CASS-Academy

The CASS-Academy is a niche elite program for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Nutrition Sciences or Bachelor of Health Sciences (including double degrees).

What is CASS-Academy?

  • Students who take part in the CASS-Academy program are provided with hands-on training alongside academic experts and other industry professionals. After the 12-week program, students will have gained skills, experiences and industry and academic insights into the area of food science.
  • The 12-week program spans Trimester 1 and Trimester 2, from April until September. There are three rotations, which each run across four consecutive weeks.
  • The program provides a ‘hands-on’, interactive learning experience that requires in-person attendance at Deakin Burwood.

 

Skills and knowledge you’ll gain

Students will learn how to:
  • Understanding of the fundamental methodologies necessary for carrying out research in the field of food and nutrition science.
  • Ability to apply basic and advanced research techniques that are applicable to both the food industry and research domain.
  • Ability to critically analyse scientific papers related to consumer and sensory science, food safety, flavour analysis, product development and nutrition.
Click here for more information about CASS-Academy 2025

Applications for CASS-Academy 2025 are now closed!

Applications close Thursday 27th March 2025 11:59pm.

The application requires personal details, WAM score, and concise responses to questions about future career goals, interest in food and nutrition sciences, and motivation for joining the CASS-Academy program.
Successful applicants will be selected based on their overall WAM score and a demonstrated passion for advancing their studies or careers in the food and nutrition sciences field.

 

Completing the application is expected to take approximately 5-10 minutes.

 

Rotations

In each rotation, students will be taught and mentored by our academic experts on how to conduct and execute various research methodologies, analyse data, and write and present reports.
After the last week of each rotation, students will present their experiences and project findings to the CASS research group with an oral presentation and submission of a short written report
The successful completion of each rotation will be marked with a badge on students’ program graduate certificate.
The following provides an outline of a rotation:
  • Week 1: Training or journal article analysis on rotation topic
  • Week 2 and week 3: Practical data collection (laboratory or in-field)
  • Week 4: Presentation compilation
  • Presentation: Rotation presentation to be presented to the CASS department on the Tuesday following the end of week 4.

Eligibility

  • Any second or third-year Deakin student currently studying the Bachelor of Nutrition Sciences or Bachelor of Health Sciences majoring in food studies or nutrition is eligible to apply (including double degrees).
  • A WAM score of 65 or above is advised.
  • Please note that the CASS-Academy program is a Faculty of Health-approved program, but it’s not a Deakin-approved course unit.

Benefits

With the number of graduates in the area of food and nutrition increasing, there is fierce competition for graduate job positions. Employers are now placing a greater emphasis on what additional skills and experience graduates have obtained aside from their formal university education.
As part of the CASS-Academy you’ll:
  • develop highly sought after industry skills, experiences and networking opportunities
  • have hands-on experience within the Deakin CASS state-of-the-art food science research laboratories
  • have the opportunity to co-write and contribute to research papers intended for publishing
  • coordinate and conduct an in the field consumer science test
  • Data analysis and evaluation using industry-standard techniques and analysis software
  • tour a food industry manufacturing and R&D site.
  • Conditional acceptance into the nutrition honours program upon completion of your bachelor degree*
  • receive a certificate of program completion and a letter of recommendation.
CASS-Academy is an unpaid voluntary program.

*Normal entry criteria and fees for the
Nutrition Honours Program (H418) will
apply.

CASS is always looking for industry partners to be involved with the CASS-Academy program.

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