Karen is heading to Paris in September as one of only 25 individuals chosen to take part in the Erasmus Mundus joint masters degree in Food and Product Design.
Funded by the European Union, this is the first course created to tackle the global challenges of food innovation. Over two years Lacey will spend 4 months in Paris, Dublin, Lund and Naples studying food product development from concept through prototypes to consumption, from raw materials to packaged goods and exploring cuisines across Europe.
Karen commented:
“As far as I can remember I have had the travel bug and I have always been curious about different cultures and in particular the local food culture. During my studies at Ulster I have been encouraged to engage in international experiences and develop a global mind set.
“During my degree I had the opportunity to work alongside a global dairy company in Dublin and participate in the China Study Abroad Programme in Zheijang University. The study abroad programme enabled me to develop a greater understanding of Chinese culture and seeing Irish dairy products on the shelves of Chinese supermarkets really highlighted the global reach of our food industry.
This international masters programme is the perfect opportunity for me to combine my love of travel with my passion for healthy and sustainable food. Having spent my summers in the south of Italy for almost a decade I have become fascinated by the Mediterranean diet and its impact on health. In my future career I want improve the health and wellbeing of as many people as possible by creating healthy and sustainable food products that will both delight and nourish the consumer.”