SPC Food Science College holds the 2024 Entrance and Graduation Ceremonies

SPC Food Science College is the industry’s first associate degree program accredited by the Ministry of Education in August 2010. A total of 272 people have graduated from the college—which served as an incubator for SPC’s key technical manpower—over the past 14 years.

On February 27, 2024, 20 students celebrated their successful completion of the two-year program at the graduation ceremony while 25 new students embarked on a new challenge at the entrance ceremony. Here are some snapshots of the two events where candidates for graduation and new students of SPC Food Science College gathered together.

Candidates for graduation wearing graduation caps pose for a photo.

The 2024 Entrance and Graduation Ceremonies of SPC Food Science College were held at the SPC Future Creation Center in Shindaebang-dong, Seoul. Candidates and new students had an opportunity to take photos ahead of the ceremonies. They posed for commemorative photos at the photo zone set up by the college.

The new and the old come together.

The ceremony was opened with a big round of applause. Following the opening speech by Gyu-cheol Choi, instructor from the Technical HR Team, Yong-nam Choi and Hee-young Yang, two student representatives, made an oath on behalf of all the new students.

The oath was followed by short remarks from Hanna Kim on her thoughts ahead of starting the program, and the rest of the new students looked excited and hopeful as they listened attentively. Kim shared her ambitious plan, saying, “I was finally admitted to the program after I applied four times. With the baking skills and knowledge I will learn in the next two years, I wish to contribute to enhancing the quality of SPC products further.”

As soon as she finished her remarks, all the candidates and faculty members gave her a standing ovation, wearing warm smiles on their faces and wishing the new students a bright future.

Next was the graduation ceremony. First, a brief report on two years’ worth of school activities was presented, and then degrees and awards were conferred upon the candidates.

As a higher-learning institution accredited by the Ministry of Education, SPC Food Science College confers associate degrees upon its graduates. Individuals graduating with honors including the Minister of Education Award and SPC Food Science College President’s Award will enroll in Ecole Bellouet Conseil in France under full sponsorship. Ji-yoon Ahn and Jae-yeon Kim received the Minister of Education Award and the President’s Award, respectively.

Professor Gyeong Jeong was recognized with a plaque of appreciation for his contribution to the growth of SPC Food Science College since its foundation. The candidates and new students applauded Jeong for his passion for teaching and his role in developing key human resources for the SPC Group and enhancing the quality of education at SPC Food Science College.

The awarding ceremony was followed by the showing of a congratulatory video, short speeches by the candidates for graduation, and congratulatory performance by second-year students. The performing students handed over flower bouquets to new students and candidates for graduation as a congratulatory gesture.

“I hope both newly enrolled students and the candidates for graduation will continue to grow as the pillars of growth of the SPC Group,” Vice President of SPC Food Science College Cheol-hyeon Ahn said in his message to the candidates.  In response, the students applauded and the ceremonies ended, leaving them both hopeful and sad.

All expenses including tuition and operating expenses are paid by the SPC Group, and the students are even paid a monthly stipend so that they can focus on their studies. Such forms of generous support keep drawing an increasing number of students to SPC Food Science College every year, making the admission increasingly competitive. Here are interviews with some of the new students who have beaten the competition to be admitted and some of the candidates who have completed the two-year program.

Interviews with New Students

Q. What made you apply at SPC Food Science College?

I’ve worked at Paris Croissant for 11 years, but I still thought there was so much for me to learn. When a new employee asked me questions, either theoretical or practical, I sometimes wasn’t able to offer clear-cut answers, which made me thirst for more knowledge. In the next two years, I expect to gain extensive knowledge and information both on theory and practice and to be able to offer more accurate information when I am asked questions.

Q. You will have to work and study at the same time for the next two years. What is your plan to make it work?

I’ve been told that it is tough. I guess I’ll just have to do my best and that’s what I am going to do—do my best.

Q. Where do you see yourself two years from now?

What I am doing now is making cakes. And I am excited to learn about other areas of the F&B business including bread, coffee, and wine. What I learn in SPC Food Science College may not be applicable at work immediately after I finish the program, but I am sure I will be able to enhance my capability.

Interview with a Graduate

Q. In what way did SPC Food Science College help you the most?

First, I would like to thank the director and team head of the Quality Management Department for giving me an opportunity to work with them. I was able to finish the program thanks to their help. Prior to joining the program, I had few opportunities to network with other people apart from my coworkers. So I considered myself a frog in the well. While I was learning with my classmates, I was glad to be able to broaden my horizons. Plus, I was able to learn additionally about wine, coffee, and bread, which was really exciting. One of the great things about the program was that it gave an opportunity for me to see the other side of the F&B business, which I never saw when I was doing office work. It has certainly given me a new perspective.

Q. Have you actually applied what you learned at work?

Currently, I am working in quality control, and the program has been very much helpful in performing my job. Since I now know how the products are made, I can quickly identify the key factors that I have to look into, and I also utilize my knowledge to improve production management.

Q. What advice would you give to someone who is currently in the program or who wants to enroll in it?

It may be stating the obvious, but attending the classes and listening to what the professors have to say are important. You may want to focus on gaining knowledge, but I would advise trying to learn and grow with your classmates and interacting and sharing thoughts with them. If you share information, knowledge, and experiences with your classmates, you will more likely do better in class and get better grades, too. Most of all, be confident; go ahead and try even when you find a subject or class challenging.

Q. You are dealing with tax issues for the group. What made you apply for SPC Food Science College?

The bakery and restaurant businesses are the backbone of the SPC Group but I knew so little about the fundamental aspects of the SPC Group where I work. I wanted to be someone who can contribute to the growth of the company where I work. I was able to develop deeper understanding of the SPC Group as I learned in the program.

Q. Today, you are graduating with honors and you are also the recipient of the Minister of Education Award. Congratulations! As a student awardee, what do you think is the most interesting and useful part of the curriculum?

Well, I have worked really hard in the last two years and I am so pleased and grateful that my hard work is recognized with the award. What I found most useful is practice. Since I have no baking background, the cooking classes were actually the most challenging but were the most helpful as well. The program is designed in such a way that anyone including those with no baking background can start from beginner’s level and move on to advanced level in two years.

Q. As an honor student, you have earned an opportunity to learn more at Ecole Bellouet Conseil in France. I guess you are very excited. What are your expectations?

Ecole Bellouet Conseil is a globally renowned pastry school where I can learn advanced pastry skills. I think it will be a great opportunity for me to learn advanced pastry skills and knowledge. SPC is leading the food culture in Korea and is also going global. In this context, I have high expectations that I will be able to acquire new skills and also develop a global perspective.

Interview with HR Staff

Q. I heard that admission to SPC Food Science College is very competitive. Can you explain the admission process?

The admission process consists of three steps: screening of application documents, written test, and interview. The competition ratio was 3.5:1 in 2024. There were 88 applicants, and 25 of them were admitted. Normally, the ratio is higher at 4:1 or 5:1.

Q. What are the key features of the curriculum at SPC Food Science College?

SPC Food Science College has one department—the Bakery Department. Since it is a college established and run by SPC, the leading bakery and pastry company in Korea, the quality of the program and expertise of the faculty members are guaranteed. The curriculum offers classes related to food in general as well as specific bakery items and provides students with opportunities to visit major facilities operated by SPC. In other words, our curriculum is closely linked to the reality of the bakery business.

Q. Some of SPC’s employees also enroll in SPC Food Science College. What do they say about the program? How does the program help them at work?

SPC employees enrolling in the college are driven by a strong purpose. An honor student graduating today has an average GPA of 4.3 out of 4.5. They are passionate about learning, and they are highly satisfied with the program. We conduct surveys on individual classes or overall program each semester, and the results are normally 4.7 or higher out of 5, indicating that the students are very satisfied.

What new and graduating students have in common is that they both have passion for learning and seek new challenges. SPC Food Science College not only provides high-quality education but also enables students to gain on-site experiences and enhance their capabilities eventually. The SPC Group will continue to support its employees as they strive to improve themselves, driven by passion and spirit of challenge.