Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (Professor Anna Han, Head of Department) will operate a practice-oriented extracurricular program during the summer break of the 2026 academic year to strengthen career preparation and research competencies for undergraduate and graduate students. The program aims to increase students' understanding of the major and to strengthen connections with actual career and research settings.

First, the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition will run a K-Food cooking practice–based major competency enhancement program on July 7 and 8, 2026, using funding from the National University Development Project. This program is designed to support major students in obtaining the Korean cuisine cooking certification. It will provide basic lectures and practical training in Korean cuisine and will be offered as customized special lectures to prepare students for the practical examination.

Notably, the program is structured around practical training to strengthen students' cooking skills required in the food and nutrition field and to allow them to experience potential career pathways in the food industry.

Following that, from July 27 to July 30, 2026, the department will operate an intensive special lecture program using department funds to support graduate school admission to clinical nutrition programs and to strengthen research competencies. This program targets students interested in clinical nutrition and nutritional epidemiology and will provide support ranging from graduate school preparation to the practical skills required to conduct research.

In particular, a special lecture on writing nutritional epidemiology papers and statistical analysis using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) will be offered to help improve students' practical research skills. The lecture will cover data utilization methods, research design, statistical analysis, and the manuscript writing process using real-world case studies.

The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at JBNU has recently expanded various career exploration programs in areas such as clinical nutrition, nutrition for older adults, employment in public institutions, and the food industry. The department is strengthening student-centered education that links practical training and research.

Professor Anna Han, Head of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, said, "Food and nutrition is a discipline that can extend into diverse fields, including clinical practice, research, public institutions, and the food industry. We will provide undergraduates with opportunities for career exploration and practical experience, and we will continue to offer programs that strengthen the practical research skills of students preparing for graduate study."

She added, "In particular, the KNHANES-based nutritional epidemiology special lecture is planned so that students can experience the research skills needed after entering graduate school in advance. We will continue to expand departmental support so that students can confidently design their own career paths based on their major."

Meanwhile, the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at JBNU will continue to operate practice-oriented special lectures, research competency enhancement programs, and field-linked education to strengthen undergraduate and graduate education competitiveness.