Packaging as an academic discipline in North America has been evolving ever since the first packaging program was launched in 1952 at Michigan State University. Over the past decades, numerous programs have evolved through- out North American colleges and universities, all with the aim of providing a highly trained workforce to meet the ever-increasing demand of the booming global packaging industry. While graduate programs have evolved to focus on specific areas of expertise within the field, the basic mis- sion of undergraduate education remains the focus of most packaging programs. Cal Poly’s Master’s and Cer- tificate packaging programs, however, are different. Their unique “Learn by Doing” emphasis on the “Packaging Val- ue Chain” has drilled to the very core of paperboard pack- aging’s “value proposition” while continuing to educate stellar students who have gone on to accept positions at packaging producers throughout the United States and around the world. Aside from a thriving packaging minor, the packaging programs at Cal Poly have grown by leaps and bounds Cal Poly Graduates Maximize Power Of Industry’s Packaging Value Chain
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over the last 18 years. In 2003, the school only offered a packaging “minor” and had limited equipment in the labs. The only faculty member then was Dr. Jay Singh, who has marshalled the program with passion and professionalism since its inception and who continues to spearhead the school’s bold initiatives into the future. With the increasing demand for packaging education, and the unflinching support of the administration, Cal Poly rapidly expanded its curriculum and its packaging team, upgraded its packaging laboratories, grew the program to become a “Concentration” and eventually offered a Mas- ter’s degree, and engaged with the industry towards sup- port and research by launching a research consortium and eventually, a Center for Research. CONTINUED ON PAGE 68 Dr. Jay Singh was the first faculty member of Cal Poly’s Pack- aging Program and continues to spearhead the school’s bold initiatives into the future.
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April 26, 2021
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