Students in the Food Processing Technician program at BIC Ljubljana gain practical experience in real learning environments, particularly in food processing companies, school laboratories and the school bakery and confectionery workshops.

The Food Processing Technician is a profession focused on modern and informed examination of food, analyzing and controlling the quality of foodstuffs, from raw materials to the final product. Upon completion of the upper secondary technical program, students are proficient in the guidelines and innovations of food technology and nutritional processes, as well as in healthy eating habits. They can choose suitable foods based on their nutritional and energy value and prepare balanced and healthy menus according to prescribed standards. The acquired knowledge can be utilized in the development of innovative products on farms, in boutique workshops, catering services, food establishments (cafes, confectioneries, bars, restaurants), microbreweries and distilleries, oil mills, wineries, and agritourism farms. It also enables the gastronomic presentation of traditional and local dishes, offering them to both domestic and international consumers.

Food Processing Technicians oversee the preparation of safe food from 'farm to fork' by adhering to the HACCP system and promoting sustainable development. Their knowledge can be applied in more demanding roles in the food industry, verifying the quality of food through chemical, microbiological, and sensory analyses from raw materials to the final product. They also familiarize themselves with modern biotechnological processes in food production and are introduced environmentally-friendly technologies that contribute to a cleaner environment.

In the second half of their four-year education, students choose at least one elective professional module to enhance their basic knowledge. In all modules, knowledge of professional theory is intertwined with practical work and laboratory practice, which students carry out in school laboratories and through visits to smaller food sector establishments and bigger ones in food industry as part of student excursions.

The second and third-year students undergo a 14-day practical training period with an employer. The school, along with students and employers, develops a program for practical training with work. Students acquire knowledge and skills through professional modules of the open curriculum. At least half of the hours are dedicated to additional professional modules, where students gain manual skills in laboratory work and technological processes.

Different camps definitely enrich the program. The two-day camp in Zapotok near Ig is designed to prepare students for their final matura exams in mathematics and English in the 4th year.

Students are involved in the Erasmus+ programme, through which they go for practical training to Finland, Portugal, Spain, Croatia and other countries.

As part of the biology school club, students take care of the animals residing in the biology classroom. They participate in professional nutrition and sensory workshops for primary school pupils, take part in various fairs and events and monitor the amount of food waste from school meals throughout the year, as well as raise awareness about healthy and proper nutrition. Every year, they undertake several paper-collecting initiatives.

They participate in various competitions, often achieving the highest awards:  the national Moje podjetje (My company) competition, where they establish a student company, competitions organized by Konzorcij biotehniških šol Slovenije (the consortium of biotechnical schools in Slovenia), the Slovenian language proficiency competition for the Cankarjevo priznanje, the secondary school physics knowledge competition Čmrlj, biology competitions for secondary school students. They also take part in English language competitions at both national and international levels (such as Poliglot and Best in English) and the EPI Reading Badge Competition, the international Mathematical Kangaroo Competition, mathematics competition for the Vegovo priznanje and sports competitions.

We offer students student excursions to Vienna, Budapest, Berchtesgaden, Salzburg, Graz, to Emilia Romagna in Italy and Prekmurje, Primorska and Dolenjska regions in Slovenia. We provide them with professional tours of food processing companies (Ljubljanske Mlekarne, Eta Kamnik, Žito, Pršutarna Kras, Vinakoper, Pivovarna Laško, Meso Kamnik, visits to microbreweries, distilleries, etc.) and smaller craft businesses, where they become acquainted with technological processes, machinery, and equipment in the food processing industry and learn about the importance of local and quality food production.

Our students gain experience by participating in various projects, such as the Thinking Otherwise project and eTwinning. School of Food Processing and Nature Protection is the recipient of the European Quality Label for the eTwinning Slovenia project I feel Very European Today. Students also participate in the Spletni portal Franček (a web portal), the Objem project aimed at strengthening reading literacy, and Inovativna pedagogika 1:1 (an innovative pedagogy), where they explore innovative use of tools, services, and mobile devices that go beyond the average use of ICT equipment in schools. They also participate in the national Growing up with a Book project, aimed at promoting reading.  

As part of the volunteering initiative at BIC Ljubljana, students have the opportunity to become volunteers. They participate in school celebrations and various events - World Food Day, Shrovetide, thematic exhibitions, Earth Day, and the New Year's bazaar and European Day of Languages. Every year, they also host a representative from the US Embassy in Slovenia.