The Bachelor of Technology (BUT) in Biological Engineering (BUT GB), specializing in Food Science and Biotechnology (SAB), trains senior technicians, versatile and independent assistant engineers, project or team leaders, and consultants in the diverse fields of agri-food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biotechnology, and institutional catering. Thanks to their versatility, graduates of the BUT SAB program can handle a variety of technical and regulatory tasks in production, quality control, analysis, and research and development. This program is particularly well-suited to the Réunion Island economy, which is primarily composed of very small businesses (TPEs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that need middle managers to address the challenges facing our island, especially food self-sufficiency within a European regulatory and standards framework.

Educational goals :

The BUT GB (Bachelor of Technology in Biological Sciences) prepares students for careers as senior technicians or assistant engineers. Students can conduct and analyze experiments in the life sciences, research, analyze, and present data, and propose solutions to biological problems. The SAB (Food Science and Biotechnology) track allows students to work in the fields of agri-food, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Students learn to innovate in food science and biotechnology, organize the production of food and biomolecules, and manage quality, hygiene, safety, and environmental aspects in the food and biotechnology industries.

Training opportunities:

Characterized by significant population growth (42% under 25), Réunion faces numerous major challenges related to its insularity and distance from mainland France (10,000 km), as well as a youth unemployment rate 2,5 times higher than that of mainland France. Employment and food self-sufficiency are major challenges facing Réunion, and it possesses undeniable strengths to overcome them. In the agri-food sector, Réunion has a structured and dynamic network of SMEs, very small businesses, and a few industries. For the past 20 years, the Biological Engineering Department of the University Institute of Technology (IUT) has met the training needs in this sector through its two-year university diploma (DUT) in Biological Engineering with a specialization in Food Science and Biotechnology (SAB). Since the start of the 2021 academic year, as part of the IUT reform, the Biological Engineering Department has continued its training mission in this field with the Bachelor of Technology (BUT) in Biological Engineering, specializing in Food Science and Biotechnology (SAB). This program offers a genuine opportunity for personal fulfillment and professional integration for young people in one of France's poorest departments, which also has the highest unemployment rate (excluding Mayotte). Furthermore, this training fully participates in the work-study program (in the third year) promoted by the institution, which is considered a win-win situation for both the employer and the student-employee. Finally, this program also offers international opportunities through internships abroad and/or exchange semesters, thus facilitating students' integration into the workforce.

The BUT GB (Bachelor of Technology in Building Services) with a focus on SAB (Supply and Automation) is a three-year program for senior technicians/assistant engineers. It is recognized nationally and across Europe and leads to a Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS credits) through the technological pathway. Based on a National Curriculum (PN), it comprises 2000 hours of instruction and 600 hours of projects, all grounded in a competency-based approach. These competencies are progressively acquired through innovative and varied teaching methods, utilizing resources such as lectures, tutorials, practical work, and learning and assessment situations (SAÉ). These learning and assessment situations provide students with real-world professional experience, representing 50% of the total course hours. The Portfolio approach and the Personal and Professional Project (PPP) are two structuring elements of this training which give the student the opportunity on the one hand to self-assess objectively on the skills acquired or being acquired and on the other hand to reflect on his personal strategy to build his professional path in line with the jobs in the fields in which he is training.

Total working hours: 2600 hours.

• Year 1: 1070 hours
• 2rd year: 880 hours
• 3rd year: 650 hours

The BUT GB (Bachelor of Technology in Biological Engineering) is a professional training program with a competency-based approach to teaching. Practical instruction and professional simulations represent 50% of the training hours. The programs are organized around five competencies that are developed over two or three years, with increasing levels of complexity throughout the program. The first two competencies are common to all BUT Biological Engineering programs, while the last three are specific to each program. Competency 1, which is transversal to the Biological Engineering field, is eliminated at the end of the second year.^rd year, whereas skill 5, specific to each pathway, only appears in 2^rd year. The SAB program is organized as follows:

GOAL 1

UE 1.1 CONDUCTING ANALYSES – LEVEL 1

UE 1.2 OBSERVING THE VARIATION OF A BIOLOGICAL PHENOMENON – LEVEL 1

EU 1.3SAB IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS – LEVEL 1

UE 1.4 SAB UNDERSTANDING THE PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT – LEVEL 1

UE 2.1 CONDUCTING ANALYSES – LEVEL 1

UE 2.2 OBSERVING THE VARIATION OF A BIOLOGICAL PHENOMENON – LEVEL 1

EU 2.3SAB IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS – LEVEL 1

UE 2.4SAB UNDERSTANDING THE PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT – LEVEL 1

GOAL 2

UE 3.1 CONDUCTING ADVANCED ANALYSES – LEVEL 2

UE 3.2 EXPERIMENTING TO UNDERSTAND A SCIENTIFIC PROBLEM – LEVEL 2

EU 3.3SAB ENSURING QUALITY IN A FOOD PRODUCTION OR PRODUCTION CONTEXT – LEVEL 2

UE 3.4SAB PRODUCING FOOD AND BIOMOLECULES – LEVEL 2

UE 3.5SAB PARTICIPATING IN A FOOD OR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION PROJECT – LEVEL 1

UE 4.1 CONDUCTING ADVANCED ANALYSES – LEVEL 2

UE 4.2 EXPERIMENTING TO UNDERSTAND A SCIENTIFIC PROBLEM – LEVEL 2

EU 4.3SAB ENSURING QUALITY IN A FOOD PRODUCTION OR PRODUCTION CONTEXT – LEVEL 2

UE 4.4SAB PRODUCING FOOD AND BIOMOLECULES – LEVEL 2

UE 4.5SAB PARTICIPATING IN A FOOD OR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION PROJECT – LEVEL 1

GOAL 3

UE 5.2 CONDUCTING AN INTEGRATIVE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH – LEVEL 3

UE 5.3SAB ADAPTING QHSE APPROACHES IN A FOOD OR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL CONTEXT – LEVEL 3

UE 5.4SAB MANAGING PRODUCTION IN A FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENT – LEVEL 3

UE 5.5SAB PARTICIPATING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FOOD OR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION PROJECT – LEVEL 2

UE 6.2 CONDUCTING AN INTEGRATIVE SCIENTIFIC APPROACH – LEVEL 3

UE 6.3SAB ADAPTING QHSE APPROACHES IN A FOOD OR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL CONTEXT – LEVEL 3

UE 6.4SAB MANAGING PRODUCTION IN A FOOD AND BIOPRODUCTS INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENT – LEVEL 3

UE 6.5SAB PARTICIPATING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FOOD OR BIOTECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION PROJECT – LEVEL 2

The skills acquired during this training are in line with those of the RNCP record

The training is based on five skill blocks:

Block 1: Carrying out analyses in the fields of biology.

Block 2: Experimenting in biological engineering.

Block 3: Facilitating Quality, Hygiene, Safety, and Environmental Management in Food and Biotechnology Industries.

Block 4: Organizing the production of food and biomolecules.

Block 5: Innovating in food science and biotechnology.

The training includes:

• in 1. ^st Year: 3-week internship (December-January) + 8 SAÉs (learning and assessment situations involving supervised project hours)
• in 2. ^rd Year: 8-week internship (January-March) + 6 SAÉs
• in 3. ^rd year: 13-week internship (March-June) + 1 SAÉ or work-study program.

Registration fees are set annually by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space and are available on our institution's website: Register at the University of Reunion

For the 3rd year of the work-study BUT program, in addition to national entitlements:

• Individual paying for a job seeker not covered by social security: €6,302.80
• Employer/job seeker agreement covered: €9,004.00

• Results in scientific subjects
• Notes on literary culture
• French notes
• French grades for the early baccalaureate exam
• English notes
• Specialty grades according to the chosen field of study
• Average increases
• Writing and comprehension skills
• Method of working
• Have sufficient knowledge of English
• Team spirit
• Punctuality, diligence
• Ability to commit
• Autonomy
• Motivation to join the training program
• Knowledge of training requirements
• Project coherence

• Teachers' grades, report cards and comments
• Future Profile
• Assessment by the class council or the headteacher regarding the ability to succeed in the training
• Motivated training project (cover letter, Open Days…)

General Baccalaureate or Technological Baccalaureate series Sciences and Technologies of Laboratory (STL) and Sciences and Technologies of Health and Social (ST2S) for an application for admission to the 1st year of BUT.

Depending on the student's situation, applications to enter the first year of BUT take place according to two specific procedures (the national platform Parcoursup, Études en France).

Admission to the second and third years takes place on the platform Admission and on Studies in France for foreign students.

For more information, you can consult the university's student services page: https://www.univ-reunion.fr/choisir-sa-formation/inscriptions/etudiants-en-reinscription/

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Baccalaureate + 1 for admission to a bridging program

Baccalaureate + 2 or equivalent

Holders of a general or technological baccalaureate (STL, ST2S) for admission to the 1st year of BUT and depending on the diploma being prepared (Brevet de Technicien Supérieur – BTS, Licence, Classe Préparatoire aux Grandes Écoles – CPGE, etc.) for admission to the 2nd or 3rd year of BUT (bridging course).

26 seats.

The admission dates for the first year of the BUT diploma are set nationally each year and are available on the platform. Parcoursup

For admission to the second and third years of the BUT program, the schedule is determined by the institution. It is available on the student services page of the university website: Students re-registering

In 2024-2025, the training success rates were as follows:

• In the first year of the BUT program: 70% (14 admitted out of a total of 20 students)
• In the 2rd year of the BUT program: 100% (11 admitted)
• In the 3rd year of the BUT program: 100% (18 admitted)

Further studies at the local level:

• Engineering School: Engineering Degree – Graduate Engineer from the Higher School of Engineering Réunion Indian Ocean (ESIROI) of the University of Réunion – specializing in Agri-food
• Master's degrees in biology, health, and chemistry

Further studies at the national level:

• National higher schools of agronomy and agri-food
• Engineering schools in the Polytech Network and many others
• Master's degrees in biology, health, chemistry, agri-food and quality

The sectors of activity and types of employment targeted by this training correspond to those listed in the RNCP record

Possible career paths with the SAB track of the BUT Biological Engineering program:

• Senior laboratory technician for analysis and control.
• Research engineer assistant.
• Quality, Hygiene, Safety and Environment (QHSE) Coordinator.
• Quality Assistant or Manager.
• Production workshop manager or team leader.
• Assistant project manager in research and development or innovation.