Development of a comprehensive e-training programme on microbiological safety in food chains for current and future professionals

<< Background >>The industry needs reliable data and support tools to ensure the microbiological quality of products upon receipt of raw materials, during the various stages of product processing and when it is placed on the market until consumption. Better control of the microbiological quality of food products also makes it possible to fight against food loss and waste. Besides trained staff, graduates from food studies trained towards the development of microbiological competences can fill this current skills gap in the food industry and have an increased employability. Undergraduate students and professionals need to have continuous access to transnational knowledge, research and societal trends to keep their standards and their commitments on local and European regulations up to date. As the COVID-19 crisis arose, it has greatly accelerated the need for digital transformation of education and training systems in Europe. The challenge now is to better integrate these e-learning activities in vocational, higher and life-long learning educations. At both instances, agricultural education and food industry, there is a need to have more interactive and encompassing e-learning tools that take into account the specific features of the food industry<< Objectives >>The aim of the project is to develop an interactive online training programme on microbiological risks in food, in order to improve the capacity of students, educators, researchers, and agri-food professionals (including SMEs and small-scale producers). This training has the particularity of having a strong practical aspect, use interactive tools, is free of charge, self-paced, with 3 levels corresponding to the knowledge /experience of the learners, and is certified at European level (EQAS food certificate). Objectives The objectives of the project are as follows: - to contribute to the dissemination and transfer of knowledge on microbiological food safety to target users with limited access to in-person learning in the field of agri food; - at the beginning of the project, we had to face the context linked to COVID-19, to ensure the continuity of the training of food industry professionals and students/teachers, including laboratorial work, by developing an online learning platform on microbiological food safety; and - to improve the training offer currently available on microbiological food safety by expanding on applied aspects and promoting the practical aspects of knowledge to our audience.<< Implementation >>• Exchange of best practices and knowledge through virtual meetings for the development of the e-learning content • Three transnational project meetings for the effective management and implementation of the project • 26 monthly meetings to follow the activity development • Training of 125 students, educators, researchers and industry professionals, through 3 pilot trainings conducted in the different partner’s organisations. The objective of these trainings was to train the trainers of the e-SafeFood partner establishments to use the interactive training content available on the ISEKI-Food e-learning platform, in front of a real audience bringing together students, researchers and industrialists and to test all e-trainings, assessment tools and materials available on the platform. • Conduction of three webinars, with the participation of 209 students, educators, researchers and industry professionals, to make known the e-learning platform as well as all the project's achievements • Enrollment of 599 people in our platform who have started to learn with the material developed by the project (annexe 6).<< Results >>PR1: Development of material/adapted tools, definition and elaboration of the e-trainings (Lead partners: Actia-Actalia&Aerial, IPBragança) : The objective was to set up and develop dedicated pedagogical material on food microbiological safety and hygiene for the aforementioned target users. Tailored appropriate pedagogical methods and tools have also been created. The e-training program has been divided into 3 levels (basic, intermediate and advanced). PR2: Implementation of trainings in an e learning platform (Lead partner: ISEKI-Food) The training course content developed in the previous work package has been implemented in the ISEKI e-learning platform (https://moodle.iseki-food.net/), with a modular and interactive formatPR3: Conduction and certification of e-trainings (Lead partners: ISEKI-Food and Actia-Actalia&Aerial) Pilot trainings have been implemented for teachers and professors, students and agri-food professionals, allowing the testing, assessment and refining of the different training modulesPR4 - Dissemination and valorisation of the e trainings (Lead partner: Alimento) The success of the project and the broader use and recognition of the e-trainings in Europe requires its broad dissemination towards all targets