InnoDairyEdu refers to the development of a Dairy Science module intended in principle for Food Science/Technology students, focused on innovation for products, processes, quality, safety and entrepreneurship, by using ICTs and OER. More specifically, the project will use as a starting point the assessment of the current situation in relation to the Dairy Science modules, in the participating universities and also will exploit the views on the level of awareness of dairy science professionals from the associated partners that will originate from the dairy industry. Based on these results, the partnership will tailor-made a Dairy Science module and the relevant training material will be developed. The project aims enhancing digital integration in learning, teaching and training at various levels by developing scientific, pedagogical, informative and formative materials in Dairy science. Each partner according to the project’s management will create OER learning modules that, at the end, will compose a MOOC. The MOOC will be supported by the INNODAIRYEDU -platform which will be based on latest technologies for OER distribution and utilization, interaction between course participants and customized training paths provision. The material will be pilot tested and evaluated in all the participating countries and the final material will be further disseminated through conferences, multiplier events and a Summer School. The material produced alongside with entrepreneurship case studies to be developed, will be also interactively shared with the dairy industry partners. The main objective of InnoDairyEdu is to offer to Food Science and Technology students and/or professionals an innovative and holistic training on Dairy Science in order to fill the gaps that the Dairy Industry highlights.
The dairy industry is one of the most important components of the world food system, and is constantly undergoing changes. Currently processes of change are being driven by a wide range of forces including shifts to the regulatory environment for dairy production and trade, technological changes to the production of milk and dairy products, rapidly shifting consumption trends, and the restructuring of transnational corporate strategies. On the other hand, there are existing gaps between the competency profiles of Food Science and Technology graduates and the labour market needs that need to be sustainably addressed by the academia, in order to prepare the future Dairy Science Professionals. Therefore, InnoDairyEdu comes as a result of the common need of Higher Education Institutes to provide up to date knowledge and skills in Dairy Science. The main objective of InnoDairyEdu was to provide Food Scientists with the skills required by the labour market and the economy, while allowing them to play an active role in society and achieve personal fulfilment. InnoDairyEdu is an integrated undergraduate module for Food Science and Technology students, which was developed by a strong partnership including academics, experts and representatives from the dairy industry. Five universities and a market actor acted as full partners, supported by more than twenty associated partners, originating mainly from the dairy industry in the participating countries. InnoDairyEdu developed education material, focused on Products, Processes, Quality, Safety & Entrepreneurship of the Dairy Sector. This new curriculum design approach and other good practices were shared through collaborative platforms, using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and Open Educational Resources (OER). In addition, the specific material developed is freely accessible to dairy industry professionals that were also supported by the partnership on entrepreneurship issues. InnoDairyEdu aimed to use the potential of Europe’s human and social capital originating from higher education’s institutes and the dairy industry, in order to exchange and transfer knowledge and know-how in dairy science education, by the creation and development of a network that provided opportunities for cooperation among stakeholders, in order to foster employability and socio-educational and personal development, as well as participation in civic and social life. The main target groups are Food Science/Technology Students and Food Science/Technology Professionals working in the Dairy Industry. By the completion of the project approximately 100 students per university per year were involved in the train the trainees activities leading to a total of 500 students. Additionally more than 250 people participated in the multiplier events in all partner countries and approximately 80 tutors participated in the train the trainers’ event. In all industry events more that 80 people participated. The general objectives of InnoDairyEdu were to promote European cooperation in education and training, to use innovative practices in education by the strategic use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and open educational resources (OER), to create sustainable links between academia and the dairy industry and to assist the strategic development, quality and internationalisation of the participating Higher Education Institutions. More specifically, InnoDairyEdu: 1. Evaluated the training needs in Dairy Science in European Higher Education Organizations 2. Developed innovative education training materials for EU Universities focusing on Products, Processes, Quality, Safety & Entrepreneurship of the Dairy Sector 3. Digitalized the education material to be developed 4. Used ICTs and OER to ensure wider accessibility to knowledge, by developing an interactive MOOC online platform with all the material produced 5. Pilot tested and evaluated the Dairy Science platform with all education material developed 6. Translated part of the educational material at all the languages of the partnership (Greek, Italian, Spanish and Polish) and English in order to be wider accessible 7. Created a sustainable link among academia and dairy industry, by using ICTs and OER emphasising on entrepreneurship issues 8. Disseminated the project’s results to the academia and the dairy industry InnoDairyEdu enhanced digital integration in learning, teaching and training at various levels by the development of scientific, pedagogical, informative and formative materials in Dairy science. The educational material are available through InnoDairyEdu platform which is based on latest technologies for OER distribution and utilization, interaction between course participants and customized training paths provision. The material was pilot tested and evaluated in all the participating countries and the final results were further disseminated through conferences, multiplier events and a Summer School.