By implementing the AGROBIOTECH+ project, we wanted to achieve: *To help students make a smooth transition from academia to the agro-biotechnology industry by providing them with the tools and resources they need to succeed. *To contribute to decreasing the unemployment of European higher education graduates by increasing their qualifications and skills to match the needs of the agricultural biotechnology industry. * To create a curriculum that enhances the transition from higher education to the labour market in agricultural biotechnology and aligns with recent technological achievements. *To develop teaching materials to support the delivery of the curriculum. *To highlight the experiences and expectations of sector employees and employers through the creation of success stories and videos. * To provide students with a handbook for career planning in the agricultural biotechnology industry. *To organise agrobiotech events to bring students and industry professionals together to foster networking and knowledge-sharing These objectives were linked to the priorities selected for the project in that they aim to address the misalignment between university learning and workplace practices in agricultural biotechnology.
We applied for this project to contribute to the growth of the agricultural biotechnology industry, which has been a vital sector for Europe's economy. By providing students with the skills and knowledge they needed to succeed in this field, the project would help bridge the gap between education and industry needs, which would lead to a more productive and innovative workforce. This project was a necessity as a direct response to the European Commission’s emphasis in the Bio-economy Strategy on the urgent need for skilled graduates and industry-aligned education to strengthen the bio-economy and accelerate the transition to a circular and low-carbon economy. The project was necessary in terms of referring to the biotechnology industry’s immediate demand for interdisciplinary skills, real-world problem-solving, and effective communication in graduates.