Improving skills in laboratory practice for agro-food specialists in eastern Europe

The project was foreseen for 36 months but it lasted 53 months due to two extensions related to the impossibility to organize the project activities in a proper way because of the Covid restrictions. During the project activities period four specialized courses dedicated to laboratory practice for specialists of agro-food sector were created. They were implemented at the faculties of the partner HEIs: veterinary medicine, agronomy, animal husbandry and food technologies. One transversal course related to general laboratory practice was developed. Some developed modules are also applied for the post-diploma training of laboratory staff.Project activities included: Consultations, round tables for definition of needed competences; Elaboration of references for specialization “laboratory practice” in collaboration between HEIs and laboratories; elaboration of curricular and training plans; launching of the pilot courses at the faculties; providing of post-diploma training for laboratory staff; students mobility to partner and programme institutions; organization of common theoretical and practical trainings by the HEIs and laboratories. The pilot courses were launched since September 2019.To implement these activities the teachers-trainers teams were created. Universities teachers and laboratory specialists became their members. Their training was done through 15 training sessions in EU and partner countries, 4 expert missions to UA and GE; 2 webinars provided by EU partners. The Manual “Laboratory practice” was developed commonly by the project partners. All partners participated in its edition. It was edited in English and translated into Ukrainian, Georgian and Romanian and published in the project web-portal. In addition the Manual devoted to the laboratory practice in agronomy was edited by SNAU and published on the web-portal as well as several educative films done by other partners (BTNAU, VetAgroSup Lyon). The MOODLE platform for distance learning was used for distances courses developed by the project participants. All training materials are published on the web-portal, were promoted among professional milieu and are accessible for all interested persons. The web-portal contains copies or links to the research publications of the project participants, presentations done at the training sessions and other useful information. So, the web-portal is acting as a hub called “Lab TECH” for coordination of innovative academic and post-diploma training. The close relation were established between the HEIs and the laboratories in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova: HEIs teachers and laboratories staff participated commonly in different events within the project, laboratory specialists provide classes for students and organize for them visits with practical issues. The HEIs share their acquired knowledge with laboratory specialists. These common activities are sustainable and are considered as tools for collaborative teaching between universities and laboratories. They serve also for employment of students after graduating from the faculties.The project was promoted by all available ways: Newsletters, publications in research and pedagogical editions, exhibitions, media. For its sustainability the Coalition board consisting of the project participants and stakeholders was created and the Sustainability plan was developed.The quality of the project activities and products was regularly assessed according to the Quality plan. The project management was done due to regularly online and offline meetings of the Steering committee and permanent communication between the project partners. The administration of the partner institutions took an active part in the project.