The food industry is changing due to several driving forces, based on the consumer changes toward plant-based diets, leading to an increased share of production by the vegan food industry, that to maintain competitiveness needs to master new processes and technologies. Additionally, the food industry is subject to more demanding sustainability requirements, that together with digitalization and automatization trends, are quickly changing the required skills of its workers. Innovative trainings covering these technical issues are needed to support the quick change towards the vegan food industry adapted to Industry4.0.EQVEGAN is a Sector Skills Alliance composed by 15 institutions from 11 countries. The institutions cover diverse profiles, including VET providers from EQF levels 4 to 7, companies, associations of industries, associations of food industry professionals and of teachers and researchers, ministry of science and technology and a qualification agency. The consortium covers the necessary competences to design innovative and highly qualified training, enabling an upskilling and conversion of skills according to market needs, with the use of the EU quality and reference tools, which will accelerate the qualified growth of this sector. The Alliance will design and offer innovative trainings to professionals and students from EQF levels 4 to 7, in 7 languages (English, Croatian, Finnish, French, Polish, Portuguese and Turkish). The Alliance will develop a Skills Portal that will include a stakeholder’s database, reviewed occupational profiles, and an apprenticeship database. A European scheme for job profile certification will be devised and guidelines for recognition informed by sectoral qualifications will be prepared, promoting the trans-national mobility of professionals, that ultimately will be leading to an effective impact in the EU food industry.
Support the fast-changing sub-sector of the food industry by responding to the urgent needs of training staff to support this change by upskilling staff and facilitating the conversion of staff into this sector through reskilling.To achieve this aim, the Alliance established the following objectives:1. Supply innovative and scientifically updated training2. Qualify training with quality assurance embedded principles3. Create a European certification scheme for training and occupations
The food industry is changing based on consumer diet preferences shifting toward plant-based diets. Additionally, it is subject to more demanding sustainability requirements that, together with digitalization and automation trends, are quickly changing the required skills of its workers. This Sector Skills Alliance was formed to tackle this challenge and is composed of 15 institutions from 11 countries, covering diverse profiles from VET providers at EQF levels 4 to 7 to food industry companies.
<< Background >> The food industry is changing based on consumer diet preferences shifting toward plant-based diets. Additionally, it is subject to more demanding sustainability requirements that, together with digitalization and automation trends, are quickly changing the required skills of its workers. This Sector Skills Alliance was formed to tackle this challenge and is composed of 15 institutions from 11 countries, covering diverse profiles from VET providers at EQF levels 4 to 7 to food industry companies. << Objectives >> Support the fast-changing sub-sector of the food industry by responding to the urgent needs of training staff to support this change by upskilling staff and facilitating the conversion of staff into this sector through reskilling.To achieve this aim, the Alliance established the following objectives:1. Supply innovative and scientifically updated training2. Qualify training with quality assurance embedded principles3. Create a European certification scheme for training and occupations << Implementation >> Implementation done through transnational level platforms and partnerships, and strategic sectoral cooperation by relevant partners. Development was centered on designing and delivering plant-based processing, green, digital and automation, and soft skills training. Guidelines to support work-based learning, recognition and certification, and several databases, were prepared. Dissemination was effectively done in many events and social media and successfully reached the target groups. << Results >> ESCO database was enhanced by updating profiles of the food operator, food technician and food technologist, including the addition of new skills and knowledge. Training was successfully designed and delivered for trainers and, at EQF levels 4 to 7, for students and food pros. Training materials, guidelines for recognition and certification are freely available. A Food-Skills portal was built to disseminate and further exploit project results by the Sector Skills Alliance after the project.