Developing new training schemes 2

2000-2002

REF: A-632-DK/00/B/F/PP/111.004

"Developing New training Schemes in the European Dairy Sector"

Background
 

The European Dairy Sector is facing major changes in the near future. Especially the fact that the sector is situated in an ongoing restructuring process is critical to both the companies and the training institutions. In this context, it is considered to be very important, that the human resources are developed in accordance with the actual training needs in the sector- especially the group of people that works in the field of dairy technology.
In the present situation it is clearly stated, that the vocational training systems at this level are under heavy economical pressure and that the general competence profile of the target group (technicians in the dairy sector) is too narrow and does not fulfil the actual needs of the companies in the sector.
On this background the partnership behind this project has expressed a strong need for developing a new vocational training scheme that is totally based on an European approach. This new training scheme is targeting the level of the dairy technologists. The training scheme is very flexible and modularised organised.

The partnership
 

The initiative behind this project was taken by AEDIL .This European partnership is a very strong one. The partnership represents various European organisations and institutions (Norway, Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria) that all work with training problems in the European dairy sector.
A steering Committee (members of AEDIL) have been established. A group European of educational experts have been formed (Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and Denmark) with the task of describing and identifying the overall competencies needed. The European experts supervise and guide the team of teachers from Dalum, Denmark, who have developed the new training scheme and organise the pilot course.
The European partnership behind the project is representing an already existing European network of various actors within the European dairy sector (This partnership represents Employers organisations, educational institutions, socials partners, and companies )

Project management and timetable
 

The project has used the project organisation approach as the way of working together. As the steering organ an European steering Committee has been established, consisting of the AEDIL network. The European project co-ordinator has acted as the a central person in the project heavily engaged by co-ordinating the work of various working groups.
A group European of educational experts have worked at the general level especially with the tasks of describing and identifying the overall competencies needed. The European experts group have also supervise and guided the working teams of teachers, who developed parts of the new training scheme and organised the pilot course in Denmark. A evaluation procedure has been established in order to document and guide the project.
The project has had a duration of two years. The first year has been used to the identification and description of the various competencies, that are needed for the European dairy technicians and to assess the results of former European projects within the European dairy sector. The first year ended end up with the description of a new innovative vocational training structure,- targeting European dairy technologists.
The second year has primarily been used to organise and develop a pilot course in Denmark with 12 European technicians and to develop teaching materials. A evaluation procedure have been organised and produced an interim evaluation report and a final evaluation.
Finally the project has organised a impact conference by the end of year two and at the same time the European partnership will organise an effective dissemination process which involves the writing of articles in various journals and papers

Results
 

During the period 2000-2002 the project has generated the following results

• Developed a description of a new European training structure,- targeting the group of European dairy technologists. This structure has been developed by four European training expert on a mutual basis and based on vocational principles. The European training scheme is a global structure, which could be changed in accordance with new training requirements in the industry. The structure represents a flexible training approach targeting individual training needs. The training structure targets young people, actively designing their own training/ future career and can be seen as Continuous vocational training - building competences above the existing national systems.
• The partnership has organised a pilot course in Denmark with 16 European participants from Poland, Luxembourg, Denmark, Germany, France and Austria. The learning process was conducted in English. A European learning team has been created between the participants. The evaluation shows that the pilot course did reach its objectives in most areas. The pilot course has produced teaching materials in English.
• Raised strong awareness of training and education issues with in the European Dairy Sector.
• Created a strong partnership between industry, training institutions and social partners.
• Created a European platform for further development for future European projects.
• Created an expanding European partnership with in training, education and development focussing on the European context in order to strengthen the mobility with in the European Dairy sector.
• The European partnership has organised 5 meetings in the Steering Committee. The steering committee represents members from industry, social partners and training bodies from eight European countries. (Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark) AEDIL as European network did also participate in the work of the Steering Committee.
• The European partnership has organised 4 meetings in the experts group, who did the actual development work. The experts were representatives from national Dairy training organisations in Europe. (Denmark, Switzerland, France, Germany and Austria)
• The partnership has organised a strong dissemination procedure, writing articles and giving interviews to papers. During the process of work the members of the partnership have visited companies and organisations in order to discuss and disseminate the findings and results. In Luxembourg the project met the European Commissioner for Education and Culture. The Commissioner was impressed by the results. A final impact conference has been arranged in Nice with 35 participants and potential new members of AEDIL.