A kick-off meeting of the EU Erasmus+ OFINU project
From February 1, 2024, began at the Andijan Institute of Agriculture and Agrotechnologies the implementation of the “OFINU – Open Food Innovation University” project, financed by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. OFINU Consortium is led by the Grantholder – Latvian University of Natural Sciences and Technologies. Also in the project are participating Agrarian University in Nitra (Slovakia); Samarkand Agricultural Innovation and Research University; Andijan Institute of Agriculture and Agrotechnologies; Tajikistan University of Technology; Isfara Branch of Technological University of Tajikistan; Kulob University of Technology and Innovative Management, a total of 7 higher educational institutions.
Although the tasks corresponding to the objectives of the OFINU project have already been distributed and started implementation, the kick-off meeting was organized at the Tajik University of Technology on May 6-7, 2024. Rector of Andijan Institute of Agriculture and Agrotechnologies, Professor Takhirjon Sultanov and coordinator Bahodirjon Nosirov took part in it. The kick-off meeting was attended by representatives from all partners, the Ministry of Education and Science of Tajikistan, and the Office of Erasmus+ Tajikistan.
Diversification of the offer of services in higher education within the framework of the project, work packages for this purpose, educational modules, trainings for teachers in Latvia and Slovakia, equipment and financial bases were discussed in detail at the meeting. Quality assurance, promotion and management strategies were also approved. Guests got acquainted with the activities of the relevant department of the Technological University of Tajikistan. During the event, a cooperation agreement was signed with the Technological University of Tajikistan and its Isfara branch.
The project aims to develop and implement in the involved Central Asia universities a new innovative form of studies in which teaching and learning takes place in a modular format and in which together with full-time students participate external learners – listeners to study modules – people, having intention to acquire food processing related knowledge and/or to acquire higher education. For example, specialists in food processing industries or those who wish to become specialists can use these educational services. To this end, a legal basis will be created and strengthened, study modules developed, academic staff of partners trained, and the material base, needed for studies, developed.
External learners will participate in certain modules together with full-time students, thus obtaining the credits determined for each module after completion of the training, acquiring the necessary knowledge, as well as gradually accumulating credits that allow the acquisition of a higher education diploma. This approach will enable people who have already entered the labour market to learn, increase their competitiveness in the labour market, as well as to increase the employment potential of students studying full-time programmes.
Significant role in the project is given to the associated partners – five food processing enterprises and one business association, who will participate in the new study modules designing process, will take part in their validation, and will delegate staff to take part in the piloting.
The OFINU project will be implemented from February 2024 to January 2027 and will serve to further improve the institute’s national and international rating indicators by increasing the quality of education.