The Executive Committee of the ICA Community of Practice for Bioeocnomy Education (ICA-CoP Bio-Edu) is organising the workshop “Engaging with industry to ensure that graduates and professionals are well prepared for employment in the Bioeconomy“, to be held at Warsaw University of Life Sciences from 26 to 28 April 2023.

Download the flyer with details and agenda.

A  Workshop focus

Educators and employers are experiencing a gap between the competences of graduates and what is needed by the employer in the bioeconomy. Although it is not possible to prepare students for specific jobs, it should be possible with the support of industry to prepare students more effectively for their future careers in the bioeconomy

The key objectives of the workshop will be to:

• recognise and examine the gap between expectations of graduates and industry on the working ethos of the bioeconomy industries.
• identify the specific generic competences required by graduates for careers in the bioeconomy
• recognise the need to embed in our graduates the mindset for the bioeconomy  – referring back to the Colloquium in 2022
• exchange good practices in realising cooperation between representatives of employers and educational institutions to improve the engagement of industry employees in curricula at VET, Bachelor and Master education levels.
• examine how to develop life long learning cooperation between employers and educational institutions in support of up-skilling industry employees for the bioeconomy

B   Expected Outcome

It is expected that participants will:

• address how to realise an optimal engagement of employer partners in the educational programmes to prepare graduates and professionals for their future employment.

C  Target Audience

Degree programme coordinators, lecturers, members of committees responsible for the (strategic) development of curricula. National education advisors and employers, who have a special interest in cooperating with education institutions, are also invited to contribute to the discussion.

D  Workshop Format

On the Wednesday afternoon there will be a joint plenary session focusing on all three workshop themes.  The Thursday session has three parallel sessions, one for each Workshop Theme. The Friday session will start with the three parallel sessions and then come together for a final plenary session.

Each Session of the Workshop theme will be addressed by keynote speakers followed by round table breakout groups to discuss the issues raised, with a concluding report from the breakout groups of the issues raised in the final plenary session on Friday morning.

Overview of the three Workshops:

1)  ICA Network for Innovation in Life Sciences Higher Education (ICA-Edu)

Workshop Title: The Student Engagement Challenge

The nature of learning is changing with a greater emphasis on blended approaches and flexible learning paths.  Students themselves have changing expectations about how, when and where they learn and the types of extra-curricular activities they are interested in and willing to engage with.

2)  ICA Community of Practice for Bioeconomy Education in Europe (ICA-CoP Bio-Edu)

Workshop Title: Engaging with industry to ensure that graduates and professionals are well prepared for employment in the Bioeconomy.

Educators and employers are experiencing a gap between the competences of graduates and what is needed by the employer in the bioeconomy. Although it is not possible to prepare students for specific jobs, it should be possible for universities with the support of industry to prepare students more effectively for their future careers in the bioeconomy.

3)  ICA-Edu Special Interest Group (SIG) for Sustainable Entrepreneurship Education

Workshop Title: Embedding student challenges and competitions in sustainable entrepreneurship education

This ICA-SIG Workshop will focus on the role of student challenges and competitions as catalysts for entrepreneurial learning and student engagement within life science universities.