Transnational projects promote interconnectivity between people. In the case of the Erasmus+ they complement ideas and approaches in education and/or in research programmes, they promote innovation and they have a European added value. InnoDairyEdu as an EU project of the ERASMUS+ family enhances this concept. Overall, opportunities, challenges and training gaps in Dairy Science may vary from country to country and therefore it is considered crucial to develop the proposed project in a transnational environment, with view to exploring as much as possible. The diversity of the partnership based on its origin creates opportunities and develop equal potentials for providing a harmonious and balanced coexistence and progress.
More specifically, during the course of the project 5 Transnational Project Meetings (TPM) will take place. TPMs will be organized for project implementation and coordination purposes. The main goal of the TPM will be to plan ahead, monitor the progress and resolve technical/financial issues.
1st Transnational Project Meeting (TPM): Kick-Off Meeting
The kick off meeting of InnoDairyEdu was successfully completed in the University of Thessaly (TEI campus), in Larisa- Greece, on the 4th and 5th of December 2018. All partners participated in the KoM and also Hellenic Dairies representative as an associated project partner attended the meeting. The main goal of the Kick-off Meeting was that the project details to be thoroughly discussed in order for partners to reach a common understanding about its implementation specificities and also make sure that everyone is aware of their responsibilities, regarding the project. Additionally the synthesis of the Project Steering Committee (PSC) and Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) that is responsible for the internal evaluation was decided. Project Management issues and preparation for the initiation of the Intellectual Output 1 were thoroughly discussed among the partnership.
In parallel, the participants had the chance to visit the premises of the University of Thessaly at TEI campus in Larisa, visit various Dairy industries in the area and also to visit an Unesco World Heritage centre – Meteora that is located in Thessaly.
2nd TPM: University of León, Spain
The second transnational meeting of InnoDairyEdu was successfullycompleted in the University of León (ULe, Spain) on the 13th and 14th of June 2019, with all partners attending (15 people).
During the meeting, the Quality Assurance (QA) Manual and forms prepared by the QA team were approved, the results of the activities developed so far were analyzed (output 1 -study of the needs of the participating universities in relation to the science and technology of milk and milk products by students, graduates, professors and professionals, led by the ULe). In addition, progress has been made in the forthcoming activities to be developed by all participating universities, in particular, in the output 2 (development of innovative digital education/training material for students and professionals in the dairy sector). Also the dissemination plan, and pre-planning of output 3 (platform) and 4 (innodairyedu in connection to dairy industry) were discussed. Finally, Project Management issues were presented.
The participants visited the premises of the Veterinary Faculty and the Institute of Food Sci. and Technology of ULe (Campus de Vegazana, León). Also, they visited Industrias Lácteas San Vicente (León), a medium size cheese industry which produces several types of cheeses representative of the region of Castilla and León and of Spain (Castellano and Iberico).
3rd TPM: Cyprus University of Technology, Limassol, Cyprus
The 3 rd Transnational meeting was successfully completed at the Cyprus University of
Technology, Cyprus between the 28-29 th of November. The meeting was attended by
representatives from all partners. The project’s progress was evaluated and future steps (i.e.
Year 2 of the project) were planned and decided. More specifically the IO2 (training topics
and subjects, case studies) was presented and discussed with regards to content, format and
specifications. The learning platform’s (IO3) specifications and overall design was also
discussed and agreed during the meeting. Finally the IO4 (Dairy Industry) requirements were
presented and discussed. Issues regarding the Quality Assurance Team and the Project
Management Team were raised and discussed.
The participants had the chance to visit a local sheep and goat farm and dairy factory making
traditional Halloumi cheese, a carob syrup workshop and a donkey farm “Golden Donkeys
Farm” were donkey milk products are produced and are available for sale at the farm shop.
4th TPM
4th TPM: Virtual meeting through the MS Teams platform
The 4th Transnational meeting was successfully completed under the “virtual” hosting of the University of Parma. Due to Covid-19 pandemic in fact, the meeting had to be held on a distance. Despite this, the meeting was attended by representatives from all partners. The project’s progress was evaluated and future steps (i.e. Year 3 of the project) were planned and decided. More specifically the IO2 (training topics and subjects, case studies) progress was presented and discussed with regards to content, format and specifications. The training material is almost completed and will be ready soon for uploading in the learning platform (IO3). This latter has been presented by UTH team and its potentiality and usage have been explained to the partners. The IO4 (Connection to Dairy Industry) progress has also been presented and discussed. Issues regarding the Quality Assurance Team and the Project Management Team have been clarified among the partners.
Despite meeting in presence has not been possible, the group has worked proficiently and all members were satisfied.
5th TPM (Final Meeting)
On 8-9th October 2021, the final 5th Transnational Project Meeting of the InnoDairyEdu project was held at the Department of Dairy and Quality Management, Faculty of Food Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland). The meeting was attended by project contractors from University of Warmia and Mazury, University of Thessaly (Greece), University of Parma (Italy), University of Leon (Spain) and 4obs Consulting (Greece).
During the meeting, issues related to the formal end of the project were discussed, as well as the dissemination of the developed results after the end of the project. During the visit, the guests also visited the recently opened centre of Tetra Pak company near Olsztyn and got acquainted with the research offer of the Department of Dairy and Quality Management.
The InnoDairyEdu project is formally coming to an end, but the team already has further initiatives in mind which will serve to develop tools for educating students and employees in the dairy sector.
