Training of AFISHE Erasmus+ project has started

Last week regular action phase planned within the scope of the AFISHE project started which included a two-week training of the persons who need to prepare new or develop modules on aquaculture and fishery. It began on 19 February at the University of Porto, where the professors hosted 16 lecturers and researchers from Armenian and Ukrainian universities. This week, two other partner universities, the University of Dubrovnik and the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, began their training programme. Overall, around 44 employees will be trained at the above-mentioned European partner universities.

The aim of the training is to support lecturers during module development and to prepare them for delivering lectures on those topics in the future. It is a very serious action as most of the modules to be developed are new and are being prepared for the first time.

The European host universities have developed a two-week schedule that includes general activities for all participants as well as face-to-face meetings and discussions. The face-to-face meeting will take place with a professor or researcher specialised in that field who can support the Armenian and Ukrainian partners both in the preparation of the module and in its delivery.

Basic aquaculture engineering, seafood safety, feeding of fish and other aquatic animals, aquaculture management, biochemistry, genetics and physiology of aquatic animals, ichthyopathology, fish diseases, ecology, biodiversity conservation, water quality control, aquaculture technology; these are not all the topics and modules to be taught. They also include not only theoretical but also practical work, visits to fish farms or similar operations, introduction to various research projects and so on. For example, the University of Porto organised a visit to farms and centres, where it was possible to get an idea of the entire chain of aquatic animal exploitation, from fishing to canning, which is the result of processing technology.

The main aim of the “Development of Aquaculture and Fisheries Education for Green Deal in Armenia and Ukraine: from education to ecology AFISHE” project is to reduce negative impact of aquaculture and fisheries on the environment by creating and developing master’s programs in aquaculture and fisheries in Armenia and Ukraine which will be equivalent to the similar European leading projects, will respond to the national and territorial needs and will strengthen university- enterprise- research cooperation (“from education to ecology” concept).

Due to AFISHE project, a network for aquaculture and fisheries will be created between Armenia, Ukraine and European countries. It will serve as a platform in the fields of aquaculture and fisheries for the implementation of joint educational and research activities that will develop ecology-based approaches and activities in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the EU Green Deal.