ATU discussed the future of workforce training for the food industry
FORESIGHT SESSION “TRANSFORMATION OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES OF GRADUATES IN THE CONTEXT OF DIGITALIZATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL MODERNIZATION OF FOOD PRODUCTION”
Almaty Technological University held a foresight session dedicated to the transformation of workforce training for the food industry in the context of digitalization, technological integration, and the development of modern food technologies.
The session brought together representatives of the academic community, industry associations, food industry enterprises, government agencies, and international experts.
The discussion focused on:
– current challenges and trends in the development of the food industry;
– transformation of professional competencies of specialists;
– digitalization of production processes and the use of AI technologies;
– development of practice-oriented and dual education;
– modernization of educational programs within the “Food Production” group.
Special attention was given to the integration of science, education, and industry, the development of new workforce training models, as well as proposals for the regional Atlas of Professions and the roadmap for the development of sectoral education.
The foresight session became an open expert platform for discussing the future of the food industry and training specialists of a new generation.
As part of the foresight session, a plenary meeting and expert group sessions were held with the participation of leading national and international experts, representatives of government agencies, academia, and industrial partners.
The following speakers delivered welcome and expert presentations:
• Baurzhan Nurakhmetov — Deputy Chairman of the Educational and Methodological Association of Republican Educational and Methodological Council, First Vice-Rector of JSC “ATU”, with a presentation on the transformation of graduates’ professional competencies in the context of digitalization and technological modernization of food production;
• Karlygash Ramazanova — Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of Higher and Postgraduate Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a presentation on academic policy for workforce training in the food industry;
• Mukhammadali Zeilbek — Head of the Department of Scientific Projects and Programs of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with a presentation on supporting research activities in the field of food industry;
• Emmanuel Essah — Associate Professor, Dean of the School of Construction Management and Engineering at University of Reading, with a presentation focused on digital competencies, green technologies, and sustainable systems;
• Elena Myasnikova — Associate Professor of the Department of Food Technologies and Bioengineering at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, with a presentation on network educational programs as a mechanism for training personnel for the future food industry;
• Aizhan Naurzgalieva — President of the Kazakhstan Association of Sugar, Food and Processing Industry, with a presentation on developing a new generation workforce for the sugar and food industries.
Within the framework of the expert group sessions, the following presentations were delivered:
• Baurzhan Amirkhanov — executor of project BR24992975 at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, with a presentation of the Kazakh platform for developing digital twins and examples of its implementation;
• Saltanat Adilzhanova — Head of the Department of Computer Engineering at JSC “ATU”, PhD, Associate Professor, with a presentation on Industry 4.0, IoT, and digital twins in the food industry;
• Aigul Yelubayeva — Quality Director of KazBAD LLP, with a presentation on modern graduate competencies for the functional food products and biologically active supplements industry;
• Aigul Tayeva — Head of the Department of Food Technology, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, with a presentation on the modern content of educational programs within the “Food Production” group;
• Marina Sabraliyeva — Executive Director of the Union of Food Enterprises of Kazakhstan, with a presentation on practice-oriented education and industrial partnership in training specialists for the food and processing industries.
During the expert, scenario-based, and project sessions, participants discussed the competencies of future graduates, scenarios for the development of the food industry, as well as proposals for updating educational programs and developing a roadmap for workforce training in the sector.
