Aqua Results

Larger attention from fish farming industry towards the importance of VET and in particular how National Qualifications (NQs) may be obtained by engaging in company mentors for spot on motivation and support during the learning transfer process of theory into practice. The proposed methods apply open cases, where students form interdisciplinary groups to find a solution that may receive direct challenges and support from their mentors. In addition, the training will be organized to train on the format that is applied in the 5 hour long theoretical exam in Norway.

In addition, larger attention from educational authorities about VET, and for instance in particular the current "practice" where many fin-fish farming companies encourage their staff at the cages to start on the theoretical training to prepare for the theoretical exam, which is part of the NQ. The majority of these staff may have only one year of experience, or even less than this, thus lacking 4 years of relevant experience in order to take the final practical exam in Norway. This challenges the VET providers, that expect their students have obtained a lot of experience when starting on their course. Application of smart pre-testing will identify this and the lack of fish biology knowledge, whereby VET providers may adapt their training to reflects the needs of the class.

Scotland and Iceland, and to some extent Norway too, are facing major challenges related to the large distances between the fin-fish farms and the VET schools offering training. This makes it challenging to offer effective work-based training solutions. The proposed new in-company mentoring systems will target this area, thus offering a system solution with standardized and harmonized methods for support during the theoretical training phases and in particular the workbased training to be organized at farms that may be located in remotely geographical areas. 

Thus, the results will help improving the aquaculture VET system for staff working in fin-fish farming industry and help increasing the capacity for VET.

The following results were produced by the project: 

O1 - Framework of LOs 
D1.1: Learning outcome protocols
D1.2: Curriculum HSE Mentor (Norwegian)

O2 - Work-based learning​
D2.1: Work-based learning delivery
Leaflets:

Video:

​D2.2: VET practitioner development
Guidelines

Video:

​O3 - Learning resources
D3.1-3: Learning Resources and Pedagogy
D3.2: Repurposing existing aquaculture e-learning resources 
D3.3:
 Teacher guideline (Norwegian), Template with course slides (Norwegian)

O4 - Pilot delivery
D4.1-2: Icelandic aquaculture work-based learning pilots and the National Qualification in Aquaculture that was developed at Iceland during the project.

D4.2: Fish welfare course, delivered by the  Lifelong Learning Centre of the Westfjords, Iceland
D4.3: The Norwegian HSE aquaculture work-based learning pilotPiloted three times in 2022 in the Mid-Norway area by staff from Salmar. In 2023 Salmar starts reporting that the number of accidents have been reduced compared to previous years. 
D4.4: Investigating models for a Blue Competence Centre at Iceland.
D4.5: The Guri Kunna aquaculture VET development model.


DISCLAIMER:
The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.