After an intensive ten-month training period, 18 experts on feed technology have been awarded the diploma from the renowned Swiss Institute of Feed Technology (SFT). Participants from 14 different countries took part in this, the 35th specialised course. The top student was a participant from Israel.
18 participants, 16 men and two women, from 15 countries took part in their 35th diploma course from February to October 2018. All 18 participants received the coveted diploma. In ten intensive months the students gained in-depth knowledge about feed production, both in the context of private study and in attendance phases. "They now rank among the experts in their field", says Marcel Scherrer, President of the SFT.
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The 18 graduates of the 35th feed technology course with their lecturers as well as the board of the School of Feed Technology (SFT).
Image credit: Bühler |
Mastering the challenges of the future
The importance of the feed industry is growing in many countries on account of the increase in meat consumption. In order to cover requirements, efficient technologies and know-how are needed for sustainable animal feed production. Alongside the growing demand, specific requirements are also increasing: The demands presented by customers and end consumers as well as legal regulations are constantly presenting feed millers with new challenges. "The training at the School of Feed technology provides the best possible basis to surmount these challenges in the future", says Marcel Scherrer. During ten months of training a broad field is covered – from the bases of individual process steps, plant design, animal nutrition, feed safety to the new sensor technologies as the basis for digitalising the industry. With their training, the graduates are now qualified to undertake management responsibilities and to further develop the industry successfully.
An Israeli was the top student
A special distinction was conferred upon the top student of the year at the graduation ceremony. Shimon Elmaliah passed this course with flying colours. Shimon, who is an agronomist as well, comes from Israel and has already worked for a long time for a feed additive manufacturer. He contributed his many years of experience successfully and willingly shared it with his fellow students. Shimon achieved a mark of 5.76, an outstanding attainment for which he received the traditional pewter plate.
Facilitating vocational training
The "Feed Production Engineer" diploma course took place in 2018 for the fifth time after the new concept was established. The aim is to allow participants to complete the training in parallel with their occupational duties. That is why the attendance time is just eight weeks, divided into two blocks. Between the teaching blocks in Switzerland the course participants have to work on topics themselves and submit evidence of achievement, whereby 21 subject areas are involved. During both intensive courses the students sat a total of 14 written exams. The highlight and conclusion of each individual block is the two oral exams in the core subjects before a panel of experts.
Focusing on practice
The SFT operates as a non-profit association and is recognised as a further education and training establishment by the Association of Swiss Feed Manufacturers (VSF). The SFT provides professionals from the feed industry and related industries with expert knowledge relating to the production of animal feed. Successful completion of the specialist course provides graduates with the capacity to understand all modern processing technologies and processes in a compound feed plant and to apply them appropriately in practice. 560 men and women from 73 countries have successfully completed the course in compound feed technology. The next course in compound feed technology will start in January 2019 in German.
For more information visit the Bühler website, HERE
