Programs

Enhancement of the MSc in Food Safety and Food Risk Management

Strengthening the existing interuniversity MSc program, which already has strong international potential, through:

  • Launching Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) programs with universities in the MENA region and beyond.
  • Establishing at least one double-degree agreement with a MENA university by the 2026–2027 academic year.
  • Funding two 6-month visiting professor positions starting from the 2023–2024 academic year.

 

Internationalization of PhD Programs

  • Establishing co-tutelle agreements with high-profile international universities.
  • Designing a portfolio of English-language, hybrid courses for FOCUSER PhD students and those from the MENA region on innovative and cross-cutting topics.
  • Providing mobility grants: 17 outbound for FOCUSER students and 17 inbound for students from low-income countries.

 

International Mobility for Researchers and Faculty

Funding exchanges of 2–4 months at international partner universities or centres of excellence, including 24 visiting professor contracts of one semester each.

 

FOCUSER Summer Program for Young Researchers

  • Organising summer schools and advanced courses in English and blended mode, including at least 3 courses from the Emilia-Romagna Food Science Advanced Doctoral Training Program, reserving at least 20% of places for PhD students from the Arab-Mediterranean region.
  • Allocating 20% of the places in the Parma Summer School (EFSA, UNIPR, UCSC) to participants from Mediterranean, Middle Eastern countries and EU candidate countries.
  • Creating a portfolio of webinars on regulatory topics.

 

Executive Programs – Lifelong Learning (FOCUSER Academy)

  • Launching, within the first year of the project, an Executive Lifelong Learning program called FOCUSER Academy for agri-food professionals, offering intensive courses on specialised topics (free for students from low-income countries).
  • Organising an annual intensive training for experts from institutions/agencies in the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Africa on risk management, risk assessment, and innovation.