EDINBURGH, Scotland. – Aviagen® customers from Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA) attended the EMEAA School on Optimising Broiler Performance and Economic Returns, but it wasn’t just our students who were celebrating their achievements at the end of the week.
Now in its 10th year, the EMEAA School has welcomed over 1000 students from more than 70 countries across the regions, spread over its Breeder, Broiler, Hatchery and Ventilation Modules. Established in 2012, the school has continued to deliver advice in the form of presentations, workshops and case studies while staying true to their mission to drive forward excellence for the future of the global poultry industry.
From chatting with students at the Broiler Module, it became evident that the learning didn’t just come from the lessons, but also through networking and sharing of experience with fellow classmates.
Morne Gerber of Quantum Foods said: “I made it my mission to spend time with every person in the class; it really opens your mind to both the challenges that people face in different climates and countries and also to the similarities in challenges we may be facing.”
In addition to the opportunity to mix with students from across the regions and the knowledge imparted by the tutors, students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones and challenge themselves by presenting to a room full of students and tutors.
Eduardo, JR. Agoyaoy of Foster foods Inc. said: “It feels good to step outside your comfort zone; there are so many different cultures here and for many of us, we are working and learning in our second language. Experiencing the corporate side of the business felt daunting, but we can’t be afraid to speak up and be vulnerable. The bird evolves – so should we.”
As well as growing their industry networks and forming new friendships, our 2022 graduating EMEAA classmates join over 1000 students in becoming members of the exclusive Aviagen EMEAA Alumni.
Aviagen’s Head of Sales & Technical Services, Stuart Thomson said:
“A decade on from our first school, we’ve been lucky to see over 1000 students come through our doors, and not only students, but the future of the poultry industry. Our aim was to share knowledge and build global networks. The bonus for Aviagen was that we’ve had the opportunity to listen to direct feedback from all over the regions, which in turn has allowed us to stay innovative with our schools and how we work with our customers.”