Dr Gordon Stewart WPO Vice President – Education Head of Training and Professional Development , Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (UK) World Packaging Days – Split, June 2012
Jan 11, 2016
Dr Gordon StewartWPO Vice President – EducationHead of Training and Professional Development , Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (UK)
World Packaging Days – Split, June 2012
Why is education for packaging important?
Analysis of packaging education needs Overview of current provision The UK – A case study Strengths and weaknesses An agenda for action
Meeting the functional requirements of packaging effectively and efficiently
Packaging - the “silent salesperson” Packaging technologies are changing rapidly and are
critical to competitiveness Avoiding “bad packaging”, for example
Product wastage “Over-engineered” packaging resulting in the use of too
much material Packs that are difficult to open or re-seal End of life issues Optimal packaging – the “Goldilocks Pack”
Growing population with shortage of materials– UN estimates population increase from 7 to 10 billion by 2100
Especially critical in the developing world where for example, it is estimated that up to 50% of products can be lost between production and consumption
Essential role of packaging in making the best use of the earth’s products and resources
The population of sub-Saharan Africa is set to grow from 856 million today to 2 billion in 2050
Currently, 25% of people lack adequate food The absolute number of underweight
children has risen since 2000 to 30 million Packaging is part of the solution and
increased packaging education is essential to achieving this
Long packaging supply chain of producers and users all with different needs – each requiring training and/or education
Including: Designers –creative and structural Convertors - using different materials Users of packaging People who pack Packaging machinery engineers Packaging technologists
Each point in the supply chain also has its own levels of education that are needed
Cross cutting themes – e.g. sustainability; printing Each country/region has its own system– e.g.
Europe has the European Qualification Framework with education levels 1 – 8 and so does England, but Scotland has 2 systems which are different!!
Even if we simplify by saying: Introductory/Intermediate/Advanced
. . . long supply chain and different levels means a complex picture
University provision: Very patchy – some countries having few if any
undergraduate courses Some notable exceptions – e.g. US, China,
Provision by Institutes and Associations Most WPO members do something In some instances this is significant – e.g. India, Sometimes education is Government recognised Links to professional recognition – e.g. Chartered
Packaging Professional in the US Tends to focus on Packaging Technologists or similar
levels
Conferences, seminars, congresses etc Company-based training
Very significant in many countries Focused on what is required to do the job Taught by people who tend to be up-to-date with
current practices for individual companies However it is often . . . .
Designed to meet immediate needs and can be narrow and limited in scope
Company specific – difficult to transfer Without recognised qualifications
University provision Undergraduate – limited to packaging design Two masters degree courses
College provision in other subject areas with packaging elements e.g. food manufacture
Institute/Association based IOM3/The Packaging Society – packaging
technologists and others PPMA – for packaging machinery engineers
Company-based – this provides the largest amount Some public funding for training
Some good practice at individual institutions– e.g. Michigan State University
Good institute/association engagement which blends industry with the academic – but limited volume
WPO activity Developing courses/institutes Recognition scheme Member contributions and networking Free of charge use of materials for small companies
Lack of a solid international culture of packaging education
Limited network of university-based full-time packaging education practitioners
Restricted availability of good teaching and learning materials
Although the WPO is active its capacity is very limited
Absence of recognised qualifications
Overall, critical shortages of educated/trained packaging employees across the supply chain
Especially marked for packaging technologists
Some parts of the packaging supply chain are hardly covered at all – e.g. those who pack products
Almost total absence of packaging education in some countries that need it
Lack of research literature
WPO initiatives critical Development of education provision by members Enhance education recognition scheme Support for course development in new
countries/regions linked to Institute development Greater engagement between companies, institutes and
universities Increased networking and sharing of education provision
between WPO members Education across the supply chain e.g. packers International Network for Packaging Education – role for
the WPO?
Many Thanks