Knowledge Transfer
For over thirty years, training and knowledge transfer have been strategic management tools at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise. Over time, the Institute has evolved from a traditionally conceived public body into a fully-fledged provider of services and knowledge.
The process of strengthening the Institute began with a clear idea of its original role: "the ability to generate knowledge and transfer it to the outside world." In 1989, the “Training and Organisation Commission” was established, followed in 1990 by the creation of the first internal organisational unit dedicated to training. From the outset, this unit designed educational programmes aimed at both internal staff and external professionals.
E-learning and Innovation
The Institute was among the first in its field to understand and embrace the potential of digital networks for knowledge management. Since the early 2000s, it has been a pioneer in training based on information and communication technologies. This area continues to evolve through the activities of CIFIV—the International Centre for Veterinary Training and Information “Francesco Gramenzi”—which is involved in research, development and innovation projects aimed at testing and validating web-based knowledge management methods, ranging from e-learning to collaborative learning through virtual groups.
CIFIV uses learning management systems—often open-source platforms—to deliver courses entirely online or in blended learning mode, combining classroom-based training with online education.
The Institute’s e-learning offer is developed according to ISO 9001-certified standards and is the result of meticulous course design, structured learning models, and carefully produced content.
All teaching materials are the outcome of a complex process involving various professionals with expertise not only in subject matter but also in instructional design. A “House Style Guide” was developed to define the quality criteria that all courses must meet.
Research and innovation in this area follow several lines of development, from the use of social networks to build scientific consensus, to innovative techniques for stakeholder engagement in the definition of best practices, and the application of ICTs to risk communication strategies. The goal is to generate virtuous cycles of knowledge and skills exchange.
The Institute is also actively engaged in the communication and dissemination of various international research projects, helping to organise project outputs and develop communication materials to share results and promote training and knowledge exchange.
International Training
International training activities are designed to support the scientific, technological and managerial development of the Competent Authorities in EU Member States and third countries. IZS-Teramo works in partnership with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and various countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Recognised by the OIE (now WOAH) since 1993 as a Laboratory and Centre of Excellence, the Institute has served since 2004 as an OIE Collaborating Centre for Veterinary Training and Capacity Building. Under this mandate, it organises numerous international events each year, involving international partners, other Collaborating Centres, and reference organisations. The Institute also participates in international technical assistance initiatives, providing subject-matter experts and offering partner institutions access to its technologies and knowledge management practices.
From 2007 to 2023, the Institute was an accredited provider for the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), delivering residential and e-learning courses to veterinarians from EU countries, candidate countries, and third countries as part of the “Better Training for Safer Food” (BTSF) programme. This EU initiative aims to implement a European training strategy on legislation related to food and feed safety, plant health, and animal health and welfare.
The European Commission confirmed the Institute as a training provider on animal welfare for Competent Authorities of EU Member States and certain third countries for the 2019–2022 period (Service Contract no. 2016 96 06). In 2020, following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and new Commission guidelines, the BTSF programme on animal welfare was redesigned, with some residential events converted into online synchronous training sessions.
Also in 2020, the European Commission entrusted the Institute, in partnership with GOPA Com, Ud’Anet and 4dlabs, with the development of six e-learning modules for the BTSF Academy on the themes of food and feed safety, animal health, animal welfare, plant protection and plant health.
Having successfully managed the pilot phase of the BTSF Academy between 2011 and 2018—including the development of ten e-learning modules in five languages and delivery to around 29,000 official controllers in 100 countries—the Institute has confirmed its role as a leading DG SANTE provider of BTSF e-learning courses.
In addition to its long-standing collaboration with DG SANTE within the BTSF framework, the Institute signed an agreement in 2020 with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to develop a Rift Valley Fever simulation exercise for officials from EU Member States and candidate countries involved in risk assessment, management and communication.
Since 2019, IZS-Teramo has also been an accredited provider for FELASA (Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations) for the delivery of the “Training and Continuing Education Course on the Use of Animals for Scientific and Educational Purposes.” In 2021, WOAH entrusted the Institute with the development of e-learning modules on Leadership in Veterinary Services. In recent years, distance and in-person training activities have significantly increased, supported by agreements with FAO.