Starting a job during a pandemic is not easy. Upon arrival in July 2020, University of Montreal Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FMV) professor Mohamed Rhouma conscientiously ensured that he had all the necessary resources to excel in his role as a teacher. In this way he completed all the training courses offered by the Center for University Pedagogy of the UdeM, which served him well since since then he has developed many pedagogical tools aimed at improving the learning offer of the students.

In 2021 he set up the first self-paced online course for the Certificate in Food Technology and Safety. Concept maps, interactive activities, discussion forum, questionnaire at the end of each session: the teacher used many strategies to promote a good understanding of the concepts being taught. In the same year he also produced two instructional videos offering a 360° immersion into the broiler processing chain. The former Science Specialist at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency also enjoys teaching the concept of food risk analysis and introducing his student groups to various tools used to analyze scientific articles to sharpen their critical thinking. “I enjoy designing pedagogical approaches and tools that enable students to develop independent thinking,” he says.

A win for students and colleagues

Aware of the importance of sharing his teaching materials and teaching practices with his peers, Mohamed Rhouma does not hesitate to participate in various activities organized by his faculty. In particular, he presented certain instruments at the FMV Educational Symposium in May 2022 and joined the technical-pedagogical department whose main task is to support and accompany the teaching staff. “Within this unit, I make sure I identify the training needs and required educational materials for my colleagues, and I take care of informing them of the grants and training available for the development of educational tools,” he explains.

As coordinator of the Certificate of Technology and Food Safety, he began developing the program’s competency-based approach in January 2022 while working on its redesign, which will be implemented in the fall of 2024.

As an educational innovator, Mohamed Rhouma uses innovative coaching formulas and methods to encourage engagement in his classes. It integrates e-learning technologies to provide more interactive and engaging learning experiences. His influence on students is undeniable.
— Afaf Slimani, former Food Technology and Safety Certificate student