Dietetic Education and Training in Europe and Latin America: A Multicountry Comparison

Abstract

The pre- and postgraduate academic education and training of dietetic professionals was evaluated in a European Union initiative titled the Latin American Academic Training Project (Project ALFA). The principal goal was to optimize the quality of dietetics training and evaluate the potential for adapting and harmonizing course curriculums (to comply with the European Community Directive for the General System of Recognition of Higher Education Degree Titles. The objective was to establish a European and Latin American University coalition called the Adaptation and Management of Higher Education in Applied Nutrition and Dietetics Network (Red AGESNAD). The coordinating institution was CESNID, University of Barcelona, Spain. The Network AGESNAD consisted of the following members: From Latin America -National University of Cordoba (Argentina); University of Concepci6n (Chile); Autonomous University of Baja California (Mexico); from Europe - Institute Paul Lambin, University of Lovaina (Belgium); CESNID, University of Barcelona (Spain); University of Navarra (Spain); University of Pais Vasco (Spain); and Queen Margaret University College, University of Edinburg (UK). Project ALFA lasted 24 months and focused on the exchange and evaluation of course curriculums in two principal meetings - one in Barcelona reviewing undergraduate programs, and another in Mexico for postgraduate education. The participating institutions compared course curriculums for content, didactic and supervised practice credit hours and teaching methodologies. Most differences were a consequence of variations in the length of training, which lasts 5 years in Latin America and 3 or 4 years in Europe. However, all course curriculums coincided in containing the same core subjects, even though they were distributed differently under various names.