Cervecera de Canarias and the University of La Laguna have launched an innovative educational project centered on a beer-making workshop. This project involves creating a pilot plant to train students in the final years of their undergraduate degree in Industrial Chemical Engineering. The initiative, which originated in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of La Laguna, will be developed over two years. The project aims to enhance student engagement in this discipline through the design and construction of a complete beer-making system.
The general manager of Cervecera de Canarias, Roberto Martínez, points out that “this project represents a further step in innovation, one of the company's strategic pillars, while at the same time allowing us to continue advancing in our commitment to sustainability, in this case by promoting and supporting the development of local talent.”.
The Rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco Javier García, highlights that this project is a new example of the university's alignment with the local productive sector, thanks to which students will be able to apply the knowledge acquired during their degree in a real environment and have a first approach to the challenges and problems that professionals in their specialty will have to face.
The workshop clearly demonstrates its interdisciplinary nature, given that beer production involves incorporating various aspects, ranging from the practical application of chemistry and microbiology to mechanical and process engineering, along with quality control and business organization. Waste management and valorization are also included.
The project includes the installation of a pilot plant at the university facilities, which will begin operating this month. Additionally, a course on craft beer brewing will be offered in February, in collaboration with two professors from the Faculty of Bioengineering/Technology of Apparatus and Systems in the Beverage Industry at the German University of Applied Sciences Freising.
Throughout 2024, the plant's user and management manuals will also be developed. During the second year, efforts will focus primarily on plant operations, including assigning production shifts to different student groups and creating training groups to consolidate the activity during the third year.
Cervecera de Canarias will provide advice and guidance, leveraging the experience and training of the company's specialists in quality and production, both in terms of product development processes and sensory evaluation.
The aim is to contribute to the comprehensive education of students, encouraging their interest in science and technology, improving their teamwork and decision-making skills, and reinforcing their motivation and commitment to learning and academic excellence.
A monitoring committee, composed of representatives from Cervecera de Canarias and the faculty of the Department of Chemical Engineering and Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of La Laguna, will be responsible for evaluating the results of the project during the three years that the agreement lasts.
In addition to the plant's own activity, the proposal of undergraduate and master's thesis projects is considered, focusing on topics that have a positive impact on the beer manufacturing process, especially regarding sustainability measures, such as the use of recyclable materials in the packaging and the utilization or reduction of waste. Furthermore, practical activities from various undergraduate and master's degree courses related to the project are planned.
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