Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Faculty from the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology, together with the Open Education Center of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, have developed an educational course, "Nutrition: Modern Approaches and Digital Tools." The project is being implemented with the support of the federal program "Priority 2030." This educational program is strategically important for the implementation of national priorities outlined in the Strategy for Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation, the national project "Healthcare," and the "Digital Economy of the Russian Federation" program.
The development of the online course in nutrition was prompted by the launch of the master's program "Nutrition in the Food Industry" at the IBSiB Higher School of Biotechnology and Food Production in 2019, which has proven highly popular among students. To date, more than 40 students have successfully completed it. The program is aimed at training nutrition technologists capable of developing products and diets to maintain and improve public health and develop a healthy food industry. The Higher School also regularly received requests for distance learning in advanced training programs in nutrition.
The new online course "Nutrition: Modern Approaches and Digital Tools" is designed as a comprehensive educational program for advanced training: from the fundamentals of digestive physiology, the nutrient composition of food, and diet planning methodology to the scientific principles of shaping the gut microbiome and creating functional foods, including an introduction to the popular modern healthy lifestyle trend of nutritional biohacking. The program is designed for food industry professionals, nutritionists, fitness industry professionals, students and teachers, as well as anyone interested in healthy eating or looking to master a new profession.
Our course's uniqueness lies in its ability to develop students' knowledge not only of current scientific aspects in the field of healthy nutrition but also of practical skills acquired through case studies and calculations using both traditional approaches and modern digital technologies. Commercial nutrition courses often focus on theoretical aspects or "helpful tips" without integrating modern digital tools, or simply offer an introduction to artificial intelligence without mastering the theoretical foundation. Furthermore, a wealth of unsubstantiated or contradictory nutritional information is circulating online, hindering people from making informed choices. We clearly distinguish between proven methods and popular but unsubstantiated trends, fostering critical thinking in our students. This also applies to the verification and comparative analysis of recommendations generated by artificial intelligence," commented Natalia Barsukova, project director and associate professor at the Higher School of Biotechnology and Food Production at the Institute of Cardiology and Biotechnology (IBBS), highlighting the distinctive features of the course developed by the Polytechnics.
During the course, participants will not only acquire up-to-date knowledge in nutrition science but also learn to apply artificial intelligence tools to solve everyday tasks: from analyzing actual nutrition and nutritional status to calculating the nutritional value of diets and creating personalized nutrition recommendations.
The course consists of 20 topics grouped into four modules. The first three modules contain theoretical materials and practical assignments, including video lectures covering the main topics; longreads and presentations; assignments for independent study; and quizzes. The fourth module includes practical exercises in the form of video lessons; and independent case studies using the Scientific Nutrition Analysis Web Tool (NIAP). A final assessment (test) is included at the end of the course.
The course "Nutrition: Modern Approaches and Digital Tools" was developed in collaboration with Nutrient Planner, the developer of the NIAP web service. Training in the program will begin in 2026.
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