Content area
Full Text
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic changed education by disrupting activities and interactions among all stakeholders. However, this event also opened new possibilities, as in higher education, to explore the future implications of the pandemic for learning purposes. One possibility is about the study of supply chains where delivery times and product quality were affected during the sanitary emergency. One essential category of goods strongly affected is food concerning availability, accessibility, and affordability because of physical limitations, mandatory ordinances, or deficient infrastructure. This situation interrupted supply chains affecting food provision and procurement across different social groups and locations, especially in disadvantaged or poor communities or countries. Accordingly, this work explores, from the perspective of Industrial Engineering education, the effects of the pandemic on food supply as relevant learning experiences about relevant contemporary issues. Learning experiences can refer to present difficulties in food supply during the pandemic; however, other possibilities might exist to improve food security in the future. Thus, a study of the pandemic situation in Latin America has been implemented about food supply. An online survey using internet social networks helped to collect data about people's profiles, consumption preferences, and shifts in food demand and supply over the pandemic in the two main conurbations of Mexico and Bolivia. Data analysis studied the impact on distinct age groups, locations, and income levels. Results explore consequences in the food provision because of increasing delivery times, shortages, and price rises. These findings can help to conceptualize learning experiences to strengthen food security in urban areas.
Keywords
Food Security, Food Chains, COVID-19 Pandemic, Learning Experiences, Educational Innovation
1.Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has strongly affected education because of producing changes in educational requirements and learning activities. Contemporary education at different levels demands experiential approaches to interest, motivate, and engage students in relevant long-lasting learning. However, academic courses during the COVID-19 pandemic are mostly limited to online alternatives with limited personal interactions and with no access to educational facilities, which reduces the quality of learning experiences [1]. Hence, further adaptations to current educational activities should exist to keep relevant learning experiences as a valid option for students in their remote courses.
Accordingly, this work proposes studying current real-world problem situations under lockdown conditions for Industrial Engineering education in which students can...