P.PSH.1370 - Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging 2021-2026

Summary

The Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) Association Inc is a not-for-profit association with a mission to ‘Inspire and develop future professionals in the global red meat industry’. Now in its 32nd year, ICMJ has extended beyond its original foundation, to become a capability and capacity building platform for the red meat industry inspiring and developing tertiary and post graduate students, through to industry professionals. ICMJ has accomplished a long and successful reputation of attracting the next generation of talented graduates into careers in the red meat industry as well as providing opportunities to showcase the range of careers available across the industry providing another recruitment channel for industry.

Objectives

There is a recognised need for the education of undergraduate students in meat science and the meat industry. Only two institutions in Australia have a formally recognised Meat Science unit at university. Hence, this program is immensely important to enhance the knowledge of undergraduate students and young industry professionals in regards to the end product of the value chain and the importance of delivering what the consumer demands. The overarching objective of the ICMJ program is to provide a platform that educates students about the meat industry, meat science, the importance of the consumer and to advocate exciting career opportunities that exist within and across the industry.

The ICMJ program outputs/objectives are:

• Expose students to the fundamentals of meat quality. · Teach carcase specifications required in today's market.
• Provide training and guidance for personal and professional development.
• Create opportunities for students to apply their knowledge in practical settings.
• Raise awareness of career opportunities & create linkages with future employers.
• Expose students to the requirements of the consumer.
• Expose students to new technologies and capabilities within the meat industry.
• Educate students on Australia's position within the global meat supply chain.

The ICMJ annual program deliverables from 2021-22 to 2025-26 will be:

1. Organise and deliver an annual five-day ICMJ National Conference and meat judging competition, that aims to increase student knowledge, attitude, skills and aspirations (KASA) of the red meat industry.
2. Organise and deliver an annual four-day ICMJ Northern Conference for tertiary students and young industry professionals working across the northern beef industry that aims to increase participant KASA of the Northern beef industry.
3. Annually immerse at least 15 ‘stand out’ students selected from the National Conference into an ‘Intensive Industry Education and Development (IIED)’ week that exposes students to red meat and livestock business supply chains providing further industry training and development.
4. Utilise the IIED week to annually select up to five tertiary students, and at least two Australian coaches, to represent Australia on an international tour to the USA (pending COVID travel restrictions). This program will be focused on gaining knowledge of international industry developments, participating in an annual US intercollegiate meat judging competition (if the tour includes USA), as well as developing the cohorts as future industry leaders.
5.  Annually deliver a careers expo/industry exhibition at both the Northern Conference and the National Conference to expose students to the range of career prospects within the meat and livestock industry and to provide the opportunity for industry to showcase their companies and career paths to prospective employees.
6. Deliver annual professional development training at both the Northern and National Conferences to increase participant knowledge and skills to enhance the future of the Australian red meat industry workforce. This will include coaches development training.
7. In 2021-22 develop an ICMJ Alumni strategy to ensure ongoing connection, development and support to past cohorts who have been through the program with annual activities such as events and a mentoring program.
8. Pending COVID travel restrictions, deliver an annual South-East Asian Industry immersion tour for young industry professionals and ICMJ alumni to increase the understanding of South-East Asian customers and consumers, trade and market access, culture and industry.
9. Implement an annual communications strategy that promotes ICMJ and its mission to industry and the wider community through mainstream and social media channels.
10. Professionally deliver the ICMJ program under the ICMJ Constitution and corporate governance requirements. Increase committee skills, knowledge and understanding of corporate governance.

Key findings

The Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) program is a national leadership, education and people development initiative designed to inspire and develop future professionals in the global red meat industry. Between 2021 and 2026, the program delivered four National Conferences, four Northern Conferences, four Intensive Industry Education and Development (IIED) Weeks, four USA industry tours, two Asian immersion tours, nine annual careers expos, 13 professional development activities, alumni engagement initiatives and a comprehensive communications program.

Beyond individual participant outcomes, the program has created a long-term pipeline of industry talent and leadership, with many alumni returning as coaches, mentors, committee members, presenters, sponsors and industry advocates. This multiplier effect extends the benefits of the program well beyond individual events and contributes to the long-term capability, connectivity and sustainability of the Australian red meat and livestock industry.

Benefits to industry

More than 3,500 ICMJ alumni have benefited from the competitive training environment and professional development workshops provided by ICMJ – a network that includes many of the leaders now shaping the direction of the industry. ICMJ has extended beyond its original foundation and is a highly regarded capability and capacity building platform for the red meat industry, inspiring and developing secondary, tertiary and post graduate students, through to industry professionals. 

ICMJ aligns with MLA’s Strategic Plan and the Red Meat 2030’s People Pillar and fosters the 2030 goal that ‘People see being part of the Australian red meat and livestock industry as attractive now and into the future’. The ICMJ program is a proven, trusted, and reputable program that people across the industry recognise as being a platform to attract secondary and tertiary students to pursue a career in the red meat and livestock industries.  

Addressing the Red Meat 2030 initiative of ‘Attracting and retaining good people’ ICMJ provides training and upskilling of students and industry professionals; encourages inclusivity and diversity at all levels of involvement in their programs; promotes opportunities and career pathways in rural and remote Australia; and creates awareness and successfully attracts the next generation of talented people to our industry.

MLA action

MLA will continue its investment in the development and delivery of the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program, while also maintaining an active role in the conferences delivered through the program.

Future research

MLA will continue its investment in the development and delivery of the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program, while also maintaining an active role in the conferences delivered through the program.