Challenges in Bioinformatics Training Delivery

Bioinformatics training evolved from a luxury activity in the 1980s into a widely recognised need in the<br>present days. Yet, the institutions that can provide it regularly with premium quality are only a few. Most<br>frequently, universities exclusively provide formal learning, not necessarily training, so practical skills are<br>often missing in students. Moreover, Bioinformatics training is not widely provided in the world, not even in<br>its simplest introductory level form. Nor does it, in general terms, match the fast evolution of training<br>subjects.<br>This talk is an attempt to focus on the evolving needs in Bioinformatics training that are felt by identified<br>communities and on what can be done to cope with them. I maintain that the best approach is to create<br>training programmes, consistently using active learning methods, and that those programmes may cooperate<br>in their attempts to cover a diversified set of subjects.<br>Premium quality training in Bioinformatics is in high demand and low supply. Can it ever scale-up? How?<br>This and other hot challenges in this field will be addressed, possibly triggering an interesting discussion in<br>the audience